Humanitarian and Disaster Relief Operations: Winning the Hearts and Minds of the Africans.

摘要

The purpose of this research paper is to highlight the importance of U.S. humanitarian and disaster relief operations in Africa and the impact they have on the global image of the U.S. It will address why this is important strategically in carrying out the President's foreign policy objectives as defined in the National Security Strategy of the United States. To accomplish the task this paper will first look at the strategic importance of the African continent and the reasons why the U.S. should continue to be engaged going forward in the 21st Century. It will also examine the challenges the U.S. will face as it attempts to fulfill its strategic goals in Africa. Next, it will look at the role that the media plays in advertising U.S. relief operations and the importance of incorporating an effective strategic information operations campaign. To prove the worthiness of humanitarian and disaster relief operations as a viable method in achieving these goals, it will examine two case studies of previous U.S. relief operations and their effect on U.S. foreign policy objectives. It will conclude by looking at the mission of AFRICOM and recommend a path towards meeting the foreign policy goals as dictated in the National Security Strategy of the United States.