[umgud]

I suspect there are at least two (and probably more) reasons; 1. Most of Africa doesn't have weapons of mass destruction and while they kill each other, they don't pose a threat to the West. 2. They don't have abundant oil. Sadly, the Mugabe's of Africa seem to have free reign.

[cyborg]

People like Mugabe rule over their people with an iron fist. It's the rank and file who suffer and are trapped. I believe that many Africans do want to help themselves, but the government kills, starves, rapes their children if they don't do what they say. It's sad that governments need to be threatened to get their attention.

[ninenot]

Actually, there are some oil reserves in Africa in which US Companies have interests. Africa also supplies a number of other valuable minerals and substances.

Iraq has a LOT more oil, but...

The question is not so much money as it is the other interests. The USA just does NOT have justification for shooting people (and getting shot at) over there.

It's not really too satisfying, but it is the answer.