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Subscribe to RSSThe U.S. military is using small spy aircraft disguised as private planes as it expands secret intelligence operations across Africa, The Washington Post reported late Wednesday.
The surveillance missions are part of a "growing shadow war against al-Qaida affiliates and other militant groups," the newspaper said.
Citing a former U.S. commander, the Post said about dozen air bases have been set up for the unarmed spy planes in Africa since 2007. The newspaper said they include sites in Burkina Faso, Uganda, Ethiopia and Kenya as well as in the Seychelles.
The report added:
"The surveillance is overseen by U.S. Special Operations forces but relies heavily on private military contractors and support from African troops.
The surveillance underscores how Special Operations forces, which have played an outsize role in the Obama administration’s national security strategy, are working clandestinely all over the globe, not just in war zones. The lightly equipped commando units train foreign security forces and perform aid missions, but they also include teams dedicated to tracking and killing terrorism suspects."
The Post said that the U.S. Africa Command declined to comment on "specific operational details."
However, the command confirmed that it worked "closely with our African partners ... to conduct missions or operations that support and further our mutual security goals."
More world news from msnbc.com and NBC News:
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- NBC's Richard Engel answers your questions on Syria
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Follow us on Twitter: @msnbc_world
Leave a Comment:
Who believes in the bogeyman?
Pathman-334830
" Who believes in the bogeyman? "
No body. There is no such thing. I looked it up on Winky-thinky-sicko-pedia. YUP !
Does not exist. I don't know where you came up with that question ?
BUT, I did find out. ZOMBIES, space aliens, politicians, looneys, demons, angels, Annd homeless all exist. Nothing else is real. I hope this helps you.
I'm fed up with MSNBC. This is the third secret thing they are leaking. MSNBC is not on the USA's side to be leaking secret information.
Who keeps telling them our secrets? Us regular Joes do not need to know this stuff.
If we tell everyone our secrets we will not be able to function.
MSNBC, think about what you are doing. Just because you are a news company does not mean you need to tell all--primarily USA's secrets.
Mack M. Really, why don't you think about what is really going on. Every hear of dis-information? How do you know if this article isn't pure BS? The fact of the matter, you don't! And neither do I.
And MSNBC is not the only one reporting about this, so go to those sites also and spew your manure out, OK?
Mack M.
" Who keeps telling them our secrets ? "
WHO ? is not the question.
I wanna know how you found out . YOU are not even in the LOOP. I know I checked and your name is not on the list.
Go answer your door it's the men in black they are their to erase this information from your memory.
Note to self: "Don't fly over Africa in private planes." Just another SAM or RPG target... way to leak out info..idiots..Why aren't people tried for treason in these instances?
SoOverIt-1451264
" Just another SAM or RPG target "
Cool ! Heyyy SoOverIt. Where can I get one of those RPG thingys ? I live in NJ and I saw an airplane fly over my house the other day. I tried swattin at it with my fly swatter but it was to high for me. Do yoy know where I can get one and how much they cost. Does the Postal Service ( I mean if they are still in business ) carry them through the mail ? Or, is it better if I use Fed-x or UPS. Does Wal-Mart carry them. How bout a dollar store.
You seem like a smart guy. Give me a call. k
Fran, do you drink much?
"Shadow War"? Government doublespeak for "Get out your wallets, we're pi$$ing more of your tax dollars down a rathole".
Blame Bush if you want, but Obama has had the wheel for some time now, and frankly, I don't see the difference. The two-party (an appropriate term) system has failed. It's broken beyond repair by normal means. The inmates are running the asylum, so don't expect meaningful (read any) change in the foreseeable future, no matter who gets in the White House. Fasten your seat belts - it's gonna be a bumpy ride.
If you get pass the front men that are thrown up every 4 yrs you will find the true shakers , you know , all the under secretary's and aids that never leave , that stay in place no matter which party is in place .
All presidents are acting and don't know anything but what their told by their handles . It really is stange that we trust a person who has to rely on other for everything he does can put his finger on the big red button .
4 minutes and counting Benny
love is the only way
I wish SOMEONE of OUR ELECTED officials would EXPLAIN TO US WHY we are getting involved in EVEN MORE WARS! PBrain SecDef moving our fleet to SE Asia, USA expanding role in Africa, Another "N" years in Afghanistan/Pakistan.
Don't these jackasses understand the 99%er's and broke, we who have to pay for their idiocy in flesh/blood and "wealth" DO NOT HAVE ANY MONEY!
THIS IS UTTER INSANITY!
It all comes from the top.
While I agree with you, I remember OWS people complaining about the involvement in foreign countries by our military, and guess what, a whole bunch of posters here made fun of them here.
So who was correct, the OWS people, or you now?
Obama is helping out radical Islamists in Africa just as he did and is still doing in the Middle East. And he is trying to get as many Muslims in the U.S. as possible. Muslims from Somalia and Palestine are coming here by the thousands. With 100,000 more approved for this year.
Obama continues to leak intelligence info to make him look tough.
so we have a mindless Kenya drum banging for its citizen, immigrant president (trick against constitution) to get credibility with Africans for US conquer worm colonialism puppet goals. Obvious when WH instigated Libya greed rebellion their 40 billion and murdered their leader. The people should know.
Yes I know the numbers. Zero is the number applicable to all the 52 "INDEPENDENT" African countries. But instead of calling each one of them, just to save time call the most useless organization in the world - African Union by dialing Zero-Ad-Infinitum. Even doing that you may not get a response. As a last resort you may call the the State Department who are the benefactors of the continent.
golden bombs of love and light explode all over the world tonight GOLDEN BOMBS OF LOVE AND LIGHT EXPLODE ALL OVER THIS BEAUTIFUL WATER PLANET TONIGHT, golden bombs of LOVE AND LIGHT
Thelma Hart was right. You libs can't continue to defend this warmonger of a president.
Air America??? Though I doubt if anybody in here remembers or knows or even cares what it was.. Any thing,, Anytime,, Any place
Olly contra North and Reagan did
Sounds like more Obama, the Warrior King, leaks!
One day the US citizenry will understand what every move the government makes is is solely for self interest and has nothing to do with security. either left or right your always going to have a President that takes his marching orders from the military complex, wall street and of course big oil. One day I hope Americans wake up and starts demanding that its government stop playing risky (we own the worlds resources game) . The world is not going to simply give up valuable commodities to simply hand them over to the US. If your government wants to dominate the world, expect the citizens to pay a high price in the way of lives lost and more public dept to pay for it! Remember this folks, you may be able to vote but thats pretty much all you have.
People can blame Obama all they want. The last President who went up against the military industrial complex was JFK. And we all know what happened to Kennedy, do we?
Think etchy sketchy will do anything different? Hell no, he will just keep it going, just like Obama is doing. But hey, continue to vote against your own self interest because faux noise and queer rush limpdick says to.
@SluttyAnn......Get up off your liberal knees and go take your meds. Now we know that both Oblahblah and you both suck. Obama is going up against WHAT????? You mean after his Government circumvented JOBS in the U.S. by giving MILITARY WARPLANE contracts to Brazil??? That's not going up against anything..that is called IDIOCY. All this "noise" about Shadow War in Africa is nothing more than one of the IDIOTS' childish ploys to win back some of the African-American votes he lost with his "Gay Marriage" comments. These "leaks" are nothing more than plants by El Weako (and getting WEAKER) to save HIS SORRY ARSED Job!
I am so happy there are obama supporters like sally up there^
She's showing us all that being a weak minded dufus isn't cool anymore
Just another political stunt for "the skunks" reelection...
The US military, congress, and the executive branch are just pawns in the hands of the global elite, international bankers, and Bilderberg in their agenda to enslave all freee societies that are not dependent on them.
This is going on all over the world. The "War on Terror" is merely a thinly veiled excuse to mesemerize the masses while this global tyranny takes place.
China, in a article last week, goes in the front door to banquets and meetings. They sign and negotiate future rare metal and other resource deals for now and in the future. In a article in the Times of India, most people like and respect the Chinese for their business dealings and non-threatening nature.
.
Yeah Yank.....Agreed. They are kicking our butts at our own game. While our current Administration is totally engrossed in doing NOTHING in real terms of expanding Opportunities for U.S. Business, nor in attracting Foreign manufacturing to Our shores. The U.S. is becoming ripe for the picking by CHINA thru our increasing indebtedness to them. And a report just yesterday stated that China is the NEW WORLD LEADER in Military Power. And what are we doing?? Apparently REDUCING our Military strength, and simultaneously FINANCING CHINAS' thru INTEREST PAID to them. If this is the Change Obama promised , he must have fallen asleep at the helm...Uh oh, he seems to be yapping again.....constant stream of RE-ELECTION crap since DAY ONE.
I doubt China is the new world leader in military. After 15-20 years of build-up on top of 200 years of military bases and properties, I would say the Chinese have a long way to go. But, this country flouts it but doesn't use it. Surgical strikes to keep from hurting to many people or property. The Pakistanians now want $5,000 USD for each tractor trailer load to pas through the supply chain to Afghanistan. Supplies, Fuel and Ammo are backed up in the harbors, road sites and still on ships. Damn shame for the 90,000 Civil Affairs troops trying to save the minds and hearts of the children by building schools, roads, treatment plants, and 1,000 other things with borrowed USD. What a mess.
Mark my word, If obama gets re-elected,we will become deeply involved in nation building, in Africa. All through the 50s and 60s, Africa fought for independence from European powers. Clinton had the good sense to steer clear of this trap, after BlackHawk Down incident.
Unfortunately, Obama does not BUILD nations,,,,,,,,he DESTROYS, as in turning the U.S. into the most DIVIDED country in the World in less than 4 years. The "news" regarding Shadow Wars in Africa is nothing more than a ploy to win 5 or 6 more African-American votes. The man is becoming an embarassment. Yesterday he was out "bonding" with Barbers. What's next? Corner "RAP" sessions with Pimps, Hos' and Drug Thugs????
Destroy in order to rebuild according to predefined guidelines.
Well it sure as hell anit a "secret" war anymore. Advisers is how Vietnam started as well as many other conflicts. You have declared a war on an idea that transcends international borders. We had "advisers" train the Cuban freedom fighters and left them to fend for themselves when the time came to invade Cuba. Look What happened. Terrorism against the US is basically hatred which is like a religion. Are you going to declare war on Islam? Your terrorists are basically from the Islamic religious sect. They are also civilians of sovereign countries that we are basically asking the governments for permission to come in and kill, oh, a few thousand of your citizens or whatever we think is necessary. If you want to flex your military muscle go after the Mexican drug cartels. That has been a war ( War on Drugs) since long before Bush. Preamble to the Constitution," Provide for the common defense".
America
Land of the free
Home of the Assassin president
Daniel Sloan: go to Beale Air Force Base on Google Earth and you can see some U-2 and Global Hawk drones. Dijoubouti is probably a shared faciltiy and most likely explains the older model aircraft. If you want to keep up on things try StrategyPage.com
More intel leaks.
Somehow this isn't what I thought Obama meant about transparency in government.
Yea...ok. Smallpox for natives and AIDS for Africans. How long before colonialism takes over? Oh wait....nevermind
My question is why are we there anyway? Al- Queda or is it our Idiot in Chief's idea to get involved in his "homeland" and make things right for all his "brothers". I say if we have to get involved, lets do it for the right reasons, to keep oil flowing so I can drive my SUV at a reasonable cost, keep my home cool, food on my table, and still send my kids to college. To hell with all the tribes killing each other and starving the survivors. I say sell them more weapons, give them HIV medications, and then stay the hell out. Africa has nothing worth spending billions trying to save, and certainly not worth sending our sons and daughters over to fight for. If other Americans with ties to that continent feel differently, let the US Army form an all African American expeditionary brigade and let them go and fight to their hearts content.
let's buy him another nobel....as a feel good!
Well I was just thinking. I wonder what Charley Mansion is doing today ? I mean he has severed his time so well. It's long enough. They SHOULD give him parole. He has to be alright after all the correction he has received by now. I know Charley can benefit society. America could use 1 more of us in the work force. We could sent him off over there to Aferica. He could spread the word. I bet he'd fit right in too. You know, with his long beard and swatch sticker head. Charley and them surely could relate to one another. He can show them how to be saved and how much better it is to be an American living the American dream. How long is the rehabilatation process supposed to take away way?
Wow... that was pretty much painful to read.
However, I did get a chuckle out of "swatch sticker".
Please oh PLEASE tell me that was an intentional joke!