Arms For The Horn: U.s. Security Policy In Ethiopia And Somalia, 1953-1991 (pitt Series In Policy And Institutional Studies)

Through massive documentation and extensive interviewing, Jeffrey A. Lefebvre explains what price the United States has paid for its relations with two weak and vulnerable arms recipients in the Horn of Africa. Using a great power-small power theoretical approach and advancing a supplier-recipient barganing model, Jeffery Lefebvre attempts to explain what the United States has paid for its relations with two weak and vulnerable arms recipients in the Horn of Africa.Through massive documentation and extensive interviewing, Lefebvre sorts through the confusions and shifts of the United StatesÆ post-World War II relations with Ethiopia and Somalia, two primary antagonists in the Horn of Africa. He consulted State Department, Pentagon, and AID officials, congressional staffers, current and former ambassadors, and Ethiopian and Somali government advisers.The story of U.S. arms transfers to northeast Africa is tangled and complex. In 1953, 1960, and 1964-66, the United States entered into various arms provision deals with Ethiopia, spurred by the Soviet-sponsored buildup in the region. Policy changed in the 1970s: Nixon refused a large aid request in 1973, and in 1977 Carter ended EthiopiaÆs military aid on human rights grounds and denied aid to Somalia during the 1977-78 Ogaden War. Reversing this policy, the Reagan administration extended military aid to Somalia despite its aggressive moves against Ethiopia. Changes in U.S. relations and the revolution in Somalia have altered the picture once more.Jeffery Lefebvre concludes that U.S. diplomacy in northeast Africa has been overly influenced by a cold war mentality. In their obsession with countering Soviet pressure in the Third World, Washington decision makers exposed U.S. interests to unnecessary risks and given far too much for value received during four decades of vacillating and misguided foreign policy.Arms for the Horn should interest all concerned with arms transfer issues and security studies, as well as specialist in Africa and the Middle East.

Using a great power-small power theoretical approach andadvancing a supplier-recipient barganing model, Jeffery Lefebvreattempts to explain what the United States has paid for itsrelations with two weak and vulnerable arms recipients in the Hornof Africa. Through massive documentation and extensiveinterviewing, Lefebvre sorts through the confusions and shifts ofthe United States' post-World War II relations with Ethiopia andSomalia, two primary antagonists in the Horn of Africa. Heconsulted State Department, Pentagon, and AID officials,congressional staffers, current and former ambassadors, andEthiopian and Somali government advisers. The story of U.S. armstransfers to northeast Africa is tangled and complex. In 1953,1960, and 1964-66, the United States entered into various armsprovision deals with Ethiopia, spurred by the Soviet-sponsoredbuildup in the region. Policy changed in the 1970s: Nixon refused alarge aid request in 1973, and in 1977 Carter ended Ethiopia'smilitary aid on human rights grounds and denied aid to Somaliaduring the 1977-78 Ogaden War. Reversing this policy, the Reaganadministration extended military aid to Somalia despite itsaggressive moves against Ethiopia. Changes in U.S. relations andthe revolution in Somalia have altered the picture once more.Jeffery Lefebvre concludes that U.S. diplomacy in northeast Africahas been overly influenced by a cold war mentality. In theirobsession with countering Soviet pressure in the Third World,Washington decision makers exposed U.S. interests to unnecessaryrisks and given far too much for value received during four decadesof vacillating and misguided foreign policy. Arms for theHorn should interest all concerned with arms transfer issuesand security studies, as well as specialist in Africa and theMiddle East.

Using a great power-small power theoretical overview and advancing a supplier-recipient bargaining model, this work attempts to explain what the USA has paid for its relation with two weak and vulnerable arms recipients in the Horn of Africa, Ethiopia and Somalia. Jeffrey A. Lefebvre. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 283-342) And Index. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 283-342) And Index.