Obama’s Wars in Africa: 100 Military Personnel in Niger

AFRICA, ANGLO AMERICA, MILITARISM, MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA, 25 Feb 2013

Ed Krayewski – Reason Magazine

President Obama sent about 100 U.S. military personnel to Niger to support the French mission to root out Islamists in Mali, of which he informed Congress today [22 Feb 2013]. In his State of the Union address last week, Obama pointed to Mali as an example of how the United States needs to operate in the global war on terror (term out of use) when he said “we’ll need to help countries like Yemen, Libya, and Somalia provide for their own security and help allies who take the fight to terrorists, as we have in Mali.”

It was the only mention of Africa (other than in its inclusion in the global war on terror by some other name) in the address, yet the United States has been quite active on the continent. Obama previously sent 100 troops to Uganda in late 2011 to capture the rebel leader Joseph Kony. That search has led U.S. troops as far west as the Central African Republic, in addition to the nearby Congo and the newly independent South Sudan. U.S. military support, of course, was instrumental to regime change in Libya, despite lacking any Congressional authorization, and that intervention in Libya, in turn, fueled the instability in Mali and the region.

Last summer, the Washington Post outlined U.S. intelligence operations across Africa, which ranges from a forward operating base in Djibouti and drones over Somalia in Africa’s horn to surveillance planes flying out of Ougadougou, the capital of Burkina Faso, in West Africa. Niger, where 100 U.S. military personnel are now headed, is also the likeliest candidate for a new U.S. drone base in the region.

George W. Bush spent more on aid to Africa than any president that preceded him. Obama’s legacy may be militarizing U.S. policy toward the continent more than any predecessor.

Go to Original – reason.com

Share this article: email mastodon facebook 🔗 copy link

DISCLAIMER: The statements, views and opinions expressed in pieces republished here are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of TMS. In accordance with title 17 U.S.C. section 107, this material is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. TMS has no affiliation whatsoever with the originator of this article nor is TMS endorsed or sponsored by the originator. “GO TO ORIGINAL” links are provided as a convenience to our readers and allow for verification of authenticity. However, as originating pages are often updated by their originating host sites, the versions posted may not match the versions our readers view when clicking the “GO TO ORIGINAL” links. This site contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in our efforts to advance understanding of environmental, political, human rights, economic, democracy, scientific, and social justice issues, etc. We believe this constitutes a ‘fair use’ of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond ‘fair use’, you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.

Comments are closed.