Hearing of the House Armed Services Committee - U.S. Africa Command

Interview

Hearing of the House Armed Services Committee - U.S. Africa Command

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REP. JOE WILSON (R-SC): Thank you, Madam Chairman. And thank all of you for being here today.

And in lieu of a -- questions, I want to extend a warm and cordial invitation for General Ward to move to Charleston, South Carolina. And this is on behalf of my two colleagues, Congressman Henry Brown, Congressman Jim Clyburn, who both represent Charleston. I was born in the holy city of Charleston. It is a wonderful place to be. It would be a wonderful site for the African Command. In fact, I have presented you a invitation from the Charleston Metro Chamber of Commerce, inviting the African Command to be located in Charleston.

And there's so much in common that we have, particularly with West Africa, that would make persons feel right at home. And, indeed, I have had the privilege of visiting in Sudan and Kenya and South Africa, in Ghana, in Liberia, in Cape Verde. And as I was visiting with people in those countries, I found such a kinship with South Carolina, but Charleston and the low country in particular. And I would want you to be aware that the Naval Weapons Station Charleston would be an ideal location. It has ample acreage, a secure military facility. It's home of SPAWAR Charleston, which can provide all the technology needed for the command's security and communication systems.

Additionally, it's already been cited that there is the precedent of commands located outside of the area that they cover. Particularly, we had the Southern Command in Miami; the Central Command in Tampa, the PACOM in Honolulu.

Charleston, again, has such a strong relationship with the African Continent and, specifically, where it could be so beneficial. Charleston is the transportation hub for the United States Transportation Command, as well as the primary seaport for container cargo between the United States and the South Atlantic. The Port of Charleston ranks Number One for container traffic, handling approximately 50 percent of all container traffic to and from the South Atlantic.

Charleston Air Force Base provides nearly all of the strategic airlift support for Africa, for our government to include embassy support. SPAWAR Charleston is the leading provider for command-and- control and communication for European Command's role in Africa. SPAWAR also supports embassy security operations, and could stand up an AFRICOM Command Center at SPAWAR Charleston in a matter of days.

Other relationships include the greater Charleston medical community, which is a world-class medical community for training and education, as well as patient support. Additionally, most of the rapid deployment forces which would support an African operation to include Special Operations are in the southeastern part of the United States surrounding Charleston.

Charleston is the hub for all military transportation -- airlift, sealift and prepositioning. Also, the cultural linkages between Africa, Charleston and South Caroline have existed for centuries, and they would -- this could bring enormous development and cultural opportunities for both Africa and the United States. In fact, a few minutes ago, I was speaking with Congressman Clyburn, and he and I both of Charleston background were commenting how the local dialect of Gullah, which is spoken in South Carolina, actually originated in West Africa.

Additionally, the AME Church, the African Methodist Episcopal Church of South Carolina, is partnered with the AME Church of Liberia, and I have visited the AME University in Monrovia. And so there's a close connection. And so I want to make it perfectly clear that Charleston and all of South Carolina would welcome the Africa Command; that, indeed, visiting dignitaries of Africa and persons assigned would enjoy living and visiting in America's most historic city.

The invitation is clear, it's wide open. You're welcome to Charleston, South Carolina, for Africa Command.

I yield the balance of my time.

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