U.S. Africa Command Welcomes New Commander

General David M. Rodriguez , incoming commander, delivers remarks during the U.S. Africa Command’s change of command ceremony, April 5, 2013, Stuttgart, Germany. (Photo by Adam Gramarossa, U.S. Africa Command)

STUTTGART, Germany,

General David M. Rodriguez assumed command of U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) from General Carter F. Ham Friday, April 5.

Rodriguez is AFRICOM’s third commander since the command was established in 2008 to coordinate U.S. military relations and activities with African nations, regional organizations, and the African Union. General Martin E. Dempsey, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, presided over the ceremony.

“(General Rodriguez) is one of our nation’s most highly regarded senior officers and strategic thinkers,” Dempsey said during his remarks. “At every level of command, in peace and war, he has proven his mettle, He is smart and decisive, he cares about the mission, but he also cares deeply about his people.  With more than 36 years of experience, he knows the importance of building relationships and establishing trust.”

Before an audience of more than 1,000 AFRICOM service members, civilian employees, and invited guests, Dempsey praised Ham for leading Africa Command since March 9, 2011. 

Click here to see a video of the ceremony.

http://www.pentagonchannel.mil/Video.aspx?videoid=285993

“You found new ways to deepen partnerships and to build capability. Your support has enabled African-led coalitions to tackle some of Africa’s most complex challenges.  And together, you have critically weakened Al-Shabaab, put the Lord’s Resistance Army on the run, and helped beat back extremism in Mali.”

Dempsey added that AFRICOM’s achievements are “the product of your principled and grounded leadership.”

Ham, who traveled to 42 African nations during 101 trips to Africa, is retiring later this year after 39 years of service, including two years as an enlisted infantryman in the 82nd Airborne Division.

In his remarks, Ham said the day he took command he pledged to then Secretary of Defense Robert Gates that the command would “do our best each and every day to uphold the trust and confidence” of the nation.  “I report to you now that we have fulfilled that pledge. I depart the command confident that the women and men assembled here today and those deployed across the wide expanse of Africa, are indeed, moving forward together.”

Ham said challenges remain ahead, “but I remain wholly confident that the Africa Command team, under General Rodriguez’s most capable leadership, will meet each and every one of those challenges with agility, imaginative thought, and unselfish dedication.”

Rodriquez comes to AFRICOM from Fort Bragg, North Carolina, where he was the Commanding General of U.S. Army Forces Command.  Previously, he served as commander of the International Security Assistance Force Joint Command (IJC) and deputy commander of U.S. Forces-Afghanistan (USFOR-A) from November 12, 2009, to July 11, 2011.

Rodriguez is a 1976 graduate of the United States Military Academy at West Point and holds a Master of Arts in National Security and Strategic Studies from the United States Naval War College and a Masters of Military Arts and Science from the United States Army Command and General Staff College.

“It is a privilege and an honor to be here today and to take command of United States Africa Command,” Rodriguez said.  “General Ham has done a tremendous job leading this command. I will continue this effort and work to build on the relationships that General Ham has established with our African, European, and all our international partners. These partnerships are essential to achieve our shared objectives.”

About AFRICOM

AFRICOM is one of six of the U.S. Defense Department's geographic unified commands and is responsible to the Secretary of Defense for military relations with African nations, the African Union, and African regional security organizations. AFRICOM oversees all U.S. Department of Defense operations, exercises, and security cooperation with African nations. AFRICOM’s core mission of assisting African states and regional organizations to strengthen their defense capabilities better enables partner nations to address their security threats and advances U.S. national security interests through focused, sustained engagement with partners in support of shared security objectives.

Irish folk hero: Conor McGregor goes from rags to riches with one brutal knockout

Conor McGregor punches Marcus Brimage in their featherweight fight. (Getty)

By Dave Doyle

Last week, Conor McGregor picked up a welfare check for €180 (roughly $235). The featherweight from Dublin, Ireland, needed some money to get by before he took his flight to Sweden for his UFC debut.

By the time he returned home, McGregor was $60,000 richer.

McGregor won't want for cash again anytime soon after putting on an impressive performance at UFC on Fuel 9 at the Ericsson Globe in Stockholm. By earning a $60,000 knockout of the night bonus for his swift finish of Marcus Brimage, the charismatic McGregor showed there is steak to his sizzle and marked himself as the potential Irish star the UFC has long sought.

"Just last week I was collecting the social welfare," McGregor said at Saturday's post-fight news conference. "I was in there saying to them, 'I don't know what's going to happen. I'm signed to the UFC. I don't know. Blah, blah, blah.' Now I suppose I'm just going to have to tell them [expletive] off." Conor McGregor walks to the Octagon before his fight Saturday. (Getty)

Conor McGregor walks to the Octagon before his fight Saturday. (Getty)

McGregor, who turns 25 in July, has fought on the Irish MMA scene since 2008 and brought a well-earned reputation for an exciting fighting style into his UFC debut. He's collected 12 knockouts in his 13 pro wins, has never gone beyond the second round, win or lose, in his 15 fights, and has held both the featherweight and lightweight championships in the Cage Warriors promotion.

He demonstrated why in Saturday's fight against Brimage, another featherweight who likes to bring the leather. Brimage came out swinging and tagged McGregor early. But McGregor showed poise under pressure, cleared the cobwebs, and took control of the fight. He expertly worked his angles and turned the tide, raining a beating down on Brimage before the fight was called off at just 1:07 of the first round.

UFC president Dana White was among those most impressed by McGregor's performance. Not only was McGregor awarded the $60,000 knockout bonus, but he immediately booked the fighter for the UFC event on Aug. 17 in the Irish-heavy city of Boston.

"Let me put it this away: I'm blown away," White enthused. "First of all, it's his first fight ever in the UFC. He walked out tonight and got into the Octagon like it was his 100th fight in the UFC. … From the minute it all started, he was nice and relaxed. He moved around. Even after he gets the knockout, it's like he's been here before and done it 100 times. Kid is totally relaxed. He's a beast. I'm impressed."

[Also: Dana White impressed with Conor McGregor's composure]

McGregor, however, would like a shot at fighting in his home country.

Conor McGregor leaves the cage after defeating Marcus Brimage. (Getty)

The fastest track to headline status for a foreign fighter is the ability to draw a crowd in their homeland. The careers of Michael Bisping and Dan Hardy have benefitted as much from their ability to fill arenas in the United Kingdom than for their skills inside the cage. For that matter, the company has gone to Montreal's Bell Centre more often in recent years than any venue outside of Las Vegas or Southern California because of welterweight champion Georges St-Pierre's ability to bring fans out to the cavernous 22,000-seat venue. Conor McGregor leaves the cage after defeating Marcus Brimage. (Getty)

And the arena in which McGregor competed Saturday, the Ericsson Globe, has sold out for events in consecutive Aprils due to hometown star Alexander Gustafsson's popularity (though Gustafsson had to pull out of his planned Saturday main event with Gegard Mousasi due to a cut suffered in training).

The UFC has held one event in the Republic of Ireland, UFC 93 at the O2 Arena in Dublin. The event, headlined by Dan Henderson's split-decision victory over Rich Franklin, drew a crowd of 9,369 and a gate of $1.3 million.

"[The Irish] love this sport," McGregor said. "It was great to see all the Irish lads out there. It was unbelievable. Hopefully that persuades Dana to come back to Dublin. There's some great fighters over in our area. Hopefully we get a show out of this."

[Also: Gegard Mousasi fought on an injured knee that requires surgery]

Can McGregor become Ireland's headliner? Or will he simply become the next George Sotiropoulos, a fighter who expected to become the breakout star in his homeland of Australia, but faltered under the pressure?

"I've just got to keep busy," McGregor said. "Competition keeps me focused. Anytime I don't have competition ahead of me, I just seem to drift. So I want to be kept busy, and that's it. Whatever, wherever and whenever.

"I'll go either 145 [pounds] or 155 – whatever's available. I stay ready so I don't have to get ready, you know? So whatever's there, I'll take. I need a couple more weeks for featherweight, of course, but I'll take lightweight, as well, no problem."

It's hard to fault McGregor for such an attitude after going from broke to a bonus check for $60K.

"To be honest, I don't know what's going on here," McGregor. "I'm just up here hearing $60,000. I'm just thinking of what I'm going to spend it on. Maybe a nice car and some suits or something, some custom-made suits. I don't know. ... I'm making money here, I didn't have money before this, you know. Like I said, I was collecting 180 Euros a week off the social welfare and here I am and I've got 60 G's bonus and my own pay."

Djiboutian Human Rights Commission Investigates Security Services

Djibouti's National Commission on Human Rights (CNDH) has completed investigations into the detention facilities of police, gendarmerie, and the service documentation and security headquarters, Djibouti's La Nation reported Wednesday (April 3rd).

The CNDH sent an unannounced delegation to the three offices, meeting with officials and speaking with prisoners to verify that the detainees were being treated with respect for human rights.

Investigators positively evaluated the prisons' preservation of the physical safety and dignity of the detainees, their ability to contact their families, and their access to due process, adequate medical care and legal counsel.

IOM Trains Djibouti Officials in Counter Trafficking

By Marc Mcilhone / In Featured, Humanitarian

 

IOM and the Djiboutian Public Prosecutor in charge of trafficking issues this week trained a group of 75 officers from Djibouti’s national police, gendarmerie and coast guard in combating human trafficking.

The course, supported by the Government of Japan and IOM’s Development Fund, is part of an on-going effort launched in 2010 to enhance the capacity of local authorities to address the challenges posed by piracy, smuggling and trafficking of migrants in the Horn of Africa.

“The perception used to be was that irregular migrants were travelling willingly from their country of origin to the Gulf States and Europe. But increasingly migrants, in particular women, are being held by smugglers against their will, abused and exploited. This needs to be addressed urgently,” said IOM Djibouti Chief of Mission Bakary Doumbia.

IOM plans to release a new assessment of trafficking in Djibouti later this month.