Relief group criticizes new U.S. Africa command

[Eugene]

Source: Reuters

Relief group criticizes new U.S. Africa command
17 Jul 2008 22:19:52 GMT
Source: Reuters

WASHINGTON, July 17 (Reuters) - The new U.S.
military command for Africa is unlikely to foster
the security required to bring badly needed
development to the impoverished continent,
according to a study released on Thursday.

A report by the Washington-based relief agency
Refugees International said U.S. Africa Command,
or AFRICOM, lacks the funding necessary to address
the continent's need for competent policing and
criminal justice operations.

"AFRICOM's current meager budget for bilateral
security cooperation falls far short of what is
needed to have true credibility and impact," the
48-page report said.

But Africa Command spokesman Vince Crawley said
the command would play only a supportive role in
helping countries upgrade police and other law
enforcement agencies, and that most of the effort
would be funded and led by the State Department.

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