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| East/Subsaharan Africa |
| Eritrea Pushes To Get U.S. Base |
| 2002-11-21 |
| The issue paper "Why Not Eritrea?" pushes the country's plan for the United States to take advantage of its strategic location in the Horn of Africa as a military staging ground in the buildup toward a looming war with Iraq. After all, the surrounding nations are members of the Arab League and not what one would call very supportive of U.S. interests, the paper says. Even Djibouti, already host to about 3,200 U.S. troops who are being trained in desert warfare, has voiced reservations about U.S. intentions. Besides, the French are there. U.S. officials are considering Eritrea's offer, and Gen. Tommy Franks has visited the country. But to help make sure its message gets heard -- and accepted -- Eritrea has hired Greenberg Traurig, the law firm that includes a lobbying team headed by Jack Abramoff, who has close ties to the new House Majority Leader Tom DeLay (R-Tex.). Somebody there knows how to pick their lobbyist. "Their biggest issue is they want to reach out to America and have better relations," says Padgett Wilson, director of governmental affairs at Greenberg Traurig. Wilson notes that having a U.S. base in Eritrea would bring in much-needed capital and encourage U.S. companies to do business there, helping the country develop a middle class and "providing economic stability for U.S. companies." Works for me. |
| Posted by:Steve |
| #2 "American bases wanted! Best sites, will build to suit. Call Hamid today, BR-549." And, it keeps Ethiopia from picking on them. |
| Posted by: Chuck 2002-11-21 14:39:40 |
| #1 But wait, wont this destabilize the region? ( I certainly hope so, said he) |
| Posted by: Frank Martin 2002-11-21 17:14:44 |