10-28-2017, 11:49 PM
*** 29-Oct-17 World View -- New Somalia terror bombings again raise question of US military strategy in Africa
This morning's key headlines from GenerationalDynamics.com
****
**** Dozens killed in Mogadishu, Somalia, bombings, two weeks after hundreds killed
****
![[Image: g171028b.jpg]](http://Media.GenerationalDynamics.com/ww2010/g171028b.jpg)
Aftermath of two car bombs in the heart of Mogadishu, Somalia, on Saturday (CNN)
At least 23 people were killed and dozens injured from a series of
coordinated suicide bombings and gun battles on Saturday afternoon in
Mogadishu, the capital city of Somalia.
The al-Qaeda linked Somalia terror group Al-Shabaab claimed credit for
the terror attack. The first attack was a car bomb outside the Nasa
Hablod hotel, usually frequented by Somalia politicians. A second car
bombing in the same area targeted security forces and ambulances as
they arrived at the hotel to respond to the first bombing. A third
bombing occurred when an attacker detonated his explosive vest inside
the hotel. The explosions were followed by heavy gunfire.
Saturday's bombings came just two weeks after a massive truck bombing
in a busy marketplace in Mogadishu killed 350 people. That was by far
the worst terror attack in Somalia's modern history.
If there's any black humor in this horrific situation, it's that
al-Shabaab claimed credit for Saturday's attack, but not for the
attack two weeks ago. According to most analysts, the reason that
they didn't claim credit for the previous attack is that so many
civilians, including many women and children, were among the 350 dead,
and al-Shabaab feared a public relations disaster. Nonetheless,
Somali civilians are furious at al-Shabaab and hold them responsible
for all those civilian deaths. The latest attack targeted
politicians, security forces and ambulance drivers, and apparently the
al-Shabaab terrorists believe that ordinary people will love them for
helping to stamp out (or blow up) government corruption. Garowe Online (Somalia) and Long War Journal and AP and CNN
****
**** Somalia attack comes as Niger ambush leads to review of US military aims in Africa
****
Since October 8, when I first reported on the deaths of four US troops in Niger,
this little-known
event has become the subject of major political controversy.
The story that has emerged pretty much follows what was known at that
time. A convoy of American soldiers were ambushed by a group of
dozens of militants, believed to be linked to Islamic State in Greater
Sahara (ISGS), a militant group that has sworn allegiance to the
so-called Islamic State (IS or ISIS or ISIL or Daesh). There have
been additional details coming out that indicate that the ambush was
planned by local villagers, who tipped off the militants, and then
delayed the American convoy from leaving long enough for the militants
to get into place for the ambush.
The first controversy that has arisen was national and international
scandal as it was debated for in media around the world whether
President Trump had or had not momentarily forgotten the name of one
of the soldiers, surely a question of galaxial significance, and well
worth five or six days of constant 24-hour media coverage.
And second, there was shock and surprise on the part of many people
that there are some 800 American troops in Niger. South Carolina
Republican Lindsey Graham admitted that he hadn't known that, but
said, "They were there to defend America. They were there to help
allies. They were there to prevent another platform to attack America
and our allies." The 800 US troops in Niger work with 4,000 military
personnel from France, the former colonial power in the region, and
35,000 local partners.
There are actually some 6,000 American soldiers in missions in 53
African countries. These soldiers typically provide training and
security assistance for local forces, including intelligence and
reconnaissance help.
![[Image: afribig.gif]](http://Media.GenerationalDynamics.com/ww2010/afribig.gif)
Africa is larger than Europe, America, Alaska, China, and New Zealand (not shown) combined. (Source: Boston Univ)
(In one sense, 6,000 American soldiers in Africa really isn't a lot,
given the size of Africa. Africa is the size of the ENTIRE United
States INCLUDING Alaska PLUS all of China PLUS all of Europe -- and
there's still enough room left over to throw in New Zealand.)
The reasons given for the increase in American forces is to confront
the challenges from Islamic extremists, traffickers, smugglers and
antigovernment militias on all sides. In the case of Niger and the
Sahel region, al-Qaeda has been long established there in the form of
Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), and lately has reorganized
into JNIM (Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslim, or Group for the
Support of Islam and Muslims). Now, adding to that, with ISIS being
expelled from its major strongholds in Syria and Iraq, there are
ISIS-linked militias in Africa, including Islamic State in Greater
Sahara (ISGS), which was responsible for the deaths of the American
soldiers in Niger.
From the point of view of Generational Dynamics, this effort in Africa
is nothing more than a holding action. No one can possibly believe
that we can defeat these militias in Africa, just as we haven't been
able to defeat the Taliban in Afghanistan, just as the French haven't
been able to defeat AQIM in Mali, just as UN peacekeepers haven't been
able to end the war in Central African Republic. The two recent
bombings in Mogadishu, Somalia, shows how far off any such defeat
would be. On the other hand, a complete US withdrawal could be
destabilizing to countries where the US troops are providing support.
So the main American mission is to provide support and training to
local national troops, while taking steps to guarantee that no
American troops become casualties -- which means that everything
possible will be done to learn the lessons from the Niger ambush, to
make sure it doesn't happen again.
CS Monitor and Deutsche Welle
Related Articles
KEYS: Generational Dynamics, Somalia, Al-Shabaab, al-Qaeda,
Black Hawk Down, Battle of Mogadishu, Nasa Hablod hotel,
Mali, Niger, France,
Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims,
JNIM, Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslim,
ISGS, Islamic State in the Greater Sahara,
Islamic State / of Iraq and Syria/Sham/the Levant, IS, ISIS, ISIL, Daesh
Permanent web link to this article
Receive daily World View columns by e-mail
Contribute to Generational Dynamics via PayPal
John J. Xenakis
100 Memorial Drive Apt 8-13A
Cambridge, MA 02142
Phone: 617-864-0010
E-mail: john@GenerationalDynamics.com
Web site: http://www.GenerationalDynamics.com
Forum: http://www.gdxforum.com/forum
Subscribe to World View: http://generationaldynamics.com/subscribe
This morning's key headlines from GenerationalDynamics.com
- Dozens killed in Mogadishu, Somalia, bombings, two weeks after hundreds killed
- Somalia attack comes as Niger ambush leads to review of US military aims in Africa
****
**** Dozens killed in Mogadishu, Somalia, bombings, two weeks after hundreds killed
****
Aftermath of two car bombs in the heart of Mogadishu, Somalia, on Saturday (CNN)
At least 23 people were killed and dozens injured from a series of
coordinated suicide bombings and gun battles on Saturday afternoon in
Mogadishu, the capital city of Somalia.
The al-Qaeda linked Somalia terror group Al-Shabaab claimed credit for
the terror attack. The first attack was a car bomb outside the Nasa
Hablod hotel, usually frequented by Somalia politicians. A second car
bombing in the same area targeted security forces and ambulances as
they arrived at the hotel to respond to the first bombing. A third
bombing occurred when an attacker detonated his explosive vest inside
the hotel. The explosions were followed by heavy gunfire.
Saturday's bombings came just two weeks after a massive truck bombing
in a busy marketplace in Mogadishu killed 350 people. That was by far
the worst terror attack in Somalia's modern history.
If there's any black humor in this horrific situation, it's that
al-Shabaab claimed credit for Saturday's attack, but not for the
attack two weeks ago. According to most analysts, the reason that
they didn't claim credit for the previous attack is that so many
civilians, including many women and children, were among the 350 dead,
and al-Shabaab feared a public relations disaster. Nonetheless,
Somali civilians are furious at al-Shabaab and hold them responsible
for all those civilian deaths. The latest attack targeted
politicians, security forces and ambulance drivers, and apparently the
al-Shabaab terrorists believe that ordinary people will love them for
helping to stamp out (or blow up) government corruption. Garowe Online (Somalia) and Long War Journal and AP and CNN
****
**** Somalia attack comes as Niger ambush leads to review of US military aims in Africa
****
Since October 8, when I first reported on the deaths of four US troops in Niger,
this little-known
event has become the subject of major political controversy.
The story that has emerged pretty much follows what was known at that
time. A convoy of American soldiers were ambushed by a group of
dozens of militants, believed to be linked to Islamic State in Greater
Sahara (ISGS), a militant group that has sworn allegiance to the
so-called Islamic State (IS or ISIS or ISIL or Daesh). There have
been additional details coming out that indicate that the ambush was
planned by local villagers, who tipped off the militants, and then
delayed the American convoy from leaving long enough for the militants
to get into place for the ambush.
The first controversy that has arisen was national and international
scandal as it was debated for in media around the world whether
President Trump had or had not momentarily forgotten the name of one
of the soldiers, surely a question of galaxial significance, and well
worth five or six days of constant 24-hour media coverage.
And second, there was shock and surprise on the part of many people
that there are some 800 American troops in Niger. South Carolina
Republican Lindsey Graham admitted that he hadn't known that, but
said, "They were there to defend America. They were there to help
allies. They were there to prevent another platform to attack America
and our allies." The 800 US troops in Niger work with 4,000 military
personnel from France, the former colonial power in the region, and
35,000 local partners.
There are actually some 6,000 American soldiers in missions in 53
African countries. These soldiers typically provide training and
security assistance for local forces, including intelligence and
reconnaissance help.
Africa is larger than Europe, America, Alaska, China, and New Zealand (not shown) combined. (Source: Boston Univ)
(In one sense, 6,000 American soldiers in Africa really isn't a lot,
given the size of Africa. Africa is the size of the ENTIRE United
States INCLUDING Alaska PLUS all of China PLUS all of Europe -- and
there's still enough room left over to throw in New Zealand.)
The reasons given for the increase in American forces is to confront
the challenges from Islamic extremists, traffickers, smugglers and
antigovernment militias on all sides. In the case of Niger and the
Sahel region, al-Qaeda has been long established there in the form of
Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM), and lately has reorganized
into JNIM (Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslim, or Group for the
Support of Islam and Muslims). Now, adding to that, with ISIS being
expelled from its major strongholds in Syria and Iraq, there are
ISIS-linked militias in Africa, including Islamic State in Greater
Sahara (ISGS), which was responsible for the deaths of the American
soldiers in Niger.
From the point of view of Generational Dynamics, this effort in Africa
is nothing more than a holding action. No one can possibly believe
that we can defeat these militias in Africa, just as we haven't been
able to defeat the Taliban in Afghanistan, just as the French haven't
been able to defeat AQIM in Mali, just as UN peacekeepers haven't been
able to end the war in Central African Republic. The two recent
bombings in Mogadishu, Somalia, shows how far off any such defeat
would be. On the other hand, a complete US withdrawal could be
destabilizing to countries where the US troops are providing support.
So the main American mission is to provide support and training to
local national troops, while taking steps to guarantee that no
American troops become casualties -- which means that everything
possible will be done to learn the lessons from the Niger ambush, to
make sure it doesn't happen again.
CS Monitor and Deutsche Welle
Related Articles
- Islamic State in Greater Sahara (ISGS) blamed for deaths of US troops in Niger (08-Oct-2017)
- Jihadist attacks in Mali surge with rise of al-Qaeda linked JNIM (04-Oct-2017)
- France's new president Macron commits troops to Mali 'as long as necessary' (20-May-2017)
- US sends dozens of troops to Somalia, first time since Black Hawk Down (15-Apr-2017)
- Somalia's Al-Shabaab claims responsibility for religion-based Kenya attack (23-Nov-2014)
KEYS: Generational Dynamics, Somalia, Al-Shabaab, al-Qaeda,
Black Hawk Down, Battle of Mogadishu, Nasa Hablod hotel,
Mali, Niger, France,
Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims,
JNIM, Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslim,
ISGS, Islamic State in the Greater Sahara,
Islamic State / of Iraq and Syria/Sham/the Levant, IS, ISIS, ISIL, Daesh
Permanent web link to this article
Receive daily World View columns by e-mail
Contribute to Generational Dynamics via PayPal
John J. Xenakis
100 Memorial Drive Apt 8-13A
Cambridge, MA 02142
Phone: 617-864-0010
E-mail: john@GenerationalDynamics.com
Web site: http://www.GenerationalDynamics.com
Forum: http://www.gdxforum.com/forum
Subscribe to World View: http://generationaldynamics.com/subscribe
