Tag Archives: nato

International

World War 3, East Asian Front: Korea says final talks for peace, industrial complex to become military base!

28 July 2013 (14:36 UTC-07 Tango)/20 Ramadan 1434/06 Mordad 1391/21 Ji-Wie (6th month) 4711

The rhetoric has escalated to a final ultimatum from Republic of Korea (RoK, South Korea), “final talks” over the massive industrial complex known as Kaesŏng (Gaesong) Industrial Region (KIR).

I’ve pointed out that Democratic People’s Republic of Korea’s closing of KIR hit the U.S. capitalist puppet RoK right in the nuts, despite western news media and public officials saying it was hurting DPRK.

On 28 July 2013, RoK unification minister in charge of cross-border affairs, Ryoo Kihl-Jae, announced that a final offer for talks to re-open KIR was sent to DPRK.  No details given, but he added that RoK was willing to send five shipments of humanitarian aid to DPRK to get them to re-open KIR.

On 27 July 2013, DPRK held a massive victory day celebration, and what western news media seemed to downplay was the fact that China’s vice president, Li Yuanchao, was standing right by the side of Kim Jong-un.  A clear show of support.  By the way, also present for the celebrations were political and military officials from Mozambique, Tanzania, Namibia, Uganda, Zambia, Democratic Republic of Congo, Angola, Italy, Spain, Germany, France, Indonesia, Vietnam, Thailand, Laos, India, Japan, Cuba, Egypt, Palestine, Syria, Iran, Mongolia and Russia.  Even former U.S. attorney general Ramsey Clark paid a visit during the week!

On 25 July 2013, DPRK negotiators declared KIR talks had collapsed, and threatened to turn the commie run crony capitalist corporations’ work camp into a full fledged military base: “If the fate of Kaesong industrial zone ends like this, the military would reclaim it.”-Pak Chol-Su, DPRK delegate

You need to realize it was DPRK that made sacrifices for the creation of the capitalist KIR.  The area was originally a DPRK military base, and they agreed to remove their military forces and create a massive work camp for the sake of U.S. capitalist puppet corporations from RoK.

 

International

World War 3, Asian Front-Afghanistan, 15-16 July 2013. More proof the British-U.S. Empires are behind boy sex slaves & opium! More proof the U.S. ain’t leavin’!

Afghan news media reporting that an Afghan National Army (ANA) soldier has escaped from prison.  He was arrested last week after killing a Slovak-NATO soldier, and wounding at least three others.  The reports say his escape was facilitated by other ANA soldiers!

ISAF reports that a U.S. led NATO troop was killed by “direct fire” in eastern Afghanistan.  Mujahideen have reported killing several U.S./NATO personnel in eastern provinces, but they don’t give enough details regarding how they were killed.

Despite U.S. news media reports saying Mujahideen attacks are down, the Afghan Defense Ministry admitted they are actually up!  Afghan General Zahir Azimi also admitted that currently the Afghan government forces can not handle the increased attacks by Mujahideen.  This is in direct contradiction with ISAF General Heinz Feldmann, who said Afghan government forces were ready to take over from U.S./NATO.

Another ISAF commander, Major General Dieter Warnecke, revealed that U.S. led NATO/ISAF has military plans for Afghanistan past the 2014 pullout date: “Much of this work will continue into the NATO Resolute Support mission in 2015.  I’m convinced about it. Our strong international commitment to this nation and to the Afghan people will endure.”

Officials with the Afghan Defense Ministry say they’ve caught Pakistani troops/insurgents who’ve infiltrated the ANA using fake ANA ID cards!  Afghan General Taj Mohammad Jahid made the announcement on Radio Free Europe.

In Ghazni Province, a 12 years old boy blew himself up with a bicycle bomb near an ANA/NATO military convoy.  He was killed, an Afghan cop was wounded.

In Helmand Province, Nawzad district, Mujahideen say they destroyed a Georgian/ISAF tank, killing the crew.  And in the United Kingdom/United States controlled area, in Sangin town, a British journalist revealed institutionalized sexual abuse of boys by police.  The issue has many Canadian soldiers in therapy.  Canadian soldiers were told to ignore it, and they claim even U.S./U.K-NATO personnel took part in the child sex crimes.  A U.S. Marine Corps Major tried to confront local police about it but was rebuked.  The British journalist spent six years documenting the war under the U.K./U.S., including the sex crimes.  He has released a documentary called This is What Winning Looks Like!  By the way, Sangin town is also considered a major hub of opium production!

In Baghlan Province, Baghlan-e-Markazi District, NATO/ISAF forces conducted home invasions.  One person killed, two kidnapped.

In Kunar Province, reports that people are abandoning their villages because of repeated U.S./NATO airstrikes.

In Nangarhar Province, Jalalabad city, a motorcycle bomb exploded, killing two people and wounding three.  One person killed worked for Afghan National Directorate of Security (NDS, domestic spy agency) and the other person killed was a Afghan National Police (ANP) officer.

The Afghanistan National Archives revealed they have 7000 historical documents pertaining to Iran, documents not currently found in Iran.  Afghan officials say they will send Iran digital copies of those documents.

International

World War 3, Asian Front-Afghanistan, 13-14 July 2013.

In Logar Province, Mohammad Agha District, Afghan and NATO/ISAF forces killed ten people in Mazgin village.  Afghan government officials called them militants, and said the militants had attacked the Ainak copper mine.  Two of the militants were foreigners.   In Kharwar District, Mujahideen say they shot down a NATO/ISAF helicopter.

In Nangarhar Province, reports that a military convoy hit a massive landmine.  Afghan government officials say a tank was destroyed and U.S. medivac ‘copters were called in.  Mujahideen claim the explosion killed the crew in the tank.

In Kandahar Province, Arghistan District, Afghan border police say they killed 12 Pakistani militants who attacked them.

In Paktia Province, reports that 12 people were killed by NATO/ISAF airstrike.  In Jani Khail District, 26 contracted security guards joined the Mujahideen.  The defections were the result of Mujahideen releasing four captured security guards/mercenaries unharmed.

Afghanistan and Turkmenistan signed onto the Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan and India (TAPI) gas pipeline project.  It’s a 30 years deal.

In Helmand Province, Camp Bastion, BBC reporting that British Red Coats have begun pullout operations. The Theatre Logistics Group is scrambling to get military vehicles prepped for the long journey home to United Kingdom.  The BBC reports that the British retreat actually started in October 2012!

According to the BBC, 21 British Red Coats killed themselves while on duty in Afghanistan in 2012.   Another 29 Afghan veterans killed themselves back home in Merry Ol’ England.

A Transparency International report said the U.S. backed Afghan justice system is the most corrupt government organization in all of Afghanistan.  Of course the U.S. backed Afghan Supreme Court denies it.

Confusing reports: The Afghan Foreign Ministry says they’ve officially suspended post 2014 Bilateral Security talks with the Obama administration, yet, a spokesman for President Hamid Karzai says a special committee will be formed to continue such talks.

Business/Economics, U.S.

U.S. Civil War / Martial Law: Michigan first to go down, meets definition of “Failed State”!

25 July 2013 (15:53 UTC-07 Tango)/17 Ramadan 1434/03 Mordad 1391/18 Ji-Wie (6th month) 4711

“A failed state is a state perceived as having failed at some of the basic conditions and responsibilities of a sovereign government.”-Wikipedia

The metropolis of Detroit became the biggest U.S. city to go bankrupt!  Yesterday, a federal judge blocked any challenges to the bankruptcy, including a challenge by a Michigan state judge!  Detroit is in debt by at least $18 billion USD.  The bankruptcy will rob retired and current city employees of their retirement funds (which they paid into).

Despite, or maybe because of the bankruptcy, the Michigan Strategic Fund (MSF) board approved issuing up to $450 million in bonds to finance construction of a $650 million project, that includes a new arena for the Detroit Red Wings!  The MSF also approved $200 million for other parts of the bankrupt city of Detroit.  Hello, aren’t bonds a form of debt that the taxpayers have to cover?  So now the state of Michigan is going deeper into debt for the sake of failed Detroit?

And despite state officials putting state taxpayers on the line for the Detroit Red Wings, the governor of Michigan just stated that he wants no federal bailout money for Detroit.  Do you see how mixed up things are at the leadership level?

A Detroit area physical therapist assistant pled guilty to taking part in a scam that ripped off Medicare by $22 million!

The city of Flint, like Detroit, is under emergency management.  However, today the Emergency Manager, Mike Brown, said they are not currently considering bankruptcy.  The smaller city of Flint is in debt by at least $19.1 million.

Get this, a man was just found guilty of stealing $100000 worth of tools and metals from General Motors.  The man is suspected of being the ringleader of a metal pirate group that targeted metal items belonging to GM in a storage facility in Howell.  They were selling the metal to recyclers.

According to Bridge Magazine, things are so bad in Detroit and Flint that people are stripping buildings of metal, including the buildings that are still occupied!  Even the Christian God can’t stop the metal pirates from stripping churches.  They take everything metal, like plumbing, wiring, siding, metal statues of Jesus.  Even the mausoleum doors from Woodmere Cemetery and parts of the copper roof of Holy Redeemer Church were stolen.  It’s so bad that retired FBI agents have formed NAZIistic non-profit pseudo-governmental groups to fight the metal pirates, because the government has failed: “Right now the burden is on the property owner. What are you supposed to do, stand guard seven days a week? Because that’s what it would take.”-Andrew Arena, non-profit pseudo-governmental agency Detroit Crime Commission

Michigan’s oil refining industry is a big fail, even with the glut of oil coming from North Dakota and Canada!  According to U.S. News & World Report, four out of the five refineries in the Great Lakes region were out of action at some point due to maintenance problems.  The result is that many Great Lakes states pay more for fuel than Hawaii or California.  Michigan has one of those five Great Lakes refineries, and only now the NAZIistic right to work you over lawmakers decided maybe Michigan should build a second refinery!   The plan would give the company that builds/operates it massive tax breaks for ten years, however, Detroit’s bankruptcy just might have nixed any financial support for such a plan.  Perfect example of too little too late.

And while Michigan ‘elected’ officials love to give unAmerican corporate America huge tax breaks, they’re refusing to use any of the state emergency school funds to stop the wholesale destruction of public schools.  Schools across Michigan have laid off thousands of employees in the past few years.  Inkster Public Schools laid off all their teachers!!!  The entire Buena Vista School District ceased to exist!!!  Prime examples of Failed State!

The Michigan Department of Transportation claims so far this year 440 people were killed on highways.  State Transportation Director, Kirk T. Steudle, called that number a “startling statistic” but expects it to go much higher, despite all the other police enforced campaigns to make people drive safer.  What does that tell you about the mind set of the people who drive Michigan’s highways?  They don’t care anymore!

Michigan’s ‘official’ unemployment rate went up in June, compared to May.  In May it was 8.4%, in June it hit 9.4%! (all 17 of Michigan’s labor markets reported increased unemployment!)

Michigan’s Unemployment Insurance Agency (UIA) warning people to beware of scammers posing as unemployment consultants.  However, it turns out that those consultants were part of the 400 UIA employees who got laid off last year! Those former UIA employees say they started their consulting businesses to help people apply for unemployment compensation through a government system that’s obviously set up to fail: “It’s like an act of Congress sometimes to try to get through to them and people are frustrated when they do call. They’d tell me we were on hold for an hour then the system kicked them off for high volume.”-Manuel Delgado, former UIA employee

Michiganders recently demonstrated for an increase to state and federal minimum wages.  And increasing part time jobs are not considered a good thing: “When we see that the number of involuntary part time workers more than doubled, that’s yet one more indication of the severity of the damage caused by the financial crisis.”-Charles Ballard, Michigan State University

Anyone watching news reports should notice an increase in violet crimes, however the latest ‘official’ federal government data are from 2011.  It shows property crimes in Michigan at 26 per 1000 residents, the national median is 29 per 1000.  Violent crime in Michigan hit 4.4 per 1000 in 2011, the national median being 3.9 per 1000.   ‘Official’ 2012 data will not be released until Autumn 2013.

At the end of 2012, Wayne State University held a two day forum on the increasing level of crime in Detroit. They called the forum City Under Siege.

I have neighbors who recently moved to Idaho from a suburb of Flint.  The man expressed how peaceful it was here in Chubbuck.  He told me how they were afraid to be outside their house when the sun went down in Michigan, because there were so many random shootings.  He also told me about the lie of the great automotive industry.  Even though he spent decades working for GM (I think he said GM) he never went a full year without being laid off.  Jobs were never ever steady.  He followed his son to Idaho, who recently got a job with an east Idaho school district.  I assume his son was one of the many victims of the slashing and burning of Michigan’s education system.

Another sign of a Failed State is “loss of control of its territory, or of the monopoly on the legitimate use of physical force”.  This means the government can’t enforce laws, usually because the public has lost all faith in the government (after all, you pay your taxes and what do you get in return? Less and less year after year!).  Becoming a police state is actually a sign of “loss of control”.

The creation of the pseudo-governmental agency known as Detroit Crime Commission (DCC) is a prime example.  In 2012 the DCC began asking retired FBI and retired state police officers to volunteer with their group to conduct law enforcement patrols.  The non-profit “charity”DCC was founded and is run by former FBI agents, and receives federal grants besides public donations.

It looks like the DCC has also taken over the Oakland County Sheriff’s Department.  DCC even partnered with Geofeedia for the 2012 World Series games, and used social media to spy on the public: “The end result was a large volume of social media reviewed and monitored by the law enforcement agencies entrusted with providing security for the World Series.  As social media posts emerged that developed into situations, the Command Center directed field officers to those locations.”-Detroit Crime Commission: Securing the 2012 World Series through real-time, location based social media monitoring

I think Detroit/Michigan qualifies as failed under the “loss of control of its territory“ category, because government officials have turned over their “monopoly on the legitimate use of physical force“ to a non-profit pseudo-governmental agency known as Detroit Crime Commission.  It won’t be long before Michigan becomes a police state run by government contractors.

Michigan is a failed state.

U.S.

Martial Law U.S.A.: U.S. House refuses to restrain NSA domestic spying ops!

25 July 2013 (00:54 UTC-07 Tango)/17 Ramadan 1434/03 Mordad 1391/18 Ji-Wie (6th month) 4711

The U.S. House of Representatives rejected a bill that would have limited the powers of the National Security Agency (NSA).  It failed by a narrow vote of 217 against to 205 for.

The bill was presented by a group of Democrats, Republicans and Libertarians.  Strangely those ‘elected’ officials who love the NSA, like Arkansas’s Tom Cotton, used the argument that “we’re at war” to defeat the bill.  That’s funny, Congress has yet to officially declare war, so technically, no we’re not at war!

This shows you sheeple of the United States just how many of your ‘elected’ officials love spying on you, because they think you’re the real terrorists!

 

International

World War 3, Asian Front-Afghanistan, 11-12 July 2013.

In Baghlan Province, Burka District, Boorkeh city, Mujahideen claim they shot down a NATO/ISAF helicopter.  U.S. officials would only confirm that one of their ‘copters made a “hard landing”.  Mujahideen say it was a U.S. Chinook helicopter, and that 27 personnel on board were killed.  The district governor did say the U.S. forces were conducting raids in the area.

In Helmand Province, Nad-e-Ali District, an explosion killed three civilians.  When police showed up to investigate another bomb exploded.  Two cops killed, two wounded.  In Gerishk District, locals reported NATO/ISAF airstrikes killed three eight years old children.

In Kabul Province, Kabul city, a car being chased by police blew up.  The driver and two passengers killed.  Police say they recognized the driver as a wanted person.

In Herat Province, the three kidnapped employees of the Norwegian Refugee Council were freed. Local police say no ransom was ever demanded, and the hostages were released without any negotiating.

The European Union’s special envoy for Afghanistan, Vygaudas Usackas, said peace talks will not show any progress until 2015.

Iran and Afghanistan have agreed to cooperate in fighting U.S. backed drug smuggling and terrorism: “A peaceful and stable Afghanistan can play an efficient role in the promotion of trade…”-Abbas Araqchi, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Asia-Pacific Affairs

The United Kingdom announced that it wants to pullout 5200 Red Coats by the end of this year.  However, Defence Minister Philip Hammond said they will be prepared to send troops back into Afghanistan if “additional surges” were needed.

Former U.S. diplomat, Robert Blackwill, warned that Afghanistan could become a proxy war between India and Pakistan, after the 2014 NATO/ISAF pullout.

International

World War 3, Asian Front-Afghanistan, 09-10 July 2013: Obama threatens to give Karzai what he wants! Iran hangs U.S. backed drug smugglers!

The dumb Obama administration has threatened to do what President Hamid Karzai has been asking for; pull out all U.S. personnel.  Obama was trying to play tough with Karzai, who recently refused to continue with post 2014 troop level negotiations after it was revealed that Obama was negotiating directly with Mujahideen for peace, without involving the Afghan government.  If anybody’s been following my Afghan updates, they would know that Karzai has been demanding full withdrawal of U.S. forces for several years now.  He says the U.S. is the reason for the ongoing violence in Afghanistan.

On the same day, the Mujahideen closed their office in Doha, Qatar.  It’s was that office that was revealed to be the place where Obama officials were going to talk peace with Mujahideen.

In Iran, 12 U.S. backed drug smugglers from Afghanistan were hanged.  As many as 5000 Afghans are in Iranian prisons, most charged with drug trafficking.  Drug smuggling is punishable by life in prison, or death, in Iran.  Drug smuggling from Afghanistan to Iran has skyrocketed since the U.S. invasion at the end of 2001.

In Uruzgan Province, the former district governor for Char Chino District was assassinated by Mujahideen.  The assassins escaped.  Officials said the former district governor had tried to avoid contact with government officials for the past year.

In Kandahar Province, Slovak/NATO troops were shot at by a Afghan National Army (ANA) soldier, at Kandahar airbase.  Slovak military officials reported that one Slovak was killed and six wounded.  The ANA soldier was arrested.  In another report, the provincial governor said three U.S./NATO troops at the airbase were wounded, after an argument with an ANA soldier.   Another report said three Czech/NATO troops were also attacked!

In Herat Province, Obe District, at least 17 people were killed, five wounded after their bus ran over a landmine.

In Helmand Province, Khanshin District, two people killed, three wounded, after they drove over a landmine.  In Musa Kala District, 10 ANA troops joined the Mujahideen.  And after 20 days of attack by Mujahideen, the ANA withdrew from their base in Sangin District.

U.S. Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) revealed that the United States government has spent $34 million U.S. tax dollars on a massive headquarters complex that will probably never be used!

In Paktika Province, Barmal District, an ANA soldier joined the Mujahideen then shot and killed three ANA soldiers while they were sleeping.

In Kunduz Province, Dashti Archi District, U.S. supported Afghan government contracted security forces murdered three civilians who refused to pay a tax on agricultural produce.

In Paktia Province, Chamkani District, 10 ANA soldiers joined the Mujahideen.

In Ghazni Province, Mujahideen claim they prevented a planned NATO/ISAF offensive by striking first.  They say they attacked a military convoy that left Ghazni city for the offensive, killing or wounding 19 NATO/ISAF personnel, and destroying four armored vehicles.  Mujahideen launched several attacks on the convoy, the last one lasting four hours.  Three Mujahideen killed.

 Baghlan Province, Adarab District, seven Afghan National Police (ANP) joined the Mujahideen.

Zabul Province, Seyuri District, reports that NATO/ISAF forces invaded homes in the Shah Beal village.  Two civilians killed.

International

World War 3, Asian Front-Afghanistan, 07-08 July 2013: Corrupt U.S. contractor refuses to pay Afghan sub-contractors!

Major battles in Maidan Wardak, Kabul, Kunar, Jawzjan, Nangarhar, Baghlan, Kunduz, Faryab, Uruzgan, Logar, Ghazni, Farah, Helmand and Paktia provinces.  Mujahideen claim they killed 30 Afghan National Army (ANA) soldiers.  Afghan government officials claim they killed 100 Mujahideen.  Afghan government officials added that U.S./NATO air strikes were called in.

In Parwan Province, Bagram airbase, reports that two groups of ANA soldiers turned their guns on each other.  Three people killed, several wounded.

In Maidan Wardak Province, Sayed Abad District, Mujahideen say they destroyed 19 supply vehicles and killed 14 people.  Mujahideen say their ambush of the U.S./NATO supply convoy took place at several points through out the district.  One engagement lasted three hours. One Mujahid killed, one wounded.

Afghan Major-General Mohammad Sharif Yaftali, admits that Mujahideen numbers have increased by 15%.  He says there are at least 5000 Mujahideen in seven southeastern provinces.  He also says there are increased foreign fighters helping the Mujahideen, mainly from Pakistan and Chechnya.

In Kandahar Province, an Afghan interpreter who was working with U.S. Special Operations Forces (SOF) was arrested in connection to the kidnapping and torture deaths of Afghan civilians.  U.S. SOF was behind the war crimes, a mass grave was found next to an abandoned U.S. SOF base, which contained the bodies of some of the kidnapped Afghans.  Afghan police say the arrested interpreter is seen in a video taking part in the torture deaths of the victims.

Despite Indian government officials denying Afghanistan lethal military  aid, reports say the two governments are still in discussions for India “to contribute lethal weapons” and to “enhance” military cooperation.

Iranian officials say they are holding political discussions with the government of Afghanistan: “There are issues over which Tehran and Kabul need to regularly hold talks and be in touch about them. General relations between the two countries will be discussed…”-Abbas Araqchi, Iranian Deputy Foreign Minister for Asia and Pacific Affairs

In Ghazni Province, Deh Yak District, two people killed, and three people wounded, including the provincial high peace council chief, when a remote detonated bomb exploded.  In Khogyani District, Mujahideen claim to have killed 19 U.S./NATO/ISAF troops during an ambush of a military convoy.  In Maqur District, reports that NATO/Afghan forces conducted a home invasion, killing three people.

In Baghlan Province, Burqa District, reports that NATO/Afghan forces raided a Madrasa and kidnapped three students.

After announcing big funding for Afghanistan, Norway is now backing off.  Norwegian officials are now using the excuse of failed Afghan reforms to get out of promised taxpayer funding for the Afghan government: “Norwegian authorities note with disappointment the slow and uneven progress that has characterized the follow-up to the commitments made.”

More proof the corruption is on the U.S. side: In Kabul Province, Kabul city, Afghan civilians protested the U.S. owned contractor Supreme Group.  The Afghans work for a subcontractor called Afghan Mansoor Jalal Logistics and Transportation Company (MLC).  The subcontractor says Supreme Group is refusing to pay them!  The owners of MLC says Supreme Group owes them $20 million USD!  Supreme Group is a U.S. taxpayer funded contractor providing logistical support to military units.  Supreme Group is also involved in a no-bid contract scandal involving military food supply.

Business/Economics, International, Technology, U.S.

Corporate Martial Law: Hewlett Packard & NEC announce data spying & storage deal!

22 July 2013 (12:26 UTC-07 Tango)/14 Ramadan 1434/31 Tir 1391/15 Ji-Wie (6th month) 4711

Japan’s computer giant, NEC, announced a data storage deal with Hewlett Packard (HP).  Initial reports say they will develop small servers that can analyze and store large amounts of data.

Officials with NEC admit they and HP are trying to jump on the government/corporate domestic spy, I mean data collection business, being referred to as the promising field of “big data analysis”.

International, U.S.

World War 3, Africa Front: The U.S. Empire Beast gets bigger! How is the U.S. taxpayer funding this?

22 July 2013 (22:25 UTC-07 Tango 21 July 2013)/14 Ramadan 1434/31 Tir 1391/15 Ji-Wie (6th month) 4711

The U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) will begin war games with South Africa later this week.  At least 5000 personnel will be involved.

South African Navy (SAN) Captain, Jaco Theunissen, explained the purpose: “We are exercising to do a human support intervention….where you will fight against rebel groups.”

Captain Theunissen also stated that military medical units are training to provide healthcare on a large scale to civilian populations in war environments.  In other words, the United States and its empirical allies are definitely using the military as “international aid agencies”, as stated concerning the current massive war games with Australia.

Medical “human support intervention” is already underway in Liberia, called Operation Onward Liberty (OOL).  According to AFRICOM, OOL has been ongoing since 2010.  U.S. Air Force Major, Joshua Latham, revealed the goal is to take OOL outside of Liberia: “…then you can begin operations to serve other people, whether it be other nations or individuals….”

A former commander of AFRICOM supports the creation of the precedent setting UN combat brigade known as Intervention Brigade: “….the Intervention Brigade is, as I believe it is postured to be, is an element of MONUSCO, I think that’s the right structure….I do think that the force is necessary.”-General Carter Ham, U.S. Army

General Ham stated that it was the African Union that asked for the U.S. to get involved: “We were asked by Africans to support an African-led activity….”

Ham also said “….we don’t go anywhere or do anything which we have not been invited by the host-nation government.”  Yet, an African reporter with the Mail and Guardian countered by stating “…most other countries are hostile politically to AFRICOM…”

AFRICOM now has a special operations force called Commander’s In-Extremis Force.  It’s being used a a type of rapid reaction force.   Another African reporter questioned the possible redundancy of AFRICOM: “….doesn’t it seem that AFRICOM is duplicating everything, similar exercises of other [U.S.] agencies that are on the continent, because there are loads of these agencies.  So isn’t AFRICOM duplicating with planned session of exercises….?”

Ham responded by saying that budget constraints make it difficult to operate redundant missions.  This led to another reporter asking “….with all the budget cuts happening in the States, is AFRICOM likely to survive?”

Ham ensured them that AFRICOM was not going to killed by the bad economy in the States, but will make adjustments as necessary.  According to AFRICOM, U.S. taxpayers fund the operation to the tune of about $275 million USD per year (which is actually cheap compared to other U.S. military operations).  But how can the U.S. government fund any military operations when it’s bank is busted?  (Afghan opium anyone?)

The General admitted the U.S. is competing, maybe even cooperating with China for resources in Africa: “…we are competing for economic position.  I think we’re competing for influence…….we’ve kind of chosen different paths to achieve our goals.  But….I wouldn’t characterize it….as any type of adversarial relationship.”

The now retired General Ham said to keep your eyes on South Africa, Botswana, Angola and Zimbabwe.