The US Military's Battlefield of Tomorrow

[eridani]

http://www.commondreams.org/views/2015/04/15/us-militarys-battlefield-tomorrow

In May 2014, the U.S. reached an agreement -- it’s called an “implementing arrangement” -- with the government of Djibouti “that secures [its] presence” in that country “through 2044.” In addition, AFRICOM officers are now talking about the possibility of building a string of surveillance outposts along the northern tier of the continent. And don’t forget how, over the past few years, U.S. staging areas, mini-bases, and airfields have popped up in the contiguous nations of Senegal, Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, and -- skipping Chad (where AFRICOM recently built temporary facilities for a special ops exercise) -- the Central African Republic, South Sudan, Uganda, Kenya, and Ethiopia. All of this suggests that the U.S. military is digging in for the long haul in Africa.

Silent Quest 15-1 was designed as a model to demonstrate just how Washington will conduct “Special Operations-centric” coalition warfare in Africa. It was, in fact, designed to align, wrote Gunnery Sergeant Reina Barnett in SOCOM’s trade publication Tip of the Spear, with the “2020 planning guidance of Army Maj. Gen. James Linder, commander of Special Operations Command Africa.” And the agreement with Djibouti demonstrates that the U.S. military is now beginning to plan for almost a quarter-century beyond that. But, if the last six years -- marked by a 300% increase in U.S. missions as well as the spread of terror groups and terrorism in Africa -- are any indicator, the results are likely to be anything but pleasing to Washington.

AFRICOM commander David Rodriguez continues to put the best face on U.S. efforts in Africa, citing “progress in several areas through close cooperation with our allies and partners.” His command’s assessment of the situation, however, is remarkably bleak. “Where our national interests compel us to tip the scales and enhance collective security gains, we may have to do more -- either by enabling our allies and partners, or acting unilaterally,” reads the posture statement Rodriguez delivered to that Senate committee.

After more than a decade of increasing efforts, however, there’s little evidence that AFRICOM has the slightest idea how to tip the scales in its own favor in Africa.

[orpupilofnature57]

1. The MIC needs to eat, where, when, who it doesn't matter,

the solution is steadfast and now constant, the problems are ambiguous .

[newfie11]

2. They won't stop this shit

Until they annihilate the world!

[bemildred]

3. And the search for an enemy incompetent enough for us to "defeat" continues. nt