The U.S. Military is conducting extensive operations in Africa, are you surprised at the scope?

I remember when I got to Bragg as an E2, I was thrown into an intelligence course that focused on disrupting social networks. The instructor began by saying that he wanted to dress it to the needs of the students and wanted to know where they were looking at for moment. The majority of the class answered various parts of Africa. The instructor was completely taken back. He had made major preparations for Afghanistan and other parts of the Middle East and was expecting them to say this or that province. He had next to nothing for the continent of Africa. Needless to say, most of the class didn't show up the next day. It was supposed to be a five day course. I didn't attend past halfway through the third day. The instructor was pretty far removed from the new focus of the Army.

The reason so much more focus is on Africa is because persistent engagements have made most of the senior leaders of the VEOs in the area leave the Mid East and go to Africa where they were less likely to be harassed. That's the most basic explanation I can say on the unclassed side. There is a bit more that goes into it and I am eager to see what happens once the heat turns up in Africa.

Just read the article and was surprised that we have such a large presence in Africa. I disagree with the author on China's influence being benign. They have been constructing roads, hospitals as well as several infrastructure projects.

However, there are strings attached. The Chinese government has been moving a lot of their people to the countries they are involved in. The chinese have been doing the building and in turn seveal small "colonies" have sprung up. Their influence has been subtle, but thorough.

I know folks from Liberia having adopted two kids from there and they have told me that the Chinese are slowly taking control of their country throught this construction project program.

I fear that someday we will enter into another cold was with China that may not end in a peaceful manner.

One of the primary reasons support has been kept quiet is the anti-colonial feelings have been strong since before we fought in Tunisia in WWII.
Because of the hatred for vestiges of Colonial rule, establishment of relatively permanent bases by US or especially our European allies was generally considered impossible. Israel has also been caught up in this - remember the operation to rescue hostages at Entebbe Airport in Uganda.
Much of our support since Angola has been what would be considered Special Operations and limited nation building by civil affairs which seems to move in and out of the Special Operations umbrella.