INTRODUCTION The present global socio-economic-political and technological landscapes have undeniably pose serious challenges and opportunities to the United States as the only super power in the world at the present. It is not only globally superior in terms of military might and technology but also the biggest economy in the world. Such epitome of global success and leadership for more than a century has been the very beneficial to the U.S. and its economy particularly in the pre-9/11 and pre-2007 global financial crisis eras. But these events particularly the 9/11 attack for example have created serious blow to the U.S. global leadership and its image. Like in the area of the U.S. foreign policy in which its global image defends upon that has also significant implications on its economy, global economic and political interest.
Hypothesis
The evolution U.S. Foreign Policy for example has been intertwined with the changes of the socio-economic-political and technological landscapes. But for the first time in U.S. History, Terrorism has become the major cause of the abrupt changed in its Foreign Policy which has some serious implications on its national security, political and economic interests in different regions of the globe including West African region which composed of countries like Angola, Benin, Cameroon, Cape Verde, Democratic Republic of Congo, Côte d'Ivoire, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia, Mauritania, Namibia, Nigeria, Sao Tome and Principe, Senegal, Sierra Leone, Togo, and Congo.
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to conduct discussion and analysis on the United States Security and Economic Cooperation (policy) for West Africa Since the terrorist attacks of 9/11. As one must take note that such region is entwined with serious economic and political factors that would help the United States perpetuate its military and economic dominance. The intended audiences for this paper are students and academes studying political science, international trade relations, national security and history.

UNITED STATES SECURITY AND ECONOMIC COOPERATION (POLICY) FOR WEST AFRICA SINCE THE TERRORIST ATTACKS OF 9/11

Terrorism is most dreadful form of security threat of a nation could face in this present day and age of globalization and era of information. The deadliness and destruction it brings transcend across cultures and geographical boundaries which can strike anytime and anywhere, a nightmare the United States and its allies have to face. On September 11, 2001 the United States have been attacked on its own soil by foreign enemies who executed the said mission successfully killing 3,000 innocent civilians. These attacks were in the form of hijack commercial aircrafts commandeered by Al Qaeda operatives in a suicide mission in plunging the twin towers in New York, and Pentagon in Michigan. Socio-economic and economic landscapes have been powerful factors on how it would start and how it would end. It also shapes military doctrines, national and foreign policies of any nation like the United States.
Background:
The 9/11 attacks have been the major cause of the transformation of the U.S. foreign policy from being adherent to the doctrine of non-engagement and containment or the so-called policy of Deterrence was abandoned by the Bush administration and adopted the “Bush Doctrine” a militant form of U.S. Foreign policy-that consequently caused severe damage to the nation’s global PR image. Because the new Foreign Policy have been the main cause of the highly unpopular 2nd War on Iraq and War in Afghanistan wherein the Obama Administration have no choice but to continue to carry the cross of disgrace created by its predecessor-the 2nd Bush Administration. It has been the main reason why the War on Terror continues wherein the nations in Western Africa are crucial for its success. The fact remains that the administration of president Obama had renounced major political, economic, and foreign policies of its predecessor wherein it tries to use foreign diplomacy as way of mending the black eyed global image of the said country but the sad thing is the problem of “terrorism” continues. With the continuing threat of terrorism complex with the economic woes of the United States, the present administration cannot discard the war on terror. This aspect alone serves as a strong indication that the United States simply cannot substantially limit its global involvement because it already involves its national security, protecting their global installations, economic interest and the perpetuation of their global dominance. Another aspect is its economic well-being as the biggest economy in the world where majority of nations today are deeply in-tangled and dependent on its economy. And as a matter of fact being the top of the global economic at the present has been its main source of power and dominance in economic and political aspects in the global arena. Slowing down its involvement in global socio-economic and political affairs would seemingly create a power vacuum that could easily be filled out by emerging powers like China, Russia, and the E.U, a scenario the U.S. cannot afford to happen. Waning out its involvement in the global affairs would seemingly make it vulnerable to terrorist attacks, worsen its economic problems, and can possibly destabilized its government (because the political forces within it particularly the conservatives which represent the Rightist or far Right and liberals would eventually clash). It must make strategic policies that are intertwined with Realism, Globalism, Liberalism and proactive global economic-political policies that would help it integrate and actively interface with the changing global socio-economic-political and technological landscapes of the global community. It is one way of maintaining its global leadership by proactively remained engaged with the global community and not be isolated by implementing idealistic and impractical economic-political policies that are outdated. This implies the fact that the United States being hounded with the continuing threat of terror attacks on its homeland, global installations, citizens complex with the economic downturn need to find the ways and means to create strategic defense alliances and economic policies that would proactively address such security threats and economic problem wherein the West African region can play a vital role as the said region provides the United States energy security, economic benefits and strengthen global hegemony.

THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK The policies and strategies employed by the U.S. on its foreign and trade policies in West African Regions conformed to the principles of Post-modernism and realism. The elements of Realist Theory on the present U.S. Policy on West African nations is clearly seen on Obama’s adaptations of the elements from the Policy of Deterrence and Containment and some Resonating elements of the Bush Doctrine’s preemptive strike which help ensure the economic interests of the U.S. and national security. Realist Theory is a political philosophy that “encompasses approaches that give more autonomy to distinctively political thought. It applies appropriate standards of evaluation arise from within politics rather than from an external moral standpoint” The foreign and economic/trade policies by the U.S. towards the said African region are not aggressive but based on the realities entwined with the socio-economic-political landscapes of the nations in this region. As it is in conformity with the ideals of Post-Modernism confined in this age of globalization entwined with the perpetual threat of terrorism and transnational crimes. The U.S. as its political and economically engages in Western emphasizes the importance of interdependence and collaboration wherein treats itself seemingly co-equal to other nations or to its allies which maybe a strategy to prevent the U.S. from being isolated like what did happen during the Bush administration. One must take note that Post-modernist political and economic/trade policy emphasizes “claimed in national narratives of ‘national security’ and the universalizing narratives of the rights of man, of the woman whose very womb is claimed by the irresolvable contesting narratives of ‘church,’ ‘paternity,’ ‘economy,’ and ‘liberal policy”
ANALYSIS
West African region is indeed hounded with extremes of poverty, political instability, transnational crimes, and has less economic significance to the United States due to its lack of resources needed by the U.S. West African region is home to nearly half of the “300 million poor people reported by the United Nations to be living on less than $1.25 a day in Africa. Poverty is a major source of ethnic, religious and resource control tensions, and conflicts.” Socio-economic-political inequalities are rampant complex with the threats of diseases such as AIDS, Malaria, weak economic and political institutions and high unemployment rates due to underdeveloped industries. Because of the seemingly discouraging economic condition of West African region combined with the grinding financial problem of the United States such region is economically less significant to the said superpower aside from the fact that there is almost no threat from Islamic terrorism on this African region. Although transnational crime is indeed a concern for the United States wherein transnational organized crime like “drug trafficking, is a major threat to security and governance throughout West Africa. Traffickers are moving drugs, people, small arms, oil, cigarettes, counterfeit medicine, and toxic waste through the region, generating large profits for transnational criminal networks.” This means that the international criminal operations of organized crime groups basing in Western African Region pose national security threat to the U.S. and other countries aside from the fact that the criminal operations of West African organized groups also pose threats to the industries of the U.S. “Drug trafficking not only destabilizes our African partners but undercuts our U.S. policy priorities in West Africa, including security, democracy, and good governance” One must take note that this transnational organized groups from West Africa are well-connected and financially powerful which also have some tie ups with U.S. enemies like drug Cartel in South America as well as ties to terror groups who are sometimes believed engaged on drug trafficking, counterfeiting and other criminal activities to finance their global operations.
Challenges of national security policy making Because of the threats to the national security of the United States the U.S. government “developed a plan called the West Africa Cooperative Security Initiative or W-A-C-S-I. The latter is designed to respond to the underlying factors that allow transnational crime to flourish in West Africa. INL led a U.S. interagency effort.” But the problem is, most of the governments in West Africa like Sierra Leone, Liberia, Nigeria and others are inflicted with corruption and political instability which makes difficult for the U.S. to attain sustainable success in curtailing the criminal activities on these West African countries. Entwined with the minor trade and economic relationship with the said region there is a limited socio-economic programs that are being implemented by the U.S. As the said region do not possessed attractive markets and natural resources vital for the U.S economy in realistic and practical point of view. Although West Africa also possesses low sulfur oil sources for this region which makes it attractive to the U.S. and other oil consuming countries.
Evidence for reform of the national security institutions Cooperative Security Initiative or W-A-C-S-I formed by the United States in addressing the national security threats of the organized crime operating in West African Region are composed of different government institutions. Due to the fact that the illegal drugs, illicit products and other criminal enterprise jeopardized the national security and economic interests of the United States because it help terrorists finance their activities and operations as well as strengthen drug cartels in South America and other criminal groups posing threats to the United States. WACSI is an interagency effort consisting of the United States Office of National Drug Control Policy, the Department of Defense (U.S. Africa Command and the Office of the Secretary of Defense). As well as the “Department of Homeland Security (United States Coast Guard, Customs and Border Protection and Immigration and Customs Enforcement), Department of Justice (Criminal Division, Drug Enforcement Administration, Federal Bureau of Investigation), and U.S. Agency for International Development.” Through these U.S. agencies and their experts, the United States actively involved in fighting the organized crime groups in Western African Region which also help the governments on this region to curtail criminal activities and help strengthen their law enforcements and governmental institutions.
Economic and Trade policies of the U.S. towards West African Region and implications on the U.S. energy security, national security and sustaining global hegemony Being the biggest economy in the world, a member of the World Trade Organization confined in this age of globalization, the United States have also established economic cooperation and agreements with West African economies. The U.S. and the “West African Economic and Monetary Union (UEMOA) convened the sixth meeting of the U.S.-UEMOA Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA) Council.” In this economic cooperation, the United States aim to strengthen its trade and economic ties with Western African nations with the objective to help stimulate its economy and the economies of the said region. Total two-way trade between the United States and the member countries of UEMOA (like Benin, Burkina Faso, Cote d’Ivoire, Guinea Bissau, Mali, Niger, Senegal and Togo) is estimated to have valued around $1.2 billion which would allow the U.S. to export its products like machineries, motor vehicles, mineral fuels and aircraft. At the same time the member Western African countries are allowed to export their products such as “oil, cocoa and cocoa products, coffee, rubber, nuts, fruits, and precious minerals. Six UEMOA countries – Benin, Burkina Faso, Guinea Bissau, Mali, Senegal and Togo – are eligible for benefits under AGOA.” These economic and trade cooperation between the U.S. and West African countries can be regarded as symbiotic economic relationship which help stimulate the growth of industries, employment or job creation, and addressing the dreadful problem of poverty hounding the said African nations. At the same time the oil from these West African nations adds up to the energy security of the United States in providing the energy needs of its industries, transportation and consumers. With the economic benefits derived from this trade and economic cooperation West African nations’ government institutions will be strengthen, increase their loyalty and dependence on the U.S. for their economic and defense needs. It would help weaken the attraction of extremism and criminality on these countries because it addresses the problem of poverty and political instability. Africa’s importance as an energy supplier to world markets has grown consistently since the 80s. In fact West African nations like “Nigeria and Angola—is seen as an increasingly attractive prize both by major energy-importing states and by transnational energy corporations due to its high grade oil and less politically volatile compared to Middle Eastern countries.” Because of this seemingly attractive attributes of West African oil, the U.S. and other rich countries in the West and in Asia are scrambling to tap on this opportunity by involving in the so-called African energy politics. In fact “there has been an important and clear strategic continuity between the Bush and Obama administrations, with the central objectives of the American state in relation to oil-rich states in West Africa remaining largely unchanged.”
This implies the fact that with the pre-9/11 to the post 9/11 era, the United States have strong interests on West African oil to ensure its energy security as the latter is also vital in strengthen the U.S. economy, national security and global hegemony. One must take note that from Bush to Obama Administrations there has been rapid “acceleration in the deployment of US military and economic power in the region through the creation of a new Combatant Command, a significantly increased naval presence and expanded security assistance programs.” This means that the West African regions have become more and more important for the U.S. due to its oil sources, emerging economies and economic value. “Oil released onto international markets from West Africa forms an important element of overall global supply, and US planners are well aware of this fact.” It is a fact that foreign direct investments (FDI) “flows to West Africa are mainly concentrated in the natural resource sectors (oil and gas, gold, iron ore, magnesium, timber) and the resource-rich countries”
Conflict between governmental and non-governmental actors in formulating policy The actions and policies implemented by the U.S. in the West African region particularly on the nations of Nigeria and Angola have undeniably received minimal opposition from non-governmental actors. Considering the fact that such move of the U.S. is economic beneficial, strengthen the energy security, national security and helps perpetuate the global dominance of the United States as military superpower. Not to mention the fact that West African region is relatively peaceful compared to the political volatile Middle Eastern regions and more expensive Arab oil. This implies that there is indeed a lesser risks for the United States in engaging economically and politically in this region. Although the only objections of cause oriented groups is in the area of neo-imperialism of the U.S. on which in the practical and realistic point of view is indeed necessary for the survival and continued global dominance of the U.S. West African region is undeniably fast becoming important region for the United States as “International Energy Outlook considers the coast of West Africa to represent ‘a new frontier for the petroleum industry’, with an ample ‘potential resource base offshore West Africa’ and production within the region ‘still in its infancy.” Because of such economic fact the governmental players enjoy minute number of opposition from the non-governmental players. Although environmental groups criticize the U.S. for its perpetuating addiction to oil that contributes to climate change and environmental degradation.

CONCLUSION West African Region is indeed becoming more and more important region for the U.S. due to its rich oil resources, relatively peaceful political landscape compared to the Middle East which is hounded by extremism and terrorism and tensions. From the Bush Administration to the post 9/11 era, West African region is already an important economic interests for the United States because of its oil sources, emerging markets and high grade energy resources, cheaper labor and other economic advantage. Although the said African region is also home of notorious transnational organized crime groups that pose serious national security threat to the United States and its industries. The government agencies of the U.S. together with the governments of West African nations are working together to curtail the operations of the international organized crimes which also instrumental in the strengthening of economic and trade ties complex with strengthening military and political alliance.

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