Trump to withdraw most troops from Somalia as part of global pullback

[Pique Dard]

19 hours ago, rooster59 said:

"While a change in force posture, this action is not a change in U.S. policy," the Pentagon said.

 

with trump in command, anything is possible! one can eat the cake and not eat it simultaneously

[Kelsall]

Bringing our troops home! 

 

Thank you President Trump!

[nkg]

16 hours ago, simple1 said:

 

Africa has been identified as a key region for Islamist consolidation, including IS. It makes no sense for US forces to withdraw from the region. trump's announcement will be another political gambit for self interest, not in the interest of regional / global security. One example of a number of articles covering this issue...

 

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/feb/29/west-ignores-growth-islamic-insurgents-africa-at-its-peril

 

 

 

And here's a Guardian article from 2019 suggesting that the US should stop fighting in Somalia. ????

 

 

Quote

When is America going to end its war in Somalia?

 

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/sep/05/ilhan-omar-send-her-back-somalia-us-foreign-policy

 

[mtls2005]

21 hours ago, rooster59 said:

A U.S. defense official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said nearly all U.S. forces would leave Somalia, although some would remain in Mogadishu.

 

The Pentagon statement, which was unsigned, said an unspecified number of forces in Somalia would be moved to neighboring countries, allowing them to carry out cross-border operations. Others would be reassigned outside East Africa.

 

 

So this is part of a "Global pullback"?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[ballpoint]

But will his drone attacks on the country continue?

 

"As of May 18, the Trump administration had launched 40 airstrikes in Somalia in 2020 alone. That figure is made all the more staggering by the fact that, from 2007 through 2016, the administrations of George W. Bush and Barack Obama conducted 41 airstrikes in Somalia total, according to reporting from Airwars".

 

Trump’s Drone War Is Less Accountable Than Ever (foreignpolicy.com)

[Surelynot]

21 hours ago, thaibeachlovers said:

All good IMO. Having small forces in difficult areas probably invites expansion of US forces. It's time Africa took care of its own problems, IMO.

China will do that for you.....and benefit in the long run.....America's days are numbered as a world power as they withdraw and China steps into the vacuum.......

[Surelynot]

2 hours ago, Kelsall said:

Bringing our troops home! 

 

Thank you President Trump!

Good idea.....let China take over....it's their turn to become a world wide power now that Trump has abdicated all responsibility.......

[Surelynot]

6 hours ago, GrandPapillon said:

Trump doing the right thing again, a shame he will no longer be in this job next year to protect the world

 

I wonder if Biden is planning an attack already to please his masters ????

Are you for real?

[Surelynot]

2 hours ago, Pique Dard said:

with trump in command, anything is possible! one can eat the cake and not eat it simultaneously

Scrodinger's cake?

[teacherclaire]

17 hours ago, starky said:

More trump double speak. So nearly all of what? 700 troops if the op can be believed. Not exactly a massive military withdrawal. And gonna pull most troops out of somalia but some will remain in Mogadishu. So some of nearly all will mostly be pulled out of some of somalia?what a ridiculous statement. Huge decision by the soon to be ex commander in chief.

Let's call it "Black Hawk Down."

[simple1]

2 hours ago, nkg said:

 

 

 

And here's a Guardian article from 2019 suggesting that the US should stop fighting in Somalia. ????

 

 

 

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/sep/05/ilhan-omar-send-her-back-somalia-us-foreign-policy

 

 

And? Opinion pieces will differ according to the author., personally I lean to supporting Simon Tisdall's analysis.

[stevenl]

3 hours ago, nkg said:

 

 

 

And here's a Guardian article from 2019 suggesting that the US should stop fighting in Somalia. ????

 

 

 

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/sep/05/ilhan-omar-send-her-back-somalia-us-foreign-policy

 

No, the guardian is not suggesting anything. You're referring to an opinion piece of a writer not related to the guardian.

[nkg]

9 hours ago, stevenl said:

No, the guardian is not suggesting anything. You're referring to an opinion piece of a writer not related to the guardian.

 

The article that simple1 linked too is an "opinion piece" too ????????????

 

The Guardian flip-flops over foreign wars all the time, depending on what it thinks its readers want to hear. Look at its coverage of Syria if you don't believe me.

[nkg]

11 hours ago, simple1 said:

 

And? Opinion pieces will differ according to the author., personally I lean to supporting Simon Tisdall's analysis.

 

Fair enough, although that would suggest that the issue is by no means clear-cut.

 

Perhaps Donald Trump read Stephanie Savell's 2019 Guardian piece? He would have been moved by her eloquent words, and began preparing for the withdrawal of the US troops from Somalia.

 

He must now feel exasperated that The Guardian have published an opinion piece advocating the opposite course of action ????

 

"What do I have to do to keep the readers of The Guardian happy?" he must have yelled across the Oval Office ...

[thaibeachlovers]

On 12/6/2020 at 3:35 AM, Morty T said:

The UK Guardian is correct, but will the British or any EU country send troops to that <deleted> hole. Don't hold your breath. 

Indeed. I watched something on one of the tv news channels this morning, and apparently the US provides the majority of the troops, and most of the support.

If other NATO countries disagree with the US departing they can step up and send more troops and support themselves instead of relying on the US as always. I bet they won't. It's always different when they have to pay for it themselves.

[onthedarkside]

Numerous off-topic posts and a few trolling posts have been removed, along with replies.

 

The topic here is:

 

Trump to withdraw most troops from Somalia as part of global pullback