The powerful House Appropriations defense subcommittee wants to pull the plug on U.S. Africa Command by deeply slashing the Pentagon's spending request for the fledgling organization, arguing that the military should not be leading U.S. government efforts to ensure stability and security on the continent. The panel's mark of the fiscal year 2009 Pentagon spending bill, which is scheduled to be considered by the entire House Appropriations Committee this month, provides just $80.6 million for AFRICOM -- 80 percent less...
