For the past decade, much has been debated and written about U.S. security interests in Africa. The George W. Bush administration has demonstrated a heightened awareness of Africa’s importance to American geopolitical and eco- nomic interests as well as sensitivity to the continent’s humanitarian challenges. The 2006 U.S. National Security Strategy identifies Africa as “a high priority” and “recognizes that our security depends upon partnering with Africans to strengthen fragile and failing states and bring ungoverned areas under the con- trol of effective democracies.”
