The routine standing force ensures inter- national  waterways  remain  open  to  shipping  in the region and provides forward deployed U.S. forces during hostilities. The optional forces available to USCENTCOM are used in crisis situations. They were deployed in support of Operation Desert Shield when Iraq invaded Kuwait  in  August  1990. Africa Looking  at  the  strategic  importance  of  Africa, we  need  to  divide  Africa  into  northern  Africa  and southern  Africa.  From  a  naval  viewpoint, northern  Africa  is  important  because  it  borders the  Mediterranean  Sea  and  the  Red  Sea.  From  an economic  or  strategic  resources  viewpoint, southern Africa is important because of the vast wealth  in  minerals  it  exports  to  developed countries. NORTHERN AFRICA. —Countries   receiving Soviet  military  aid  in  northern  Africa  include Guinea,   Mali,   Algeria,   Libya,   Egypt,   and Ethiopia.  Of  those  countries,  only  Libya  has  been openly  hostile  to  the  United  States. For  many  years  Libya  openly  sponsored terrorist  groups  and  carried  out  acts  of  aggression in  the  Gulf  of  Sidra.  However,  Libya  has decreased its level of aggression since the U.S. Navy  lead  Operation  El  Dorado  on  15  April  1986. Operation  El  Dorado  was  a  joint  Air  Force and  Navy  mission  composed  of  strike  aircraft based aboard the USS  America  (CV66) and USS Coral  Sea  (CV43)  and  F-111  Air  Force  bombers based  in  England.  Using  a  high-speed,  low- altitude approach, 12 Navy A-6Es struck the Benin  airfield  and  Benghazi  military  barracks.  At the  same  time,  12  F-111s  struck  the  Aziziyah barracks,  the  Sidi  Bilal  terrorist  training  camp, and  the  Tripoli  military  airport.  Navy  and  Marine F/A-18s  destroyed  surface-to-air  missile  sites, while  Navy  E-2Ds,  Navy  and  Marine  EA-6Bs,  and Air  Force  F-11  1s  provided  electronic  counter- measures  and  command  and  control  support. Navy  F-14s  and  F/A-18s  were  on  station  to provide  fighter  support. The  successful  attack  caught  the  Libyans  by surprise. Except  for  sporadic  surface-to-air missiles,  the  Libyans  did  not  engage  the  U.S. strike  force.  The  United  States’  display  of  force and  stated  willingness  to  strike  again  has  played a  major  role  in  deterring  Libyan  President Muammar Muhammad al-Qaddafi from sponsoring further  terrorist  attacks  against  Americans. The main mission of the Navy in the North African region is to keep the sea-lanes open. The secondary mission is to support interest and political  goals  in  the  region.  The  major  challenger to  U.S.  sea  power  in  the  African  theater  of operations  is  the  Soviet  Union.  Minor  challengers include Libya (31-42 ships) and Guinea (2-3 ships). SOUTHERN AFRICA. —The  Soviets  wish  to increase  their  influence  in  southern  Africa. Countries  currently  friendly  to  the  Soviets  include Tanzania,  Mozambique,  Zambia,  Zimbabwe, Botswana,  Angola,  and  Namibia. STRATEGIC RESOURCES.  —Africa is among the world’s richest continents in known mineral wealth. It has a large share of the world’s mineral  resources  in  coal,  petroleum,  natural  gas, uranium,  radium,  low-cost  thorium,  and  other valuable  ores. The  abundant  natural  resources  available  in Africa  make  it  strategically  important  to  Western nations. The Navy may now appear to have no role  in  this  area  except  in  the  Mediterranean  Sea and Red Sea. However, we may be called upon to support U.S. interest in the many regional conflicts happening in Africa. An example of one of  the  regional  conflicts  is  the  civil  war  in  Liberia, on  Africa’s  western  coast.  President  Bush  ordered a Marine amphibious group to that area in May 1990 to evacuate personnel. Through September 1990, the Marines evacuated more than 2,100 people,  including  over  200  U.S.  citizens. The Far East Subic  Bay  Naval  Base  and  Clark  Air  Base  are strategically important to U.S. interests in the Far East. We could lose both bases because their leases  must  be  periodically  renegotiated  with  the Philippine government. These bases are on the sea-lanes and air routes to the Indian Ocean and the  Persian  Gulf.  Both  bases  played  a  vital  role in  Operation  Desert  Shield.  The  bases  also  play a vital role in extending the range of U.S. forces. Much  of  the  world’s  oil  that  travels  by  ship through  the  various  straits  in  the  Indonesian  area are  within  range  of  U.S.  bases  in  the  Philippines. The  U.S.  strategic  objective  in  the  East  Asia and Pacific area is to deter war. Strategic strike capability,  Pacific  Command  (PACOM)  forces, bilateral  defense  treaties,  forward  deployment  and basing, and weapons technology all contribute to deterrence  in  the  region.  If  deterrence  fails,  the United  States  and  the  Soviet  Union  could  become 1-9