Djibouti Outpost Behind Somalia Rescue Is Part of New Defense Strategy -- New York Times
WASHINGTON — An austere Pentagon outpost in the hardscrabble desert on the Horn of Africa proved serendipitously ideal as a launching pad for Tuesday’s commando raid that freed two aid workers held in Somalia. The use of the base, Camp Lemonnier in neighboring Djibouti, is also a signpost to the future, as the military focuses on “economy of force” missions that can preserve an American military presence and protect national security interests at relatively low cost.
A rescue mission from any other American base in the region would have added hours to the raiding party’s mission to infiltrate Somalia and neutralize the nine kidnappers — all were killed — without injury to the Navy Seal team or the hostages. Basing the complex airborne assault on a warship would have been far more complicated.
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My Comment: These small countries/territories are playing a crucial role in maximizing U.S. response and reach. They are more economical than maintaining a naval presence, and they can be more effective in the region because of their permanent status. On the negative .... they are a tempting target for terrorists and opponents of U.S. influence. For more info on the effectiveness of these "outposts" to U.S. strategy, check out this post from the L.A. Times.
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