Military counterterrorism officials are seeking more capability to pursue extremist groups in Africa and elsewhere that they believe threaten the U.S., and the Obama administration is considering asking Congress to approve expanded authority to do it.
The move, according to administration and congressional officials, would be aimed at allowing U.S. military operations in Mali, Nigeria, Libya and possibly other countries where militants have loose or nonexistent ties to al Qaeda’s Pakistan headquarters. Depending on the request, congressional authorization could cover the use of armed drones and special operations teams across a region larger than Iraq and Afghanistan combined, the officials said.
I hope they have the good sense to work with and respect the African troops who have been in the forefront of the fight against terrorist elements along the fault-line of Christianity/Islam in northern Africa.
For example, the African Union mission troops in Somalia have been far more successful than any of the US or other western forces that have intervened in that country in the past. With troops drawn mainly from Uganda, Kenya and Burundi, they have pushed Islamic insurgent groups right out of many areas formerly controlled by them.
The US is best off providing money and high-level surveillance, so as to facilitate and support the work of those who have the skills required to carry out successful counter-insurgency operations in Africa.