This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/americas/6336063.stm
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| US to get Africa command centre | US to get Africa command centre |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| President George W Bush has approved a Pentagon plan for a command centre for Africa to oversee US military activities on the continent. | President George W Bush has approved a Pentagon plan for a command centre for Africa to oversee US military activities on the continent. |
| US Defence Secretary Robert Gates said the new Africa Command would allow the US to better co-ordinate action and counter potential threats. | US Defence Secretary Robert Gates said the new Africa Command would allow the US to better co-ordinate action and counter potential threats. |
| Mr Gates said the Pentagon would consult the US Congress and others about the plans. | Mr Gates said the Pentagon would consult the US Congress and others about the plans. |
| Africa Command would be the fifth regional operations base for the US. | Africa Command would be the fifth regional operations base for the US. |
| Responsibility for Africa operations is currently divided among three regional commands. | Responsibility for Africa operations is currently divided among three regional commands. |
| It was unclear whether the new command centre would be located in Africa or the United States - along with the US Central Command, the Southern Command, and the Pacific Command. | It was unclear whether the new command centre would be located in Africa or the United States - along with the US Central Command, the Southern Command, and the Pacific Command. |
| The US also has an anti-terror task force based in Djibouti. | |
| 'Outdated arrangement' | 'Outdated arrangement' |
| Mr Gates was addressing the Senate Armed Services Committee on the defence spending President Bush proposed in his 2008 budget, submitted to Congress on Monday. | Mr Gates was addressing the Senate Armed Services Committee on the defence spending President Bush proposed in his 2008 budget, submitted to Congress on Monday. |
| "This command will enable us to have a more effective and integrated approach than the current arrangement... an outdated arrangement left over from the Cold War," Mr Gates said. | "This command will enable us to have a more effective and integrated approach than the current arrangement... an outdated arrangement left over from the Cold War," Mr Gates said. |
| He said Africa Command would "oversee security, co-operation, building partnership capability, defence support to non-military missions, and, if directed, military operations". | He said Africa Command would "oversee security, co-operation, building partnership capability, defence support to non-military missions, and, if directed, military operations". |
| US officials say Africa is of growing strategic importance to the United States because of increased efforts by China to gain influence on the continent. | US officials say Africa is of growing strategic importance to the United States because of increased efforts by China to gain influence on the continent. |
| Also, the Pentagon has voiced concern over potential threats, including terrorist threats that could emerge in war-torn areas, such as Somalia. | Also, the Pentagon has voiced concern over potential threats, including terrorist threats that could emerge in war-torn areas, such as Somalia. |