TRANSCRIPT: AFRICOM's Ward Testifies Before House Armed Services Committee

WASHINGTON, D.C., Mar 11, 2010 — The commander of U.S. Africa Command, testified before the House Armed Services Committee, March 10, 2010, providing an overview of the command's strategic approach and showing how security cooperation efforts promote stability in support of U.S. foreign policy and national security objectives.

General William E. Ward's testimony before Congress was part of an annual requirement for regional military commanders. He testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee on March 9. (See Senate Armed Services Committee transcript at http://www.africom.mil/getArticle.asp?art=4148〈=0.
"My focus is on activities, programs, and communications that support our national interests," said Ward during his opening statement. "[These programs] also reinforce the success that we have established in ways that will assure progress in the long term for our African partners to be more capable of providing for their own security, and thus helping to guarantee our security here as well."

In the below transcript, Ward testified alongside other senior commanders. Portions of the testimony not related to Africa Command has been omitted.

HEARING OF THE HOUSE ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE