Hearing of the House Armed Services Committee - FY 2009 National Defense Authorization Budget Request from the US European Command, Southern Command and Africa Command

Hearing of the House Armed Services Committee - FY 2009 National Defense Authorization Budget Request from the US European Command, Southern Command and Africa Command

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REP. HANK JOHNSON (D-GA): Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and good afternoon, gentlemen, and thank you for your service to the nation.

Admiral Stavridis --

ADM. STAVRIDIS: Sir, that's fine.

REP. JOHNSON: Is Cuba a threat to United States security?

ADM. STAVRIDIS: I do not believe that in today's environment Cuba is a military threat to the United States. I think the unfortunate aspect of Cuba is that it is a dictatorship. Three months ago, 614 seats in their legislature by 614 candidates who ran for office, power passed at the fiat of Fidel Castro to his brother Raul without changing anything, without improving human rights, without improving conditions for dissidents, and without opening economically, without anything that would relieve the oppression of decades. So I think of Cuba not as a military threat, but as a threat to democracy in that they are the last remaining nation in this region that does not follow the rule of democracy. And I think that's deeply unfortunate.

REP. JOHNSON: Thank you, sir.

General Ward, AFRICOM's mission requires it to work with both non-DOD and non-U.S. government organizations. Can you describe your experience so far in establishing relationships and partnerships with non-U.S. government organizations conducting stabilization and reconstruction activities within the area of operations of AFRICOM.?

ADM. STAVRIDIS: Thank you, Congressman.

As was pointed out, we have not taken over those missions just yet from U.S. European Command, U.S. Central Command, and U.S. Pacific Command. But as I --

REP. JOHNSON: -- operations that are ongoing?

ADM. STAVRIDIS: The operations that are ongoing are being done through mechanisms that we have been using. What I have attempted to do is reinforce the fact with these non-governmental organizations and agencies that it is not our intent to do their work. What we want to do, quite frankly, is have a better understanding of their activities, and where we can, through our actions, be supportive of them. We want to understand and do that.

I have met with representatives of various NGOs as well as other international organizations. I've met with USAID. USAID has hosted several of these meetings that I have conducted with non-governmental organizations so that we can understand more clearly firstly, what they're doing; secondly, where there are common lines of mutual support, where we can pursue those; and then working in ways that we can achieve that mutual benefit. I think, as I have done that, quite frankly, Congressman, there has been receptivity to the approach. There has been a welcomed appreciation for the outreach that we've extended and wanting to know better. And I think the important thing -- another important thing is where we see a contact line that just isn't appropriate, then we certainly, you know, would honor that and stay away.

REP. JOHNSON: What -- typically, what are some of the things that the NGOs and other potential partners value about American involvement in that region of the world? What is it that they want from us?

ADM. STAVRIDIS: The NGOs that are working there that we have been in contact with, some of them see our ability to get into the environment, the sustained nature of our presence in building relationships. As an example, we have conducted exercises whereby NGOs, and I'll use one and cite one, Project Hope, has been a part of the exercises. We've gone in and worked with a host nation in addressing their medical capacity requirements. We also have done partnering with NGOs --

REP. JOHNSON: So these are not military operations, these are more soft-power-type operations?

ADM. STAVRIDIS: Correct. It's a blending of the soft power with what we do. Correct. Exactly correct, sir.

REP. JOHNSON: If you could, describe for us the overall Department of Defense involvement in stabilization and reconstruction activities in Africa, including activities funded by DOD, State, USAID, and other agencies where DOD plays a lead or supporting role?

ADM. STAVRIDIS: Sir, the SSTRs are projects that are operated under the auspices of our foreign policy -- State Department establishes those programs. Where we are involved is in the transformation and modernization of armed forces of those nations, and we do that through our military-to-military training. We do that through the administration of various programs, the International and Military Education and Training program, whereby, you know, the professionalization, NCO leadership, officer leadership, the professionalization of their militaries as part of the SSTR, we have a role in doing those sorts of activities, and we do that in greater support of the greater program of stabilization and reconstructing within a particular nation and its military, it's uniformed services.

REP. JOHNSON: What has been your experience so far in the development of a workable interagency process? And in particular, how closely are the State Department and Department of Defense coordinating on plans for the command and on U.S. military efforts in Africa in general?

ADM. STAVRIDIS: There has been a very -- (inaudible) -- level of cooperation and coordination with the State Department. The State Department was involved in the planning of the command, during the transition team activities. They remain involved by input of the deputy of the commander of military activities or the senior State Department ambassador, who is one of my two deputies. And the planning that we do is done in very close coordination with the Department of State both, whether they're at my headquarters as well as main State here in Washington.

REP. JOHNSON: Thank you, sir.

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