US to Create a Single Command for Military Operations in Africa
- Thread starter radiosilence
- Start date
This has been in the works for awhile.
I still believe the US will set up in Sao Tome and Principe. The US doesn't give away modern radar systems valued at 18 million dollars without a reason.
I still believe the US will set up in Sao Tome and Principe. The US doesn't give away modern radar systems valued at 18 million dollars without a reason.
radiosilence
jints
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #5
hmmm, we must be in the plusgood state.
Last edited:
contedicavour
New Member
Didn't the US already have big facilities in Djibouti ? Curious thing, those facilities are shared with the French air force which keeps Mirage 2000 stationed there on a rotating basis between all major wings based in France.
cheers
Africa was the contested continent in "1984".Eeeeerr sure but what does that have to do with Africa?
/Dan
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oceania_(Nineteen_Eighty-Four)
Watch, as we enter the age of perpetual war.
radiosilence
jints
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #8
The port in Djibouti is very busy with many small boats. After the USS Cole incident in Yemen, the Navy might try to avoid these kinds of ports.
contedicavour
New Member
Yep makes sense. There are also huge ex Soviet installations in much less busy Berbera (Somaliland).
Kenya's Mombasa would be also a good place but installations are poorer and terrorists seem to be able to roam free there from the unguarded long border with Somalia.
One thing is sure : the US can't rely on one base only, they need one in West Africa to help police the oil installations and one in the East to keep an eye on developments in Somalia and Sudan.
cheers
No, France has its own facilites in Djibouti, & last I heard still had more troops there than the USA. The USA has leased a former French Foreign Legion camp, plus another 200 hectares (5 times the original size!) of land adjoining it. The USA is also able to use the airport & port.
The locals used to complain about the French, but nowadays it seems they complain more about the Americans. Apparently, the Americans spend far less off base (they fly everything in from the US), & unlike the French, don't dish out petits cadeaux over & above the rental to keep the locals sweet.
radiosilence
jints
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #11
Increased aid to African countries will be required to get their cooperation.
USNavySEAL3310
New Member
I haven't been following this but would be interested in starting to.
What are the advantages of having AFRICOM? I've only heard of the following below. Which are true? Which aren't? What other reasons are there?
- To set up a base of operations in eastern Africa to be within striking distance of the Arabian peninsula [though most of those countries are U.S. allies so I'm not sure about this one]
- To open up opportunities for possible military strikes in Africa [if this is true, why? What's happening in Africa that needs U.S. military attention?]
- To help African militaries secure their borders and resources against terrorists
- To set up reconnaissance posts to further increase intel-gathering capabilities on the continent
Thanks.
What are the advantages of having AFRICOM? I've only heard of the following below. Which are true? Which aren't? What other reasons are there?
- To set up a base of operations in eastern Africa to be within striking distance of the Arabian peninsula [though most of those countries are U.S. allies so I'm not sure about this one]
- To open up opportunities for possible military strikes in Africa [if this is true, why? What's happening in Africa that needs U.S. military attention?]
- To help African militaries secure their borders and resources against terrorists
- To set up reconnaissance posts to further increase intel-gathering capabilities on the continent
Thanks.
1. Not very possible. With all the US bases already existing on and around the arabian peninsula there is no need for increased strike capabilities in this area.
2. True. The US want to prevent any country in Africa becoming a save heaven for fanatics like Somalia did in their eyes. The Islam is on the rise in Africa. That is not naturally something bad (Some stability like provided by a strong Islam would benefit some of the totally messed up countries there) but could, and I especially use the term could, result in a new operating base for fanatics.
3. This is a natural strategy when you're looking at the goals of 2.
4 This is also just normal when you're looking at the goals of the new US plans for Africa.
2. True. The US want to prevent any country in Africa becoming a save heaven for fanatics like Somalia did in their eyes. The Islam is on the rise in Africa. That is not naturally something bad (Some stability like provided by a strong Islam would benefit some of the totally messed up countries there) but could, and I especially use the term could, result in a new operating base for fanatics.
3. This is a natural strategy when you're looking at the goals of 2.
4 This is also just normal when you're looking at the goals of the new US plans for Africa.
Keep in mind the 5th largest exporter of Oil to the United States is Nigeria. The US and NATO both have economic interests in eastern Africa, not including just oil either. A tremendous amount of trade daily rounds the east coast of Africa bound for Europe and the northeast American coast.
For those interested, the USS Emory Land deployments of 2005 and 2006 and the deployment of HSV Swift reveal interesting insight in to the US strategy of the eastern African region, and the stories are equally as interesting. Example, no one is yet to explain the periscope spotted by HSV Swift off the coast of Africa, and the US continues to feint acknowledgment that a single warlord closed down all oil traffic from Nigeria to the US last year.
While people blamed Iran for the rising prices in oil, the media pretended like it never happened, yet any research into business journals will squarely place blame for the rising price of oil in the summer of 2006 on the disruptions in Nigeria.
The Gulf of Guinea is specifically on the US military map. That place is surrounded by some of the worlds most notorious dictators.
For those interested, the USS Emory Land deployments of 2005 and 2006 and the deployment of HSV Swift reveal interesting insight in to the US strategy of the eastern African region, and the stories are equally as interesting. Example, no one is yet to explain the periscope spotted by HSV Swift off the coast of Africa, and the US continues to feint acknowledgment that a single warlord closed down all oil traffic from Nigeria to the US last year.
While people blamed Iran for the rising prices in oil, the media pretended like it never happened, yet any research into business journals will squarely place blame for the rising price of oil in the summer of 2006 on the disruptions in Nigeria.
The Gulf of Guinea is specifically on the US military map. That place is surrounded by some of the worlds most notorious dictators.
radiosilence
jints
- Thread Starter Thread Starter
- #15
Africa also is strategically more important because of increased efforts by China to involve itself and gain influence on the continent.
Excellent point! And the reason China is there is the presence of vast resources besides oil as well. Ive been to Africa and you cant help but notice all the mines for resources like Diamonds, Gold, uranium, cobalt, magnesium, tungsten, radium, chromium, copper, zinc, tin, titanium, antimony...the list is almost endless.
A modern military, industrial/military complex, indeed modern society, couldn't function without these resources. Thats why the Chinese are there and thats a big reason we have always been there in some form. Its why we have supported sides in several proxy wars on the continent, most notably Angola.