ugnet_: U.S. to Add to Forces in Horn of Africa

[Vukoni Lupa-Lasaga]

We will live to regret this build-up of U.S. military presence on African territory. vukoni   U.S. to Add to Forces in Horn of Africa By ERIC SCHMITT ASHINGTON, Oct. 29 — The United States is increasing its forces stationed around the Horn of Africa to about 1,200 troops, allowing them to conduct training missions and remain positioned to stage attacks against fighters for Al Qaeda who are believed to be hiding throughout the region, military officials said today. About 400 troops assigned to the United States Central Command will soon arrive in Djibouti to establish a headquarters for the 800 American troops, including Special Operations forces, already in the East African country or on ships offshore. Gen. Tommy R. Franks, the commander of American forces in the Persian Gulf, said at a Pentagon news conference today that the troop buildup was intended to allow the United States to broaden its security assistance to regional allies, while remaining poised to attack terrorists. "It's tied to the global war on terrorism, and for sure it is," General Franks said. "But you also know that we have security relationships or engagement opportunities — however you choose to think about them — in a great many countries in the Horn of Africa: Kenya, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Djibouti, Yemen." General Franks also fielded several questions about Afghanistan, where about 8,000 American troops continue to scour caves for die-hard Qaeda and Taliban fighters, and help the government of President Hamid Karzai rebuild the devastated country. One area American troops will stay clear of is drug interdiction, Gen. Franks said. Opium production in Afghanistan skyrocketed to near-record levels this year, making the war-ravaged nation again the world's leading producer of the drug, according to a United Nations estimate released over the weekend. During the war in Afghanistan, allied forces, particularly British forces, targeted production, storage and transportation facilities for heroin and other drugs that flood European markets. Efforts by the Karzai administration to eradicate opium production by paying farmers to destroy their crops have failed because of a lack of money, violent demonstrations by farmers fearing their livelihoods were in jeopardy and the refusal of some local officials to destroy the crops. General Franks said resolving the issue was up to the Afghans and nonmilitary agencies. --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.404 / Virus Database: 228 - Release Date: 10/15/2002

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