"Bush seeks to ease worries of US military power in Africa"
"by Jennifer Loven, Associated Press | February 21, 2008
ACCRA, Ghana - In a country teeming with resources the world covets, President Bush sought yesterday to soothe African fears about American interests on the continent. He said the United States isn't aiming to make Africa into a base for greater military power or a proxy battleground with China.
Guy can't help lying, can he?
The desire for Africa's vast raw materials - oil, gold, diamonds, minerals, crops, and more - has a long and often violent and exploitative history.
That's especially true in this tropical, resource-rich nation on the shores of West Africa, the first place in sub-Saharan Africa that Europeans arrived to trade, first in gold, then slaves, and now the site of a new offshore oil discovery.
Oh, like a fish to water and a shark to blood.... Bush to oil!
So it came as little surprise that Bush's talk about how US generosity has made strides against disease and poverty encountered some skepticism here about the underlying American agenda.
What, PNAC?
Some of those questions arose during Bush's appearance with Ghana's leader at Osu Castle, once a hub of slave-trading and now the seat of government.
With no prompting at a news conference, Bush sought to deal with suspicions about the creation of a new US military command dedicated to Africa.
Nations such as Libya, Nigeria, and South Africa have expressed fears the plan signals an unwanted expansion of American power on the continent or is a cover for protecting Africa's oil on behalf of the United States.
Bush said Ghana's president, John Kufuor, bluntly told him in private that "you're not going to build any bases in Ghana."
"I know there's rumors in Ghana, all Bush is coming to do is try to convince you to put a big military base here,' " Bush said. "That's baloney. Or as we say in Texas, that's bull. I want to dispel the notion that all of a sudden America is bringing all kinds of military to Africa."
Instead, Bush said the new command - unique to the Pentagon's structure - was aimed at more effectively reorganizing US military efforts related to Africa under one hierarchy, and to strengthen African nations' peacekeeping, antitrafficking, antiterror, and other efforts.
For now, the administration has decided to continue operating AFRICOM out of existing US bases on the continent and directing it from Stuttgart, Germany....
Bush said "we haven't made our minds up" about whether to "develop some kind of office somewhere in Africa" as a headquarters....
Just like he told us he hadn't decided on going to war when he already had!
Tired of this shit liar!
On China, Bush insisted "we can pursue agendas without creating a sense of competition."
Still, he made his argument clear: that the United States is the better and kinder partner, because it aims to improve African lives while nations like China focus on commercial opportunity.
Right, like the U.S. and this asshole doesn't!!!
Yup, and if there were no resources in Africa, would he give a shit?
Just discovered some oil did they?
If Iraq had peanuts instead of oil, would we be there?
As for "better and kinder," do the Chinese torture, too?
In an indirect swipe at Beijing, Bush suggested African leaders set standards such as the employment of African workers or keeping value-added processes on the continent for countries seeking to do business here - and promised the United States would meet them.
But there is no question that American economic interests matter here.
Sigh!
So tired of the god0-damn lies!
On energy alone, a fifth of US oil comes from Nigeria. Ghana's oil discovery last year matters, even if it won't rival that.
Jennifer Cooke, an authority on Africa for the Center for Strategic and International Studies in Washington, said Bush's altered approach to foreign aid is in part a counterargument to China's formidable presence."Oh, so the WHOLE TRIP is REALLY ABOUT CHINA'S PRESENCE in Africa!
And the New York Times sells it like this?
"Bush Confronts Hard Questions in Ghana"
"Traveling across Africa this week, President Bush has been a little like Santa Claus, a benevolent figure from another land handing out gifts — American foreign aid — and generating smiles wherever he goes....
Yup, the asshole Anti-Christ is Santa Claus to the Jew York, I mean, New York Times!
Sigh!!!!
The administration added some star power on Wednesday. Jordin Sparks, the winner of the “American Idol” singing contest last year, sang the national anthem when Mr. Bush and his wife, Laura, visited the American Embassy here. Ms. Sparks is here promoting the charity Malaria No More."
Wow, is that ever one BAD "news"paper!!!
No wonder I never read or purchase them anymore....
