Biden Approves Plan to Redeploy Several Hundred Ground Forces Into Somalia
Source: New York Times
WASHINGTON — President Biden has signed an order authorizing the military to once again deploy hundreds of Special Operations forces inside Somalia — largely reversing the decision by President Donald J. Trump to withdraw nearly all 700 ground troops who had been stationed there, according to four officials familiar with the matter. In addition, Mr. Biden has approved a Pentagon request for standing authority to target about a dozen suspected leaders of Al Shabab, the Somali terrorist group that is affiliated with Al Qaeda, three of the officials said.
Since Mr. Biden took office, airstrikes have largely been limited to those meant to defend partner forces facing an immediate threat. Together, the decisions by Mr. Biden, described by the officials on the condition of anonymity, will revive an open-ended American counterterrorism operation that has amounted to a slow-burn war through three administrations. The move stands in contrast to his decision last year to pull American forces from Afghanistan, saying that “it is time to end the forever war.” Mr. Biden signed off on the proposal by Defense Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III in early May, officials said.
In a statement, Adrienne Watson, the National Security Council spokeswoman, acknowledged the move, saying it would enable “a more effective fight against Al Shabab.”“The decision to reintroduce a persistent presence was made to maximize the safety and effectiveness of our forces and enable them to provide more efficient support to our partners,” she said.Ms. Watson did not indicate the number of troops the military would deploy. But two people familiar with the matter said the figure would be capped at around 450.
That will replace a system in which the U.S. troops training and advising Somali and African Union forces have made short stays since Mr. Trump issued what Ms. Watson described as a “precipitous decision to withdraw.” The Biden administration’s strategy in Somalia is to try to reduce the threat from Al Shabab by suppressing its ability to plot and carry out complicated operations, a senior administration official said. Those include a deadly attack on an American air base at Manda Bay, Kenya, in January 2020.
Read more: https://www.nytimes.com/2022/05/16/us/politics/biden-military-somalia.html
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You have much of East Africa going through turmoil again and that includes Somalia's neighbor Ethiopia and their almost never-ending battle with Eritrea and now internally with the Tigray region that borders Eritrea.
in favor of prioritizing and promoting Europe, little is reported in the U.S. M$M about what is going on (outside of showing people in huts with flies crawling around their face, naked women, and children with distended bellies). Updates with respect to the State Department's interactions with leaders and organizations there are minimized, with a notable lack of intelligent, non-stereotypical reporting of their needs to secure their regions, despite the fact that yes, we ARE engaged with the continent.
Link to tweet
@US_AU
During visit w/ Commissioner @Bankole_Adeoye at @AUC_PAPS, Amb Lapenn, Dep Asst Sec of Def for African Affairs @chidi_blyden, and @WHNSC Sr Advisor @JDevermont paused to pay tribute to the sacrifices of AU soldiers, including tragic loss last week of Burundian troops in Somalia
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6:02 AM · May 13, 2022
As yaesu posted here - https://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1014&pid=2917668 there was an attack on a base office for the African Union in Somalia (where the AU tries to keep many moving parts and pieces of the continent together), so this is most likely a response for a request for assistance.
Our State Department officials attended a conference last week focusing on making sure that groups like ISIS/ISIL/Daesh don't try to reconstitute and recruit in unstable countries in places like East Africa (including Ethiopia, Sudan, South Sudan, and Somalia).
Link to tweet
@UnderSecStateP
My @Coalition colleagues and I had productive discussions on confronting ISIS and its branches and networks in Africa, targeting ISIS leadership, ensuring there is no resurgence in Iraq and Syria, and preventing Afghanistan from being used as the basis for external attacks.
Under Secretary Nuland speaks into a microphone while sitting at a table next to a man.
Under Secretary Nuland delivers remarks from a table at the front of the room and is featured on a large screen behind her. Tables of other participants line both the left and right side of the room.
10:40 AM · May 12, 2022
that happened on May 12 in Marrakesh that included Blinken.
Just my opinion. We are already out and if we put them there, they just grow.
700 ground troops mean how many civilian contractors?
Im not going to guess about the number of “other people “ that need supporting .
Those guys are always way out with no support close. It could be a disaster. Let the French keep helping .
