AFRICOM in US Transformational Diplomacy.

The article discusses the significance of the Africa Command (AFRICOM), one of nine unified combatant commands of the U.S. Armed Forces that is responsible for military operations and military relations with 53 African nations, in the nation's transformational diplomacy. It looks at the history of the relations between the U.S. and Africa from the Barbary Wars of the early 19th century to the onset of the Cold War, during which the Navy was engaged in Africa in pursuit of commercial, humanitarian trade and strategic interests. It aslo explores President George Bush's decision behind the establishment of AFRICOM, and the reorganization of its command structure between 2007 and 2008.