Africa, U.S.: Security and Bush's Africa Tour

U.S. President George W. Bush leaves Feb. 15 for a trip to Africa that will take him to Benin, Tanzania, Rwanda, Ghana and Liberia. While these nations are not of immense strategic importance to the United States, visiting them still will advance U.S. diplomatic and security strategy in the region. Publicly, Bush probably will discuss HIV/AIDS, democracy and development strategies. Privately, security in Africa's eastern, central, Sahel and Gulf of Guinea regions will dominate the agenda.