Tag: al-Shabab

Wisconsin Army National Guard headed to Horn of Africa for 10 months

Tina Marie (Ms. Cat)

Wisconsin Army National Guard headed to Horn of Africa for 10 months

Related:

Virginia National Guard soldiers return home from Africa

[11-2021] 1,000 National Guard Soldiers to Deploy to Africa as Mid East Wars Wind Down

It is unclear if the 1,000 Guardsmen is an increase in the Pentagon’s force in Africa, or if those troops are replacing others currently deployed. The U.S. has been increasingly operating in countries like Somalia and Niger as the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq have drawn down.

There are some 6,000 American troops, Defense Department civilians and contractors across Africa, an Army spokesperson told Military.com. About 3,400 of those people operate from Camp Lemonnier in Djibouti, which serves as the major hub for the U.S. military on the continent.

Bomb, Bomb, Bomb Somalia

Tina Marie (Ms. Cat)

Bomb, Bomb, Bomb Somalia

That’s because we bomb Somalia in virtual secrecy from the American people. Our government barely acknowledges the strikes. The media maintains a virtual blackout on the bombings. When pressed by the peace community, the official response is we’re killing bad guys in al-Shabab, an anti-Somalia government outfit the US helped create with its meddling in Somalia politics as part of its endless GWOT (Global War On Terror).

Since 9/11, FBI Has Destroyed People Based On Their Race, Religion, Or Country Of Origin

Tina Marie (Ms. Cat)

[Editor’s Note: To mark the 20th anniversary of the rise of the American security state after the September 11th attacks, The Dissenter presents aretrospective on this transformation in law enforcement and government. Each entry in the series, “Twenty Years In A Security State,” will connect with whistleblower stories where possible.]

Since 9/11, FBI Has Destroyed People Based On Their Race, Religion, Or Country Of Origin

[2020] Why tiny Djibouti hosts both China and U.S. military bases – only a few kilometers apart

Tina Marie (Ms. Cat)

Why tiny Djibouti hosts both China and U.S. military bases – only a few kilometers apart

The U.S. opened its military base, Camp Lemonnier, in the East African nation in 2003 and now the biggest base in Africa. It currently has about 4,500 troops stationed in it. Just 12km away from the U.S. base is China’s which was opened in 2017 with around 2,000 military personnel. The decision by China to set up military bases overseas is surprising as it has historically been opposed to the idea.

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The U.S. established the Camp Lemonnier in 2003 after the terror attacks of September 11, 2001. It is home to some 4,500 personnel, some of whom are engaged in secretive missions and targeted drone killings in the Middle East and the Horn of Africa, according to the New York Times.

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The lease of land for military bases has become one of the important sources of revenue for the government. In other words, it is the biggest foreign exchange earner for the country. Washington pays $63 million annually for a 10-year lease of the area while China pays $20 million a year, in addition to other investments. It is therefore not difficult to see why the former French colony will look pass the rivalry that exists between the two superpowers.

Acting SecDef Visits Somalia Amid Rumors of Troop Withdrawal

Tina Marie (Ms. Cat)

Acting SecDef Visits Somalia Amid Rumors of Troop Withdrawal

President Trump dramatically escalated the drone war against al-Shabab by loosening the rules of engagement in Somalia. In 2019, the US conducted 63 airstrikes in Somalia, the most in a single year. More bombs fell on Somalia in the first seven months of 2020 than during the entire administrations of George W Bush and Barack Obama combined.