US in military misstep over African oil By Antonia Juhasz
The number of Americans who believe that the war in Iraq was a mistake has
surpassed the number who felt the same way about Vietnam during that war. At
the same time, a much quieter US military build-up is underway on another
continent. The ultimate objective of the two efforts is the same: securing Big
Oil's access to the regions' oil. The impact in Africa will likely be the same
as in Iraq: perpetual occupation, instability, and growing anti-Americanism.
In recognition of "the emerging strategic importance of Africa", President
George W Bush in February 2007 ordered the creation of AFRICOM, the US Africa
Command.
AFRICOM centralizes all authority for the US military operating in
the African region under one command structure. It also transfers many duties
that previously belonged to nonmilitary US agencies - such as building schools
and digging wells - to the jurisdiction of the Department of Defense. While
fighting terrorism in Africa is the primary reason given for the establishment
of AFRICOM, oil appears to be the more pressing motivator.
"A key mission for US forces [in Africa] would be to insure that Nigeria's
oilfields, which in the future could account for as much as 25% of all US oil
imports, are secure," explains General Charles Wald, deputy commander of US
forces in Europe in an interview with Wall Street Journal writer Greg Jaffe.
To secure and maintain access to oil, if not for the nation, then most
certainly for our oil companies, the Bush administration has increasingly
turned toward the US military. Author Kevin Phillips coined the term
"petrol-imperialism" to describe the Bush administration's policies in this
regard, "the key aspect of which is the US military’s transformation into a
global oil protection force". Under the rubric of the Global War on Terror, the
Bush administration has implemented the greatest realignment of US forces since
the end of the Cold War. With a map of Big Oil's overseas operations, the
world's remaining oil reserves, and oil transport routes, one can now track the
realignment and predict future deployments of the US military.
Africa, with almost 10% of the world's remaining oil, is an area of increasing
activity for both Big Oil and the US military. Between 2000 and 2007, US
imports of oil from Africa increased by 65%, from 1.6 million to 2.7 million
barrels a day, according to the US Department of Energy. These imports, in
turn, accounted for a growing percentage of all US oil imports: increasing from
14.5% in 2000 to 20% in 2007. Both trends are expected to accelerate in the
future.
Oil giants increase presence
Not only is the United States importing more African oil, but US oil companies
are also increasing their African reserves and their presence on the continent.
According to SEC tax filings, in 2000, ExxonMobil operated in just three
African nations - Angola, Equatorial Guinea, and Nigeria - and its production
there was negligible relative to the rest of the world. Today, ExxonMobil also
operates in Cameroon and Chad and is set to begin work in Libya. Its African
holdings account for nearly 17% of the company’s global oil reserves.
According to 2008 SEC Tax Filings, Chevron, ConocoPhillips and Marathon, among
other US oil companies, are also increasing their presence, with each operating
in three or more of the following countries: Algeria, Angola, Cameroon, Chad,
the Republic of Congo, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Equatorial Guinea,
Gabon, Libya, and Nigeria. According to US Energy Secretary Samuel Bodman, US
companies hope to expand their operations further, with Madagascar, Benin, Sao
Tome and Principe, and Guinea-Bissau among potential future targets.
Shell and BP, both with large US affiliates that are active in both US
political campaigns and domestic lobbying efforts, are also expanding their
already sizeable African operations.
The Bush administration has increasingly turned to the Department of Defense to
ensure more stable governments in Africa that are supportive of both the US
government and US (and US-affiliated) oil corporations and to guarantee an
amenable (some would argue, subdued) populace.
The Administration has increased the provision both of arms and direct military
services and training to Africa, such that today Angola, Algeria, Botswana,
Chad, Cote d’Iviore, the Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Eritrea,
Ethiopia, Gabon, Kenya, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Nigeria, Sudan, and Uganda are
all direct recipients of such assistance. General James Jones, EUCOM (European
Command) Commander, announced that US Navy carrier battle groups would shorten
future visits to the Mediterranean and "spend half the time going down the west
coast to Africa". The former French Foreign Legion base, Camp Lemonier in
Djibouti, became home to the US military's Combined Joint Task Force - Horn of
Africa in 2003.
AFRICOM, at present headquartered in Germany, intends to "establish a presence"
on the African continent this year. There are several options for new US
military bases, including a naval base and deepwater port on the tiny island of
Sao Tome off the coast of Gabon, West Africa. The Pentagon is also considering
new bases in Senegal, Ghana and Mali.
US oil companies have long used African military and security forces to protect
their oil interests. Perhaps it is more honest for the US military to take more
direct oversight over these operations, but the risks far outweigh any
potential benefit. The United States is already engaged in one war for oil in
Iraq and the US military knows this. General John Abizaid, retired head of US
Central Command and military operations in Iraq, said of the war, "Of course
it's about oil, we can't really deny that." The concern is that, as it has in
Iraq, a larger US military presence in Africa will strain an already
overburdened military while increasing internal hostilities, regional
instability, and anger at the United States.
The answer to our nation's oil addiction is not to secure new and diverse
suppliers. We need to kick the habit and just say no, beginning with AFRICOM.
Antonia Juhasz is a Foreign Policy In Focus Policy Analyst. She is an
Associate Fellow with the Institute for Policy Studies and a Fellow with Oil
Change International. Her new book, The Tyranny of Oil: the World’s
Most Powerful Industry, and What We Must Do To Stop It, will be released in
October by HarperCollins Publishers.
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