FEINGOLD COUNTERTERROR MEASURES BECOME LAW
President Signs Defense Bill That Includes Feingold Measures to
Require a Comprehensive U.S. Policy for Somalia, and to Create an
Africa Command to Identify and Defeat Emerging Threats
October 18, 2006
Washington, D.C. – President Bush has signed into law two key
measures authored by U.S. Senator Russ Feingold to address counter-terrorism
issues in Africa. One measure requires the Pentagon to develop a plan
for a regional command to deal solely with Africa. Feingold’s
Africa Command measure requires the Department of Defense to study the
possibility of establishing a single military command to focus on identifying
and defeating current and emerging threats throughout the continent.
Feingold’s other measure requires the development of a comprehensive
stabilization and reconstruction strategy for Somalia. Somalia remains
a safe-haven for terrorist organizations, and increased instability
there in recent months threatens regional security.
“An Africa Command would help the U.S. military focus on a continent
that is essential to our national security,” Feingold said. “Our
national security strategy needs to evolve, and so does our capability
to meet new and emerging threats. An Africa Command is vital to strengthening
our relations with African nations and preventing them from becoming
staging grounds for attacks against the U.S. or our allies.”
The Senate passed both of Feingold’s provisions during consideration
of the FY07 Defense Department authorization bill in June 2006. In August
2006, it was reported that the Pentagon was preparing to announce plans
for the creation of an Africa Command. Until now, the U.S. military
has divided responsibility for Africa between Central Command, Pacific
Command, and European Command.
Feingold introduced the Somalia provision to mandate the creation of
a comprehensive policy and strategy for Somalia and to address the growing
instability there.
“We spend $1.6 billion per week in Iraq but we spend just over
two million dollars per year to support Somalia’s fragile political
structures,” Feingold said. “The administration needs to
recognizes what is at stake in Somalia and that he develops a strategy
for success, complete with adequate funding, for this key battleground
in the global fight against terrorist networks.”
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