Yesterday, we wrote: "At this point, we cannot help but wonder what interests the Bush Administration is worried about hurting or losing if it shows any support for this historic [Juba] peace initiative."

Possibly related to that question, The East African reports today that the "U.S. has dramatically increased its involvement and arms sales to the Horn of Africa and East Africa in the last three years and plans to consolidate its focus on sub-Saharan Africa by unifying its military command structure." This comes as direct U.S. arms sales to East Africa and the Horn of Africa countries – Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Rwanda Uganda and Zambia – have increased from under one million dollars in 2003 to over $25 million in 2006. Weapons sales by authorised private weapon companies have also soared. Uganda leads the region with nearly $9 million in purchases from US authorised private arms dealers. Overall, direct US weapons sales increased from $39.2 million in 2005 to nearly $60 million in 2006. Read more at The East African.

Is this profitable arms trade or increasing military investment in the region somehow hindering our ability to put our weight behind an African initiative to end Africa's longest running war? It would seem a grave mistake to miss this opportunity to help build peace and stability in the region. The counter-terror work of the U.S. military in the region will certainly be much easier with the cessation of violence. Not to mention that U.S. support for this local initiative could be a positive boost in the international "battle for hearts and minds" that remains decisive.