Posted on 06/21/2006 1:36:29 PM PDT by sergey1973
Most Americans view Africa as a region plagued by instability, poverty, and poor governance. Although accurate for portions of the continent, this picture is far from complete and fails to recognize the regions growing importance to U.S. national security and economic interests. American interests in Africa range from traditional development and humanitarian problems to the more recent challenges posed by globalization and the opportunities for terrorists and other violent actors to exploit unstable countries. There is also a rising expectation by many in America and other countries that the U.S. will intervene in internal and regional African conflicts more frequently and actively, whether diplomatically or in support of military missions.
Moreover, as articulated in both the 2006 State of the Union address and the National Security Strategy, the importance of expanding and ensuring Americas access to energy resources has transformed Africa from a strategic backwater into a priority region for U.S. economic, political, and military interests. However, pursuit of oil should not trump the economic and political reform necessary to sustain long-term economic growth and development. Oil revenues in developing countries tend to foster corruption, contribute to instability, and undermine incentives for reform. This tendency makes it all the more important for the United States to press oil-producing nations in Africa to adopt policy changes that would ensure that wealth from natural resources will not be squandered or contribute to political repression and instability.
(Excerpt) Read more at heritage.org ...
PING--An interesting analysis of possible future of the US Source of Energy.
BTW, I use my Russia & Eurasia Ping list to ping on other articles as well. If you prefer to be pinged only on articles related to Russia & Eurasia, pls let me know. I don't want to overping my Ping List friends -:))))
I agree--the guy uses quite a number of globalistic mumbo-jumbo talking points. Nevertheless, the essay is still interesting as it reflects the potential to break the oil dependency on Islamic Terror Financing Middle East.
Don't forget that there is a significant Muslim presence in Africa.
Of course, I'd rather see America developing actively it's own natural resources then relying on anybody else, but Africa is a possible alternative to Middle Eastern Islamist sheikhs can be sound alternative (depending on the specific region of Africa of course).
Also note that China is making HUGE inroads there politically, through business deals, and via immigration. Several African nations now have Chinese populations (not just "Asian") over 7%. I think they've seen Mexico's success here, and noted the resource-rich nations there, and did the math.
So which areas or countries aren't "plagued by instability, poverty, and poor governance?" From here it looks like a universal condition of the continent, although I'm sure some areas are worse than others.
I've heard (relatively) good things about Tunisia and Morocco, although when we say "Africa" we're usually euphemizing for sub-Saharan or black Africe.
So Africa is a front for shades of grey.
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1652851/posts
Angola: China's African foothold
bump
America's Growing Reliance on non-ANWR oil.
(It is just not honest to draw lines on a map of the United States where oil drilling is forbidden and then saying that we "depend" on outside sources.)
"America's Growing Reliance on non-ANWR oil.
(It is just not honest to draw lines on a map of the United States where oil drilling is forbidden and then saying that we "depend" on outside sources.)"
Definitely -:))) In the end, it's better to rely on your own resources than on anybody elses. Too bad there are too many environmentalist fanatics who worry much more about Caribou habitat than about the survival of America. Modern technology and the responsible exploration can allow to drill the oil in ANWR or other places without destroying the environment, but Econuts are still too powerful.
I thought our gov declared enviro groups or something domestic terrorists.
What happened with that?
Some are declared terrorists, but some are in Congress -:))))
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