Meanwhile, in West Africa,

artappraiser — Tue, 02 Sep 2014 06:49:49 +0000

In reply to US attacks al-Shabaab in Somalia

Meanwhile, in West Africa, the U.S. military has been working substantially with France and is beefing up operations:

Pentagon set to open second drone base in Niger as it expands operations in Africa
By Craig Whitlock, Washington Post, Sept. 1, 2014

The Pentagon is preparing to open a drone base in one of the remotest places on Earth: an ancient caravan crossroads in the middle of the Sahara.

After months of negotiations, the government of Niger, a landlocked West African nation, has authorized the U.S. military to fly unarmed drones from the mud-walled desert city of Agadez, according to Nigerien and U.S. officials.

The previously undisclosed decision gives the Pentagon another surveillance hub — its second in Niger and third in the region — to track Islamist fighters who have destabilized parts of North and West Africa. It also advances a little-publicized U.S. strategy to tackle counterterrorism threats alongside France, the former colonial power in that part of the continent.

Although the two allies have a sporadic history of quarreling when it comes to military action, U.S. and French troops have been working hand in glove as they steadily expand their presence in impoverished West Africa. [....]

Sunday report of the suicide

artappraiser — Tue, 02 Sep 2014 06:20:24 +0000

In reply to US attacks al-Shabaab in Somalia

Sunday report of the suicide attack:

Shabaab suicide assault team hits Somali intelligence HQ in Mogadishu

By Bill Roggio. Long War Journal, August 31, 2014 8:30 AM

Earlier today Shabaab, al Qaeda's official branch in Somalia, launched a coordinated suicide assault against the national intelligence headquarters in a highly secured area in the capital of Mogadishu [....]

dagblog - Comments for "US attacks al-Shabaab in Somalia"

Meanwhile, in West Africa,

Sunday report of the suicide