A U.S. soldier (L) watches a Malian soldiers while training in Gao, eastern Mali November 13, 2006. REUTERS/Luc Gnago
With Multiple Missions, U.S. Military Steps Up Africa Focus -- Reuters
(Reuters) - Striking Islamist militants with drones, supporting African forces in stabilizing Somalia and Mali and deploying dozens of training teams, the U.S. military has returned to Africa.
Its presence remains mostly low key, barely mentioned in the context of President Barack Obama's visit this week to Africa.
Nevertheless, with some 4,000-5,000 personnel on the ground at any given time, the United States now has more troops in Africa than at any point since its Somalia intervention two decades ago. That ended in humiliation and withdrawal after the 1993 "Blackhawk Down" debacle in which 18 U.S. soldiers died.
There are two main reasons behind the build up: to counter al Qaeda and other militant groups, and to win influence in a continent that could become an increasingly important destination for American trade and investment as China's presence grows in Africa.
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My Comment: The U.S. military is already stretched to the limit .... and they now want to have a presence in Africa with about 4,000 - 5,000 soldiers .... on a continent that is larger than North America? I say good luck to that.
Drones and precision strikes. These 5000 troops will be used as observers and spotters. Though to actively mine the whole continent for extremists and terrorists will be rather difficult.. If not impossible. Something I would imagine would take up more treasure then produce results.
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