AFRICOM Marine task force to help train militaries in Somalia http://niqnaq.wordpress.com/2011/07/12/once-everyone-who-didnt-say-uncle-was-a-commie-now-hes-an-al-qaeda-linked-terrorist/

For its part, the Western-trained African Union forces deployed to Mogadishu have pushed al-Shabab out of previously held positions, helping to prevent an insurgent takeover of the country’s capital city in the past year, according to Sally Healy at Chatham House. Still, some human rights groups have raised concerns about civilians caught between al-Shabab fighters and the AU force, which has been accused of indiscriminately firing mortars at targets and killing non-combatants in the process. Healy said:

If AMISOM could stop using mortars to deal with attacks by Shabab, that would certainly make them less unpopular. If you give AMISOM better methods for dealing with them, so much the better.Marine officials say that is just what the new task force will aim to do as it provides local forces with better tactics for confronting the threats that surround them. Chief of staff at MARFOR Africa Col Bright said:

We’re refining their capabilities.The Marines also will work with militaries in northern Africa, where al-Qaida affiliates have long been a concern for the US, as part of Operation Enduring Freedom Trans-Sahara. The plan to establish a Special Purpose Marine Air Ground Task Force dedicated exclusively to AFRICOM missions has been in development for two years.

[ALSO SEE....AFRICOM: Imperialism, neo-colonialism and the fight for African resources http://mathaba.net/news/?x=572854 Obama's national security policy towards Africa www.pambazuka.org/en/category/features/61614 Somalia: Manifestation of stealth trusteeship http://thenakedfacts.blogspot.com/2011/04/somalia-manifestation-of-stealth.html US Military and Africom: Between the rocks and the crusaders http://thenakedfacts.blogspot.com/2011/04/us-military-and-africom-between-rocks.html

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AFRICOM, the kleptocratic state and under-class militancy http://thenakedfacts.blogspot.com/2010/07/africom-kleptocratic-state-and-under.html The West's selective condemnation of dictators only complicates things for Africans and peaceful resolution of their conflicts http://thenakedfacts.blogspot.com/2011/06/potential-balkanisation-of-sudan-and.html AFRICOM Backs Bloodshed in Central Africa http://thenakedfacts.blogspot.com/2010/04/africom-backs-bloodshed-in-central.html