U.S. Plans to Put Advisers on Front Lines of Nigeria’s War on Boko Haram

[Purveyor]

Source: New York Times

DAKAR, Senegal — The Pentagon is poised to send dozens of Special Operations advisers to the front lines of Nigeria’s fight against the West African militant group Boko Haram, according to military officials, the latest deployment in conflicts with the Islamic State and its allies.

Their deployment would push American troops hundreds of miles closer to the battle that Nigerian forces are waging against an insurgency that has killed thousands of civilians in the country’s northeast as well as in neighboring Niger, Chad and Cameroon. By some measures, Boko Haram is the world’s deadliest terrorist group.

The deployment is a main recommendation of a recent confidential assessment by the top United States Special Operations commander for Africa, Brig. Gen. Donald C. Bolduc. If it is approved, as expected, by the Defense and State Departments, the Americans would serve only in noncombat advisory roles, military officials said.

Even as President Obama has drawn down the large American armies sent to Iraq and Afghanistan, he has relied heavily on Special Operations forces to train and advise local troops fighting the Islamic State, also known as ISIS or ISIL, and to carry out clandestine counterterrorism missions.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/26/world/africa/us-plans-to-help-nigeria-in-war-on-boko-haram-terrorists.html?_r=0

[Ford_Prefect]

1. One more step into the Big Muddy...

It's the price of oil, I'm told. But in another time they called it "the white man's burden".

I'm not for murdering women and children, nor for using them as weapons or shields. I am sure Boko Haram are not the neighbors I want to have either. But at the same time aren't we once more propping up another unstable regime with lots of oil and a dubious record on human rights and political freedom in general? Is that really the wise thing to do and in this particular way?

I recall more than once being told that we were getting out of the business of being the world's policeman.

OH, Now I get it! We aren't doing that here. We are protecting the oil and rare earth leases. This is business, not moral outrage. That makes it OK. That IS what we pay soldiers to die for...

Oh yeah, don't we have a sideline in weapons and ammunition sales to concerned parties? Not to mention a line of supporting hardware like aerial surveillance, tactical air strikes, naval attack platforms, and hidden African bases to fund and maintain? Can't neglect that congressional budget approval or they'll be cutting back on stipends for senior officers with purchasing authority next.

[newfie11]

2. What! We don't have enough wars going on

I guess the MIC has more greed than I knew.
This won't just be special advisers for long.

[MariaThinks]

3. this should have been done long ago

[malthaussen]

4. I wonder if they'll be wearing boots. n/t