Ia Letter To Chairman Murtha On Africom_24sept08

September 24, 2008 President and CEO Samuel A. Worthington Chair Charles MacCormack, Save the Children Vice Chair Ritu Sharma Fox, Women Thrive Worldwide Treasurer Amy Coen, Population Action International

Board of Directors Nancy A. Aossey, International Medical Corps Kenneth Bacon, Refugees International David Beckmann, Bread for the World Carol Bellamy, World Learning Sekyu Chang, Korean American Sharing Movement Julius Coles, Africare Helene D. Gayle , CARE USA Anne Lynam Goddard, Christian Children’s Fund Lee H. Hamilton, Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars Neal Keny-Guyer, Mercy Corps Elizabeth Lathem, US Committee for UNDP Lelei Lelaulu, Counterpart International Jo Luck, Heifer International John McCullough, Church World Service Stephen F. Moseley, Academy for Educational Development Daniel E. Pellegrom, Pathfinder International Linda Pfeiffer, INMED Robert Radtke, Episcopal Relief and Development Yolonda C. Richardson, Centre for Development and Population Activities George Rupp, International Rescue Committee Zainab Salbi, Women for Women International Ron Sconyers, Physicians for Peace Kathy Spahn, Helen Keller International Richard Stearns, World Vision Tsehaye Teferra, Ethiopian Community Development Council Sam Worthington (Ex-Officio)

1400 16th St., NW Suite 210 Washington, DC 20036 PHONE: (202) 667-8227 FAX: (202) 667-8236

Dear Chairman Murtha and Ranking Member Young On behalf of the 170 InterAction member organizations working around the world to fight poverty and provide life-saving humanitarian assistance, I am writing to support your reported recommendation that the new administration review plans for AFRICOM. We would like to see a better alignment of U.S. government diplomatic, development and humanitarian resources with those of the U.S. Armed Forces in Africa. InterAction members have been working in Africa with local communities for decades and we have been engaged in close dialogue on AFRICOM with the Department of Defense since plans for the new command first became public. We share the Committee’s reported belief that the new military command should not be given the lead in the U.S. government’s engagement with Africa. While we recognize the benefit of having one focal point on the continent to address its complex security challenges, we have serious reservations about the mandate proposed for AFRICOM. First, we are gravely concerned that the boundaries between the humanitarian and development work in which we engage and the activities undertaken by the U.S. military in pursuit of security objectives are becoming increasingly blurred. We are also deeply concerned that with the actual and proposed resource streams advocated by the Pentagon. AFRICOM will overshadow the U.S. government’s civilian presence in Africa, giving our government’s presence an inappropriate military cast. Finally, given its rapid buildup AFRICOM has not been able to acquire substantial expertise in African history, culture and societies, raising the possibility that its activities could have unintended negative consequences. We strongly believe that there are key areas where the US military can play a significant role in contributing to Africa’s security and stability. Instead of “hearts and minds” projects, the military should focus and expand its activities in basic military-to-military training to qualify Africans to serve as peacekeepers; security sector reform; maritime security; and military-to-military assistance in prevention and treatment of HIV/AIDS, human rights awareness, and civilian protection practices. These programs would prevent and mitigate conflict while professionalizing African militaries.

Our members encourage you to continue to provide oversight and to insist on accountability by DoD for its expanding role in non-traditional activities, such as humanitarian and development assistance. We thank you again for your vigilance in this matter, and look forward to working with you to ensure an effective, balanced, civilian-led USG presence on the African continent.

Sincerely yours, Samuel A. Worthington President and CEO InterAction Samuel A. Worthington President and CEO InterAction

CC: Chairman David Obey Ranking Member Jerry Lewis