1/ on AFRICA:
U.S. vital interests = stability + security on the continent
+ maintaining partners (to not out of necessity need to rely on China (very active economically + infrastructure in region) or others—who would like means of leverage on U.S.—if + when action required.
U.S. vital interests = stability + security on the continent
+ maintaining partners (to not out of necessity need to rely on China (very active economically + infrastructure in region) or others—who would like means of leverage on U.S.—if + when action required.
2/ Avoiding Russia + China influence to project power
OR influence events
OR deny U.S. interests or actions
into Europe from the south
into Mideast from the west
or for Russia to advance military presence or ability to project power with a Russian military port in Libya...
OR influence events
OR deny U.S. interests or actions
into Europe from the south
into Mideast from the west
or for Russia to advance military presence or ability to project power with a Russian military port in Libya...
3/ Current status:
~6,000 US troops
1,400 in W Africa (mostly Niger)
4,400 in E Africa (mostly Djibouti)
~750 in Somalia (training African forces vs jihadist al-Shabab)
~4,500 French troops in/around Mali
(relying on US for ISR/logistics)
~14,000 UN peacekeepers
~6,000 US troops
1,400 in W Africa (mostly Niger)
4,400 in E Africa (mostly Djibouti)
~750 in Somalia (training African forces vs jihadist al-Shabab)
~4,500 French troops in/around Mali
(relying on US for ISR/logistics)
~14,000 UN peacekeepers
4/ Failure comes from a failure to imagine failure.
the KEY RISK:
failed states that serve as safehavens in the Sahel or as fertile ground + reguse for terrorists to recruit, train + plot
(aka a new strip spreading E. to W. coast of Africa that becomes akin to Afghanistan)
the KEY RISK:
failed states that serve as safehavens in the Sahel or as fertile ground + reguse for terrorists to recruit, train + plot
(aka a new strip spreading E. to W. coast of Africa that becomes akin to Afghanistan)
