Troops to Chad to support Nigeria
The President has ordered 80 US troops to Chad to assist Nigeria in thier hunt for nearly 300 teenage girls who were kidnapped by the al Qaeda-linked Boko Haram terrorist group according to the Washington Times;
“These personnel will support the operation of intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft for missions over northern Nigeria and the surrounding area,” Mr. Obama said in a letter to House Speaker John A. Boehner and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid. “The force will remain in Chad until its support in resolving the kidnapping situation is no longer required.”
From the Associated Press;
According to Lt. Col. Myles Caggins, the 80 U.S. military personnel will help expand drone searches of the region. About 40 of the troops make up the launch and recovering teams for the drone being deployed there and the other 40 make up the security force for the team. Caggins said this latest deployment will not involve ground searches by the troops.
A senior U.S. official said the drone is a Predator, and will be in addition to the unarmed Global Hawks already being used. The new flights will be based out of Chad and allow the military to expand its search to that country. Initially the flights were largely over Nigeria.
Meanwhile, Fox News reports that Boko Haram’s influence is spreading to Cameroon;
In Cameroon, which shares much of Nigeria’s northeastern border, officials say militants from the group led by Abubakar Shekau have sneaked in with a tide of refugees, causing a rise in kidnappings, fighting and criminal acts just across the border from Nigeria’s Borno state.
“Right now, we are being infiltrated by Boko Haram,” Col. Didier Badjeck, spokesman for the Cameroon Ministry of Defense, told AllAfrica.com. “The military has decided to strengthen the intelligence system to effectively counter this threat, which seems to be gaining local support.”
Notice on the map how close Cameroon is to Chad and Nigeria. Yeah, I don’t see any problems. This whole thing had better not interrupt my supply of Partagas cigars (which use a Cameroon wrapper).
Category: Military issues
While I am not opposed to the US getting involved militarily in any attempt to hunt down and kill those bastards, I am concerned about our current administrations ability to actually carry out the plan to do so.
They have spent far too much time and energy in tearing down the military as of late, rather than strengthening it for expanding roles and very real potential conflicts worldwide.
40 people to provide security 24/7 on a mission with no end date, in a country that is about one good stiff breeze away from anarchy. Against a shadowy enemy that is operating with impunity across international borders. Yeah, what could go wrong.
This administration has no intent to do anything substantial. One more example of the blind leading the stupid and our troops get put at the pointy end of the spear again. Drones and a security force. Not enough ass to do anything of substance, but just enough to give the impression that America gives a shit. This is hashtag diplomacy. Do the bare minimum and of course claim credit if those girls get found and rescued.
MGySgtRet I agree. That is not a large enough security force for what they are wanting to do. Thus, more troops on the ground when the government gets shakier than it is.
I’d actually have to ask why you need a 40 person security force when you are co-located with 1200 French combat troops (Para/Marine/Legion generally).
Hell – here we go again. The things that politicians will do to get votes…
No, no, no. This isn’t what is wanted by President Goodluck Johnathan. He’s had over a month. What he wants is money. (Hashtag: #Sendmoneynow.) I am personally convinced that he couldn’t give a rat’s ass about the girls. So, now we have 80 police officers in country? If they get within 10 miles of the girls, there will be no girls found alive. I’m sorry for that. i’ll be sorrier if one of our people gets so much as a scratch in that shithole.
2/17 Air Cav While I am sympathetic to their cause, I am more sympathetic to the thought of American loses. We shouldn’t be there…at all.
Obummer priorities.
Dead Americans = who gives a shit
Kidnapped foreigners = warning orders issued
I didn’t see Moochelle’s hashtag regarding the most recent 40+ Nigerians that were blown up by the same group.
#Disgrace
Oh G-d, here we go again!!
Repeat after me, “VietNam, redux.”
“And that’s we have to focus not just on rescuing those girls right away, but also on supporting Nigerian efforts to educate its youth.” B. Nussein Obama at West Point, 28 May 2014.
Right away was gone when he spoke those words. I guess our people are still in Chad (or Jeremy.) If so, they’ll stay busy. Another kidnapping is reported today, this time about 100 girls, boys, and women. I guess the kidnappers didn’t hear Obama’s speech.