The US African Command (AFRICOM) keeps trying to redefine itself, but as the Obama Administration aims to refocus more and more on involvement in Africa, the plan now seems to be training.
“Our goal is to help Africans solve African problems,” insisted Lt. Col Robert Magee, and they are playing up the idea of training as an alternative to deployments of ground troops.
Then there’s the ground troops. The US has been launching a massive build-up of troops into Italy, putting 13,000 troops in the nation to be able to launch raids into Africa, particularly northern Africa, at a moment’s notice.
That’s been AFRICOM’s history all over. While the command has long sought to do its own heavily lifting militarily, the practical matter is that it has been the PR cover for military aggression in the region.
Libya was about Africa and Africa is about Barack Hussein Obama doctrine.
Will someone explain to me what benefit we get from another exercise in stupidity trying to civilize lthe savages in another group of backward countries. Why should we care? How do we benefit? Let's spend our money here at home, helping our own, raising our living standards and securit.
Thanks for your consideration but other nations will glad do without attempt of the so called to civilize.
AFRICOM had troops in Mali since 2005 to monitor what was then a small group called Al Qaeda in the Islamic Magreb (AQIM) and to train Malian military in counter terrorism. Not one offensive was launched against AQIM. In 2012 AQIM was able to take over half of the country, and in their attack on the closest garrison to where AQIM were based the Malian military were massacred as they had no bullets. The Malian military were so badly trained and equipped that AQIM didnt even have to fight them. One has to ask what US troops were doing all that time.
“Our goal is to help Africans solve African problems,” insisted Lt. Col Robert Magee….
Yes, by creating the problems that need to be solved.
What is the plan? Will they put Africa "on the Reservation? "Give" them some deserted spot nobody wants so the goodies, minerals oil, gold can be exploited till the wells run dry while preening and prancing on the world stage about democracy and human rights.
Our foreign policy is based on myths and BS just as our domestic policy fills the little heads at home with the same fairy stories.
It is long past time to wake up and there wil be no violins playing as the ship goes down but as usual only the rich in first class will survive.