US Secretly Training and Funding 'Elite' African Commandos

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Common Dreams

Published on Tuesday, May 27, 2014 by Common Dreams

US Secretly Training and Funding 'Elite' African Commandos

New York Times reporting sheds light on millions of dollars in classified Pentagon funds being put towards so-called "counter-terrorism" programs

- Sarah Lazare, staff writer

The Pentagon has been secretly backing a U.S. Special Operations program to build elite units to fight "terrorism" in Libya, Niger, Mauritania and Mali, the New York Times revealed Monday.

The program was launched last year and is backed by millions of dollars in classified Pentagon funds. U.S. military trainers, including members of the Green Berets and Delta Force, are working with African "commandos" to "build homegrown African counterterrorism teams," according to the Times.

According to the reporting, $70 million in Pentagon funds is going towards "training, intelligence-gathering equipment and other support" for commandos in Nigeria and Mauritania. And $16 million is going towards commandos in Libya. In Mauritnaia, $29 million has been allotted for "logistics and surveillance equipment in support of the specialized unit." According to the Times, the program in Mali "has yet to get off the ground as a new civilian government recovers from a military coup last year."

The U.S. military has for years been increasing its role across the continent of Africa, including the expansion of AFRICOM, drone attacks in Somalia, air strikes and arms shipments to Libya, and more.


Read more: https://www.commondreams.org/headline/2014/05/27-8

---

(Short article, no more at link.)

[blkmusclmachine]

1. ,

,

[TygrBright]

2. Because that's always worked out SO well for us in the past... n/t

[Ex Lurker]

6. The Green Beret-led teams of Montagnard tribesmen did work well in Vietnam.

And we've been fairly successful standing up elite units elsewhere(elite being a relative term), including Iraq and Afghanistan. Whether we should be in these places in the first place is an entirely different debate, as are the missions they're used for in their home countries. But policy and morality aside, indigenous troops trained and advised by embedded American Special Forces is something we know how to do, and do well.

[TygrBright]

9. ::koff:: Taliban ::koff:: n/t

[Ex Lurker]

22. They drove the Russians out

or to be precise, it was their uncles and older brothers. The Taliban arose in the vacuum that followed. Not saying there isn't potential blowback. There often is. And like I said, whether we should be there at all is a policy debate that should be settled before we start. But in answer to the specific question, yes, there is a template on how to to raise, train, equip, and employ indigenous forces. We know how to do it well. So do the British.

[Crowman1979]

12. The Montagnard tribesmen were funded by Heroin money.

Not what I consider to be a success story, since a Heroin addiction epidemic among veterans was the result.

[Ex Lurker]

23. See answer immediately above n/t

[JackRiddler]

33. Worked well to do what? Assist a foreign invasion?

I cannot admire competence independently of morality or the use to which it is put.

[dixiegrrrrl]

3. Do you remember this..

back when Obama was drawing the "line in the sand" with Syria, and making noises that he wanted to invade, there was much resistance.
The Pentagon said at that time, that it would not cost the taxpayers anything to invade Syria, because the Pentagon had all the money it needed in its "contingency fund".
'member that?

The Pentagon and the CIA are rolling in money, some/much of it has already been reported to be via drug cartel money.

I gotta go find that article I read recently about USA having troops in 22 African countries.....

[geek tragedy]

4. So, you're accusing the Obama administration of trafficking cocaine?

The Pentagon and the CIA are rolling in money, some/much of it has already been reported to be via drug cartel money.

[Judi Lynn]

10. That wasn't mentioned in the post, was it? No need to harrass people. n/t

[geek tragedy]

17. I'm not suggesting you were advancing that 'theory'

But, challenging nonsense is not harassment.

[JackRiddler]

35. Yawn.

When did the CIA not engage in trafficking cocaine?

The "Obama administration" is not an all-purpose excuse for denying the long-standing criminal realities of the United States.

[Judi Lynn]

5. 22 countries! Wow. I didn't know. Hideous. You know how much good they're doing, too!

Undoubtedly money mysteriously floats to them from the drug business.

I doubt there's any way in the world anyone could prevent their continuing exactly what they were doing during Iran/Contra days. Who's going to stop them?

Too big, too powerful. Sad.

[Maedhros]

8. Not 22 countries - it's 49.

http://www.thenation.com/article/176045/us-militarys-pivot-africa

If the proverbial picture is worth a thousand words, then what’s a map worth? Take, for instance, the one created by TomDispatch that documents US military outposts, construction, security cooperation, and deployments in Africa. It looks like a field of mushrooms after a monsoon. US Africa Command recognizes fifty-four countries on the continent, but refuses to say in which ones (or even in how many) it now conducts operations. An investigation by TomDispatch has found recent US military involvement with no fewer than forty-nine African nations.

http://www.thenation.com/article/179050/why-us-military-averaging-more-mission-day-africa

Last year, according AFRICOM commander General David Rodriguez, the US military carried out a total of 546 “activities” on the continent—a catch-all term for everything the military does in Africa. In other words, it averages about one and a half missions a day. This represents a 217 percent increase in operations, programs and exercises since the command was established in 2008.

In testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee earlier this month, Rodriguez noted that the ten exercises, fifty-five operations and 481 security cooperation activities made AFRICOM “an extremely active geographic command.” But exactly what the command is “active” in doing is often far from clear.

AFRICOM releases information about only a fraction of its activities. It offers no breakdown on the nature of its operations. And it allows only a handful of cherry-picked reporters the chance to observe a few select missions. The command refuses even to offer a count of the countries in which it is “active,” preferring to keep most information about what it’s doing—and when and where—secret.

Remember this whenever someone tries to tell you that Obama is "ending" wars.

[Judi Lynn]

11. "US military outposts, construction, security cooperation, and deployments in Africa." Good grief!

Thanks for the good long look. It's monstrous.

[PatrickforO]

25. But hey, we're the GOOD guys!

Gosh, we represent DEMOCRACY...

The sick thing about this is that these commandos we train will turn against us in the next decade or so.

Still, even if they do, our arms manufacturers and the rest of the MIC will STILL make a good profit! I know that makes me feel LOTS better...

[Maedhros]

27. It's not like we haven't done this in Central and South America a few times.

Nothing personal - it's just Africa's turn...

[MicaelS]

7. So you would rather our own troops go in after Boko Haram?

Rather than train Africans to do it themselves?

Or maybe you don't think that Boko Haram is a terrorist organization?

Damned if we do, damned if we don't.

[Judi Lynn]

14. "We?" Really? What's your part in this? Keyboard commando? n/t

[octoberlib]

38. I don't think going after Boko Haram is why we're in 49 African countries.

It has more to do with "abundant natural resources".

[Crowman1979]

16. I quite sure Africans are fully capable of doing it themselves.

Especially since hmmmm....they live there.

[jberryhill]

19. Yes, but

...it also helps if they know which end of a gun the bullets come out of.

[dixiegrrrrl]

29. I find that an astonishing statement.

I can assure you that Africans have been aware of which end of a gun bullets came out of ever since the first white invaders began shooting them for protesting slavery, theft of their resources, etc.

Are you truly not aware that various members of African countires have been using modern weapons for decades?
both for good and no so good purposes?

[jberryhill]

32. It was a figurative expression

I'm sorry you took that literally.

Giving a bunch of guys guns, and training them how to work together effectively with them are two different things.

The Boko Haram folks may not have received formal training, but they likely have more experience than government recruits.

[MicaelS]

31. Yes, I agree - see my post #30. n/t

[PatrickforO]

26. But WHY are we responsible for 'going after' Boko Haram?

Why do WE always have to be the ones?

[MicaelS]

30. That is precisely the point, we shouldn't.

Africa seems to be a cesspit, and we shouldn't be involved. There is always a pogrom, genocide or some other atrocity occurring. I say let the Africans clean up their own messes.

[christx30]

39. Because the Africans have been doing

such a good job so far.

What about extending amnesty to the families to Nigerians that don't want their daughters kidnapped and sold into sexual slavery? Or their sons 10 and older forced to become soldiers? Would you be ok with that? At least until the Africans fix their broken continent?

[Crowman1979]

13. It's the School of The Americas all over again.

[Judi Lynn]

15. Amazing, simply amazing. n/t

[Brother Buzz]

21. SOA never really ended

Just think of this as, yet, another satellite campus.

[jberryhill]

18. Just take away their underwear

I mean, how hard is it to "train" someone to go commando?

[devils chaplain]

20. What could possibly go wrong? N/T

[PatrickforO]

24. We just can't get enough

Since the American people are turning against useless imperialistic wars such as the ones in Iraq, Afghanistan and Pakistan, and are chafing at the drone policies, we simply MUST begin a proxy war in Africa!

After all, where would we be if the United States wasn't on a CONSTANT war footing?

[MADem]

28. Not much of a secret, then, if "Common Dreams" is breathlessly reporting a NYT story. nt

[polly7]

34. Good article, Judi Lynn.

Once Qaddafi was gotten rid of, dreams of opening up Africa to exploit were finally realized. Here's a bit more, for anyone interested.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=4842339

http://www.democraticunderground.com/101687286

http://www.democraticunderground.com/101667354

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10023144018

http://www.democraticunderground.com/101661984

http://www.democraticunderground.com/101659139

http://www.democraticunderground.com/101659140

http://www.democraticunderground.com/101654492

http://www.democraticunderground.com/101655116

http://www.democraticunderground.com/101653593

http://www.democraticunderground.com/101642296

[Judi Lynn]

37. Thank you so much for providing this deeply helpful information, saving people a lot of time!

I'm certain a lot of people didn't see them the first time around, with so much important info. to read at D.U.!

On edit:

Just looked at one of the links, am so very glad to see it now!

The Startling Size of US Military Operations in Africa

The Pentagon's Africa Command will tell you there's one military base on the entire continent. Don't believe them.

—By Nick Turse

| Fri Sep. 6, 2013 6:00 AM EDT

http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2013/09/us-military-bases-africa

It could be a full-time job trying to keep up with the reading at D.U., with material like this available, getting us educated!

Thank you, again.

[Judi Lynn]

36. Coming Soon: A U.S. Death Squad Program for West Africa

Coming Soon: A U.S. Death Squad Program for West Africa

Militarily, Africa is fast becoming an American continent

By Glen Ford
Global Research, May 28, 2014

The Americans now admit they are training battalions of African Rangers and counterinsurgency troops. The next step is the proliferation of death squads in West Africa, as the U.S. did in Southeast Asia and Latin America. Nigeria’s schoolgirls may or may not be rescued, but U.S. and European “humanitarian” military interventionists have already gained more than they could have imagined.


“NATO’s aggression against Libya begat the sub-Saharan chaos that justified the French and U.S. occupation of Mali and Niger.”

Militarily, Africa is fast becoming an American continent. Barack Obama, who has been president for all but the first year of AFRICOM’s existence, has succeeded in integrating U.S. fighting units, bases, training regimens, equipment and financing into the military structures of all but a handful of African nations. The great pan-Africanist and former Ghanaian president Kwame Nkrumah’s dream of a militarily united Africa has been all but realized – with Americans and Europeans in charge. Under the guise of “humanitarian” intervention, Obama has vastly expanded Bill Clinton and George Bush’s African footprints, so that only a few patches on the continental map lie outside Washington’s sphere of operations. Eritrea and Zimbabwe are the notable exceptions – and, therefore, future targets.

Africa is occupied territory. The African Union doesn’t even pretend to be in charge of its own nominal peace-keeping missions, which are little more than opportunities for African militaries to get paid for doing the West’s bidding. China and Brazil may be garnering the lion’s share of trade with Africa, but the men with the guns are loyal to AFRICOM – the sugar daddy to the continent’s military class. U.S. troops now sleep in African barracks, brothers in arms with African officers who can determine who will sleep next week in the presidential mansion.

The pace of U.S. penetration of West Africa has quickened dramatically since 2011, when Obama bombed Muammar Gaddafi’s Libyan government out of existence, setting a flood of jihadists and weapons streaming east to Syria and south to destabilize the nations of the Sahel. Chaos ensued – beautiful chaos, if you are a U.S. military planner seeking justification for ever-larger missions. NATO’s aggression against Libya begat the sub-Saharan chaos that justified the French and U.S. occupation of Mali and Niger. Hyperactive North African jihadists, empowered by American bombs, weapons and money, trained and outfitted their brethren on the continent, including elements of Nigeria’s Boko Haram. The Yoruba-speaking Islamic warriors then bequeathed AFRICOM a priceless gift: nearly 300 schoolgirls in need of rescuing, perfect fodder for “humanitarian” intervention.

More:
http://www.globalresearch.ca/coming-soon-a-u-s-death-squad-program-for-west-africa/5384257

[Adrahil]

40. Just something to consider...

.... a few years ago, I was involved with a project partially funded by DoD to train locals on locating, identifying and removing land mines. I was part of the team that GPS-based geolocation to mark mine positions and transmit them to EOD teams consisting of both U.S. experts and local trainees from police and military units.

Our goal, of course, was to help facilitate the removal of old, unmarked minefields and reduce civilian casualties.

I was shocked when I was directly contacted by a reporter to ask about the "military training" I was "covertly" providing African governments. She even referred to me as an "operative." I openly laughed at that. At the time, I was 46 years old, and about 100lbs overweight. I'm a middle-aged, fat engineer, not a "military operative."

Don't get me wrong, I'm sure there are some unsavory shenanigans going on. But these kinds of surveys include all kinds of "military" contact, not just Delta SEAL Marine Commandos training local jack-booted thugs.

[Jesus Malverde]

41. U.S. Training Elite Antiterror Troops in Four African Nations

United States Special Operations troops are forming elite counterterrorism units in four countries in North and West Africa that American officials say are pivotal in the widening war against Al Qaeda’s affiliates and associates on the continent, even as they acknowledge the difficulties of working with weak allies.

The secretive program, financed in part with millions of dollars in classified Pentagon spending and carried out by trainers, including members of the Army’s Green Berets and Delta Force, was begun last year to instruct and equip hundreds of handpicked commandos in Libya, Niger, Mauritania and Mali.

The goal over the next few years is to build homegrown African counterterrorism teams capable of combating fighters like those in Boko Haram, the Islamist extremist group that abducted nearly 300 Nigerian schoolgirls last month. American military specialists are helping Nigerian officers in their efforts to rescue the girls.

“Training indigenous forces to go after threats in their own country is what we need to be doing,” said Michael A. Sheehan, who advocated the counterterrorism program last year when he was the senior Pentagon official in charge of Special Operations policy. Mr. Sheehan now holds the distinguished chair at the Combating Terrorism Center at West Point.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/05/27/world/africa/us-trains-african-commandos-to-fight-terrorism.html?action=click&contentCollection=Middle%20East&module=RelatedCoverage&region=Marginalia&pgtype=article

Missing from the list are troops involved in Uganda (Koney2012), Somalia (Ethiopian Troops) and Kenya. All countries being assisted by the US.