I am a trained researcher with experience in print and electronic research techniques. I also occasionally write training manuals, particularly technical training manuals, for my workplace. So I have experience tracking down information, and rewriting and condensing it for other people to use. And I have some experience with graphics. I am the author of the Crossed Crocodiles blog. I remain anonymous out of deference to the wishes of certain family members. I am older than many of the people in the blogging and technology fields. I observed the disasters caused by proxy wars in Africa during the 80s. I saw the US, the Soviets, and the Europeans pour arms into the continent, sometimes arming both sides of a conflict at the same time. The disasters wrought by those policies continue today. When AFRICOM was announced I decided I was not going to sit idly by and watch these things happen again. I decided to find out all that I can, and publish what I learn, and say what I think it means. I follow US policy as it effects African countries. My employment keeps me in the US most of the time. I have family both in Ghana and in the US. With other family members I am part owner of some small farms in Ghana. So I am interested in agricultural policies, particularly how such policies effect small farmers and food production. These issues, particularly AFRICOM, have been the primary focus of my blogging, but I have a number of other interests that may come to play in my writings. I'm delighted to join the team at AfricanLoft.
Contact Xcroc via email here.
Posted by Xcroc on July 23, 2008 in Africa, Community Report, Feature
The American government is spending far more on military activity in Africa than it is on civil development assistance creating a civil-military imbalance. Over the past several years this imbalance has grown enormously. Photo: Lieutenant Colonel Terry VandenDolder, U.S. Africa Command
Posted by Xcroc on July 8, 2008 in Africa, Discussion Lounge, Opinion, USA
In October the International Peace Operations Association, IPOA, the trade association that lobbies for mercenaries, will meet in Washington DC for their 2008 Annual Convention. The theme of their annual conference is: Engaging AFRICOM
In Dogs of War: Back to Africa, David Isenberg asks:
Where does the future lie for the private military industry? (When) Iraq, [...]
Posted by Xcroc on March 31, 2008 in Africa, Community Report, Discussion Lounge, Feature, Life & Culture, USA
Talk of a single AFRICOM headquarters has changed…the US military is considering ’sea-basing’ - a hybrid system-of-systems consisting of concepts of operations, ships, forces, offensive and defensive weapons, aircraft, communications and logistics.
Posted by Xcroc on February 27, 2008 in Africa, Discussion Lounge, General, Life & Culture, USA
The American president, George Bush made huge cuts to UN peacekeeping in Africa, many millions of dollars, on the eve of his trip to Africa, his opening “gift” to the continent. So all the time he was playing benevolent uncle he was taking as much as giving. Since he continues to spend on AFRICOM, and [...]
Posted by Xcroc on February 18, 2008 in Africa, Discussion Lounge, Event, Life & Culture, USA
Bush in Africa 2
. . . for some of us, it is a huge embarrassment when the number one war criminal in the world, who should be facing charges in the Hague, showers praises on our leader - Hamza Mustafa Njozi.
Bush’s visit to Africa is described in some headlines as Africa bright spot in Bush [...]
Posted by Xcroc on February 16, 2008 in Africa, Benin, Discussion Lounge, Event, Ghana, Liberia, Life & Culture, People, Rwanda, Tanzania, USA
“Our seemingly voluntary decision to invite and to entertain a hated war criminal for four days in our beautiful land will probably go down in history as marking the darkest moment in our political history so far” writes Hamza Mustafa Njozi from Tanzania.
And now, Kwame Nkrumah’s worst fears have come to pass. Tanzania, a former [...]
Posted by Xcroc on February 7, 2008 in Africa, Discussion Lounge, Editor's Pick, Nigeria
There is a tribute to Nollywood, and the impact of Nigerian culture by David Kaiza, published at the East African, and at AllAfrica.com The New Black Self-Image
Like Bollywood, Nollywood is formula stuff: Predictable, racy plots that start and end in tension. There is witchcraft, raffia skirts, men and women in agbadas. Christianity clashes with [...]
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