Obama Plans African Wars: To Wage
America's War On ‘Terror' Against Mali, Nigeria, Libya
26 December 2012
By Stephen Lendman
Obama's warmaking appetite exceeds all his
predecessors and then some. He's already waging
multiple direct and proxy wars.
His rhetoric about winding them down rings hollow. He
wants to make the most of the next four years.
No targeted country left behind reflects his agenda.
He's ravaging the world multiple countries at a time.
He's out-of-control. He governs like a serial killer.
He plans more war on Iran, perhaps Lebanon, and
full-scale intervention against Syria. He has other
targets in mind. He's insatiable. Africa dreaming
explains what's on his mind.
On December 15, 2006, the United States Africa Command
(AFRICOM) was authorized. On February 6, 2007, it was
announced. On October 1, 2007, it was established, and
on October 1, 2008, it became operational.
It's based in Stuttgart, Germany, not Africa. It's
responsible for warmaking and military relations
throughout the continent. It's comprised of 53
countries. Many potential targets are represented.
Washington wants the entire continent colonized and
controlled. It's resource rich. It has large amounts
of oil, gas, water, gold, silver, diamonds, iron,
cobalt, uranium, copper, bauxite, manganese, other
valued minerals, and rich agricultural land.
In early July 2009, Obama visited sub-Saharan Africa.
He signaled his intentions. In Accra, Ghana, he said:
"We have a responsibility to support those who act
responsibly and to isolate those who don't, and that
is exactly what America will do." He said Ghana and
other African governments must achieve "good
governance."
His message was clear. Open the continent to Western
investment and development. Privatize, privatize,
privatize. Forget about providing healthcare,
education, and other vital services.
Give US and other Western corporate predators free
reign. Play the game the way Washington demands or
suffer the consequences. Ghana got the message. Why
else would Obama show up.
Libya didn't. Gaddafi paid with his life. The country
became another NATO trophy. Africa's most developed
country became a charnel house.
Egypt's on the boil. Morsi is Washington's man in
Cairo. Street protests strongly contest his
dictatorial governance. As long as he maintains US
support, he can rule any way he wishes.
On December 7, the Wall Street Journal headlined
"Terror Fight Shifts to Africa," saying:
Obama may ask Congress to wage America's war on terror
against Mali, Nigeria, Libya, "and possibly other
countries where militants have loose or nonexistent
ties to al Qaeda's Pakistan headquarters."
Washington's war on Libya created out-of-control
violence and instability. Tribes, rebel gangs, and
green resistance fighters battle for dominance. Puppet
leaders America installed have little or no authority.
No end of conflict looms.
Mali's late March military coup appears fallout from
Libya. It may be replicated elsewhere in North Africa
and other areas. Niger's endangered.
There's more involved than meets the eye, including
controlling regional resources. Besides oil, Libya,
Mali, and Niger have valuable uranium deposits.
Washington seeks control.
In October, EU Foreign Affairs and Security Policy
head, Catherine Ashton, was involved in developing a
Mali mission within 30 days. According to EU
diplomats, it involves deploying 150 European military
experts to train Malian and other African forces over
a four to six month period.
On October 12, the Security Council approved an
international military mission to Mali. Ban Ki-moon
was enlisted to help develop military intervention
plans. Finalizing them was planned for end of
November.
France drafted the UN resolution. It was Washington's
lead attack dog on Libya. It may have the same role on
Mali. In late March, monsoon season starts. Expect
something early next year in advance. African troops
will be involved.
Germany agreed to participate. Britain likely also.
Washington remains in charge. Whatever is coming will
be another Obama war. Officially it's because
Islamists seized power in northern Mali. The area
replicates France in size.
Before his ouster, Gaddafi was a stabilizing force.
Investments and mediation efforts prevented conflict
between governing authorities and Tuareg rebels.
Things change a year ago. Heavy armed rebels
mobilized. In March 2012, Long-time Malian President
Amadou Toumani Toure was deposed.
Local Islamists controlled northern areas with Tauregs.
Islamists with Al Qaeda ties drove them out. According
to the Wall Street Journal, Obama wants congressional
approval to intervene. With or without it, he'll do
what he wants.
US special forces and drone attacks may be planned.
Operations may be similar to Washington's proxy wars
on Somalia and Yemen.
Administration officials call Mali a "powder keg" able
to destabilize surrounding countries. They have to
invent some reason to intervene. AFRICOM head General
Carter Ham said:
"The conditions today are vastly different than they
were previously. There are now non-Al Qaeda associated
groups that present significant threats to the United
States." He urges intervention.
An unnamed official added:
"Everyone is committed to taking on violent extremism
in Africa. There is a healthy debate in the
administration about how best to counter the threat in
the region."
Ham said Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) raises
most concern. It's also called "the Salafist Group for
Call and Combat." Other regional groups include "the
Movement for Unity and Jihad in West Africa."
"It is clear to me they aspire to conduct events more
broadly across the region, and eventually to the
United States," claimed Ham.
"That is the ideology. That is the campaign plan.
Establish the caliphate and spread the ideology.
Attack Western interests. Attack democrat forms of
government. We are certainly seeing it."
It's hard imagining anyone with command or lower
authority saying these things with a straight face.
America's only enemies are ones it invents.
Real ones haven't existed since Japan formally
surrendered in August 1945. America waged permanent
direct and/or proxy wars from then to now.
Multiple ones followed September 14, 2001
congressional Authorization for Use of Military Force.
Some analysts believe it permits attacking any nation
or group administration officials say have terrorist
links.
Al Qaeda and groups with close ties are mentioned most
often. Claiming it, of course, doesn't mean it's so.
ACLU senior legislative council, Christopher Anders,
expressed grave concerns. He calls another
authorization for force alarming.
"This is the kind of thing that Americans could end up
regretting," he said. "We could end up in another
decade long war if this crazy idea isn't stopped."
Obama and administration hardliners want complete
freedom to invent whatever pretexts they wish to keep
waging permanent wars.
Some congressional members feel the same way. An
unnamed aide to one said:
"You can make a plausible case that (new threats are)
in gestation and therefore we need to act now
decisively to deal with (them)."
Nigeria is also mentioned. America and the IMF stoke
internal violence. Western oil giants largely control
its energy resources.
China made inroads with exploration and infrastructure
deals. It wants more. It puts Beijing at odds with
Washington and other Western interests.
Currency wars are in play. Nigeria's foreign reserves
are 80% in dollars. The rest are in euros and
sterling. Russia, China, India, Iran, and other
countries increasingly want less dollar dependence.
Moving away enough threatens it as the dominant world
reserve currency. Washington is determined to prevent
it. What's ahead bears watching.
The more China becomes a major Nigeria player, the
less dominant dollars in the country become. The same
holds elsewhere in the region and other parts of the
world. Destabilizing violence may be initiated to
prevent it.
Washington wants unchallenged control over Africa, the
Middle East and Central Asia. They're stepping stones
to global dominance. Resource rich areas are most
valued.
War is America's option of choice to secure them. With
or without congressional authorization, expect
continued conflicts ahead.
Expect force-fed austerity at home to pay for them.
Both sides of the isle agree. So does Obama.
Stephen Lendman lives in Chicago and can be reached
at lendmanstephen@sbcglobal.net. His new book is
titled "How Wall Street Fleeces America: Privatized
Banking, Government Collusion and Class War"
http://www.claritypress.com/Lendman.html Visit his
blog site at sjlendman.blogspot.com and listen to
cutting-edge discussions with distinguished guests on
the Progressive Radio News Hour on the Progressive
Radio Network Thursdays at 10AM US Central time and
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