AFRICOM to remain at Stuttgart for now

[unhappycamper]

AFRICOM to remain at Stuttgart for now
By John Vandiver, Stars and Stripes
Mideast edition, Saturday, November 1, 2008

STUTTGART, Germany — After a review of numerous potential locations for the establishment of U.S. Africa Command headquarters, Defense Secretary Robert Gates has elected to keep the new command in Stuttgart, at least for now, the Pentagon announced late Thursday.

Officials stopped short of saying that AFRICOM would be at Stuttgart’s Kelley Barracks on a permanent basis.

"We certainly looked at a number of alternatives," Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman said in a news release. "But at the end of the day, it was determined that for now, and into the foreseeable future, the best location was for it to remain in its current headquarters."

In Stuttgart, AFRICOM officials said the focus now is on building up the new command. Though it was officially activated on Oct. 1, there has been a steady stream of speculation worldwide about where AFRICOM would eventually set up its headquarters. Supposed potential sites have ranged from Charleston, S.C., to Morocco, to other locations in Europe such at Rota, Spain.

"It’s become a phenomenon that the discussion of AFRICOM always hinges on where it’s going. Where we’re going is here (Stuttgart). What’s important for us is to build the command," said Vince Crawley, AFRICOM spokesman. "Looking for office space stateside is something that is well-intended, but something way down the road."


Rest of article at: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=58538