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This is an Army Today Extra.
The motivation for AFRICOM.
From Kenya, I'm Gail McCabe.
I think it reflects our continued development as the Department of Defense--
--and how we conduct our military activities around the world, globally.
So Africa as a continent with its island nations, with the importance of other regions of the world--
--this as a continent, a very important continent and its island nations--
--growing in importance from a host of reasons--demographics, trade, traffic patterns of individuals--
--potential challenges that might exist from the transport of illicit commodities, from drugs to weapons to persons--
--the potential for terror that exists there and the opportunities that also are present on the continent--
--53 nations--not inconsequential--over 900 million people with populations that are growing--
--paying attention to it today makes great sense for us.
It's a massive job and you have, from what I understand, very limited resources.
Our resources are limited, as are resources for most of the combatant commands.
So our work is to capitalize on those resources that we in fact do have.
Our logistic support, our training support--IMET, our military education and training programs.
Am I right in thinking that one of your bigger challenges is perception?
There was a perception that the Command was about doing things that it wasn't--
--to include militarizing the continent, militarizing foreign policy--
--establishing large garrisons on the continent, be they Army garrisons and bases or naval bases or air bases.
And so part of what we have done over this past year, now that we've been a Command--
--is to one, correct that record by conveying the message--
--but as significantly through the programs that we have continued to carry on--
--we have, I think, done a credible job in reversing some of those perceptions--
--some of those misperceptions, I might add.
The nations that you've been working with--40 some--are they receptive?
The nations that we work with have pretty much understood all along.
It's been those others within the nations who had not been working with us that really didn't know.
The militaries on the continent who have known us over time, what they have been interested in is enhancing those efforts.
So what do you see as your number 1 challenge? Manpower? Budget? Relationships?
As a military professional, the more I have, the better.
So resources are always important.
I'd certainly like to have more resources.
Building relationships--key.
Those relationships bring the trust, the confidence, that we seek--
--because we know that the work that we do must occur in a sustained way--
--so that it's not seen as here today, gone tomorrow.
Everywhere I go they acknowledge it, they are thankful for it, and so are we--
--because through our interaction with them we get a glimpse of this very important part of the world through a different set of eyes than our own.
Why should America care?
Having a secure and stable Africa is in our national interest.
So where there is stability in Africa, where Africans are in fact able to provide for their own security--
--and the development that comes along with that can occur, that translates into a more stable, more secure America as well.
Where would you like to see AFRICOM in a year?
We will continue to build this Command.
We will continue to understand more about our operational environment.
We will continue to understand more about who we are.
We will make adjustments.
So in a year I see us becoming more and more effectively organized--
--more and more effective at delivering the programs that our partner nations ask us to deliver--
--such that when the Command is a part of some activity, I'll see what we do as value--
--added to the process of helping to build stability and security in Africa.
[♪techno music playing♪] This has been an Army Today Extra from Soldiers Radio and Television, Atlanta.