SCMP/AFP: Is Somalia the Pentagon’s new ‘endless war’?
* There have been at least 20 US strikes against militants in Somalia this year
* Despite air strikes, al-Shabab appears to be a growing threat
The Pentagon has been issuing near daily announcements of new strikes against the Islamic militants of al-Shabab in Somalia, seemingly without affecting the al-Qaeda affiliate’s ability to destabilise the country, in what is looking like a new “endless war” for the United States.
The Trump administration’s plans to reduce its military presence in Africa while re-centering its efforts toward two key strategic competitors – China and Russia – are coming at the expense of French-led operations against jihadists in the Sahel region.
So far, however, the war of attrition against al-Shabab has continued unabated.
Read more ....
WNU Editor: For as long as I can remember the U.S. has had a certain presence in Somalia. But the military aspect of this presence has certainly intensified this year, and according to the Pentagon, the mission now is to degrade Al-Shabaab as an effective fighting force by the end of the year. I agree with this analysis that the U.S. will not succeed .... US unlikely to meet schedule for 'degrading' Al Shabaab (Daily Nation).
1 comment:
The US can ship supplies into Mogadishu straight from the US without Pakistan's permission.
The US cannot do this in Afghanistan. It is landlocked. In Afghanistan the supplies can be interdicted politically.
Also no one has declared Al Shabaab to be the legitimate government of Somalia unlike the Taliban in Afghanistan. Give some people time though.
We have true allies in Kenya and Ethiopia in dealing with Al Shabaab. They may not be the greatest allies, but they won't stab us in the back like Pakistan.
If we do not win in Somalia, Eritrea, Djibouti, Kenya, Ethiopia, and South Sudan are at risk. It snowballs from there. Eritrea is a bad country, but it can get worse.
If Afghanistan gets too bad, China and Russia are close enough to step-in and would need to for their own security .
If Somalia goes, who steps up?
Post a Comment