WP: U.S. Pushes Anti-Terrorism in Africa

[Pirate Smile]

U.S. Pushes Anti-Terrorism in Africa
Under Long-Term Program, Pentagon to Train Soldiers of 9 Nations

By Ann Scott Tyson
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, July 26, 2005; Page A01

N'DJAMENA, Chad -- The U.S. military is embarking on a long-term push into Africa to counter what it considers growing inroads of al Qaeda and other terrorist networks in poor, lawless and predominantly Muslim expanses of the continent.

The Pentagon plans to train thousands of African troops in battalions equipped for extended desert and border operations, and to link the militaries of different countries with secure satellite communications. The initiative, with proposed funding of $500 million over seven years, covers Algeria, Chad, Mali, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal, Nigeria, Morocco and Tunisia -- with the U.S. military eager to add Libya if relations improve.


A U.S. Army Special Forces soldier uses GI Joe toys to demonstrate military tactics during a training session with Chadian soldiers near the capital. It is part of a $500 million Pentagon initiative to provide counterterrorism training to soldiers in North and West Africa. (U.s. Army Photo)

The Pentagon is also assigning more military officers to U.S. embassies in the region, bolstering the gathering and sharing of intelligence, casing out austere landing strips for use in emergencies, and securing greater access and legal protections for U.S. troops through new bilateral agreements.

The thrust into Africa is vital to head off an infiltration by international terrorist groups, according to senior U.S. military, Pentagon and State Department officials. The groups are recruiting hundreds of members in Africa and Europe, attacking local governments and Western interests, and profiting from tribal smuggling routes to obtain arms, cash and hideouts, they say. Meanwhile, small groups of Islamic radicals are moving into Africa from Iraq, where Africans make up about a quarter of the foreign fighters, the officials say.

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/07/25/AR2005072501801.html

[jarab]

1. Locking -

See this thread which was begun earlier:
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x1654307