"Kidnapped Girls Become Tools of US Imperial Policy in Africa"--Glenn Ford.."Black Agenda Report"
(I know this is controversial...and for those who think it is read the First Part of this Article at the Link... I decided to post his conclusion. I think it's worth a read ....but, realize that there it is very hard to deal with these young women being kidnapped and have someone show how it could be US Policy that these girls could be used. And, that was my concern in posting this that it would be seen as so controversial no one would read it but I think Glenn Ford's points are worth a read.)---------
Published on Wednesday, May 14, 2014 by Black Agenda Report
Kidnapped Girls Become Tools of US Imperial Policy in Africa
by Glen Ford
When the crowd yells that America Do something! somewhere in Africa, the U.S. military is likely to already be there.
Barack Obama certainly needs no encouragement to intervention; his presidency is roughly coterminous with AFRICOMs founding and explosive expansion. Obama broadened the war against Somalia that was launched by George Bush in partnership with the genocidal Ethiopian regime, in 2006 (an invasion that led directly to what the United Nations called the worst humanitarian crisis is Africa). He built on Bill Clinton and George Bushs legacies in the Congo, where U.S. client states Uganda and Rwanda caused the slaughter of 6 million people since 1996 the greatest genocide of the post War World II era. He welcomed South Sudan as the worlds newest nation the culmination of a decades-long project of the U.S., Britain and Israel to dismember Africas largest country, but which has now fallen into a bloody chaos, as does everything the U.S. touches, these days.
Most relevant to the plight of Chiboks young women, Obama led from behind NATOs regime change in Libya, removing the anti-jihadist bulwark Muamar Gaddafi (We came, we saw, he died, said Hillary Clinton) and destabilizing the whole Sahelian tier of the continent, all the way down to northern Nigeria. As BAR editor and columnist Ajamu Baraka writes in the current issue, Boko Haram benefited from the destabilization of various countries across the Sahel following the Libya conflict. The once-shadowy group now sported new weapons and vehicles and was clearly better trained and disciplined. In short, the Boko Haram, like other jihadists, had become more dangerous in a post-Gaddafi Africa thus justifying a larger military presence for the same Americans and (mainly French) Europeans who had brought these convulsions to the region.
If Obama has his way, it will be a very long war the better to grow AFRICOM with some very unsavory allies (from both the Nigerian and American perspectives).
Whatever Obama does to deepen the U.S. presence in Nigeria and the rest of the continent, he can count on the Congressional Black Caucus, including its most progressive member, Barbara Lee (D-CA), the only member of the U.S. Congress to vote against the invasion of Afghanistan, in 2001. Lee, along with Reps. Marcia Fudge (D-Ohio), Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas) and fellow Californian Karen Bass, who is the ranking member on the House Subcommittee on African, gave cart blanch to Obama to Do something! in Nigeria. And so our first command and demand is to use all resources to bring the terrorist thugs to justice, they said.
A year and a half ago, when then UN Ambassador Susan Rices prospects for promotion to top U.S. diplomat were being torpedoed by the Benghazi controversy, a dozen Black congresspersons scurried to her defense. "We will not allow a brilliant public servant's record to be mugged to cut off her consideration to be secretary of state," said Washington, DC Delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton.
As persons who are presumed to read, Black Caucus members were certainly aware of the messy diplomatic scandal around Rices role in suppressing United Nations reports on U.S. allies Rwanda and Ugandas genocidal acts against the Congolese people. Of all the high profile politicians from both the corporate parties, Rice the rabid interventionist is most intimately implicated in the Congo holocaust, dating back to the policys formulation under Clinton. Apparently, thats not the part of Rices record that counts to Delegate Norton and the rest of the Black Caucus. Genocide against Africans does not move them one bit.
So, why are we to believe that they are really so concerned about the girls of Chibok?
http://www.commondreams.org/view/2014/05/14-6
Maedhros
(10,007 posts)Obama has increased U.S. military operations in Africa by 265% since 2008. The latest Boko Haram atrocity is just that - an atrocity - but the White House sees it as an opportunity to buck up support for African operations.
ON EDIT: s/b a 217% increase, not 265% (see my response to 1StrongBlackMan below)
1StrongBlackMan
(31,849 posts)The growth number. What do you think happens when a command becomes independent?
Maedhros
(10,007 posts)The numbers tell the story: 10 exercises, 55 operations, 481 security cooperation activities.
For years, the U.S. military has publicly insisted that its efforts in Africa are small scale. Its public affairs personnel and commanders have repeatedly claimed no more than a light footprint on that continent, including a remarkably modest presence when it comes to military personnel. They have, however, balked at specifying just what that light footprint actually consists of. During an interview, for instance, a U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) spokesman once expressed worry that tabulating the commands deployments would offer a skewed image of U.S. efforts there.
It turns out that the numbers do just the opposite.
Last year, according AFRICOM commander General David Rodriguez, the U.S. 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% increase in operations, programs, and exercises since the command was established in 2008.
1StrongBlackMan
(31,849 posts)Stopped reading after that phrase. Maybe Ford guesses that people don't know what that means, and won't look it up.
AFRICOM is as " roughly coterminous" PBO's presidency as was the "great recession" ... PBO didn't start it, nor has he expanded it's mission or size.
Glenn Ford, and the BAR, in general is/are full of inflammatory, B.S., for the under - informed.
KoKo
(84,711 posts)But, what is in it for a little know site like "Black Agenda" filled with MLK supporters who are old...to put out articles that offend people?
That's where I need some help for alternate viewpoint.
1StrongBlackMan
(31,849 posts)About January 20th, 2009, when that site became the Black version of DU ... All PBO hate, all the time.
KoKo
(84,711 posts)they waited and then started to do these articles that seemed to not support him...and often seem to attack him?
Why? They don't get much visibility...so not money making venture. So Why?
1StrongBlackMan
(31,849 posts)Can be a very profitable business ... ask Tavistock and Cornel, or better, any Black on Townhall.
KoKo
(84,711 posts)Why shouldn't people to make money if their opinions resonate with some portions of our society?
1StrongBlackMan
(31,849 posts)Voice by any on the left that I know of
But that said ... I have know problem with anyone voicing their opinion ... In fact, my mantra is, "get that money mannn. " I just am not going to be a contributor.
Maedhros
(10,007 posts)1StrongBlackMan
(31,849 posts)It gets named for activity already in action.
Maedhros
(10,007 posts)When the author says "roughly coterminous" in the sense that the bulk of AFRICOM's activity occurred under Obama's watch, and it was ramped up in intensity during his administration.
KoKo
(84,711 posts)Amazing chart.
1StrongBlackMan
(31,849 posts)Your relative is in on the imperialist plan?
KoKo
(84,711 posts)Africom....Went over in 2009 for a supposed 3 year tour of duty. It got extended for another 3 years...and who knows if there's another extension after that. But, AFRICOM is extended and he is in his early 40's....so more years to serve. Flies all over Africa..doesn't say why. He can't.
He's a good Dem...I hope he does some good there.
1StrongBlackMan
(31,849 posts)it's an imperial plan because you don't know what he is doing ... an someone said it was.
KoKo
(84,711 posts)So...it does seem that he is restricted. And, he's just a lawyer...not in the fighting forces. He "mediates things" is all he will say because he can't reveal more.
Ash_F
(5,861 posts)damn...