US Military experts to visit Algeria
Ech-Chorouk, May 12, 2007
The US Defence Attaché to Algiers told Echorouk, his country does not seek a set military bases but a general command for Africa.
The US Colonel Steven DARGO said the United States is not seeking the setting up of military bases in Algeria and revealed yesterday to Echorouk a US commission composed of US experts will meet officials from the Algerian government to study the setting up of a General Command for Africa. Colonel Steven Dargo pointed out the forthcoming meeting would be a “consultancy” one to review with the Algerian side the possibility of such a move aimed at finding better solutions to secure the region against the Al Qaida network threats.
Concerning the security issue, Colonel Steven Dargo said Algeria achieved great results in the matter after ten years of turmoil. He also put last April 11th Algiers bombing as being “exceptional” and that total security in the world cannot be achieved “These kinds of terror attacks may happen” as he put it.
In this connection the US defence attaché said the US military intervened in Somalia and Darfur to rescue the populations and that the US would have liked to see the African Union intervening and putting an end to both problems.
That is why and concerning this issue of security in Africa; Steven Dargo said his country is seeking the setting up of a general command. The US doesn’t want to create Military basis in the Algerian desert and bring troops to the area but we rather want to set up a General Command in which African countries’ military officers would work. The US would led the operations only to secure the region.
Colonel Dargo recalled in this context the European experience with the US and added most of these operations are aimed at rescuing populations and repopulate regions. But he reckoned these rescue operations may need political interventions to give the green light.
Colonel Dargo promised to hold a meeting with the press to announce very soon the outcome of the meeting between the US experts and representatives of the Algerian government on the US proposal of a General Command in Africa led by the US military.
