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Lawmakers push back at Pentagon's possible Africa drawdown
The Hill ^ | 01 19 2020 | Kyle Balluck

Posted on 01/19/2020 6:37:16 PM PST by yesthatjallen

Defense Secretary Mark Esper's plan to draw down U.S. forces in Africa is facing increased pushback on Capitol Hill.

The top Democrat and Republican on the House Armed Services Committee have joined numerous lawmakers calling on Esper to stop a planned reduction of the 6,000 to 7,000 troops fighting militant terrorist groups on the continent and instead keep the forces in an effort to better counter Russian and Chinese aggression.

“A decrease in our investment now may result in the need for the United States to reinvest at many more times the cost down the road,” Armed Services Committee Chairman Adam Smith (D-Wash.) and ranking member Mac Thornberry (R-Texas) wrote in letter to Esper last week.

The letter is a response to a New York Times report in December that found Esper was mulling greatly reducing or completely withdrawing U.S. troops from West Africa in a plan that would focus on several hundred American troops deployed in Niger, Chad and Mali.

U.S. forces are in West Africa to train and assist security forces in an effort to quell extremist Islamic groups including Boko Haram and those that pledge loyalty to the Islamic State and al Qaeda.

SNIP

(Excerpt) Read more at thehill.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: africa; dod; esper; eternalwar; neocons

1 posted on 01/19/2020 6:37:16 PM PST by yesthatjallen
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To: yesthatjallen

“Investment”?


2 posted on 01/19/2020 6:40:42 PM PST by BenLurkin (The above is not a statement of fact. It is either opinion or satire. Or both.)
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To: yesthatjallen

This is france’s corner of the world, let them deal with it. I’m surprised this came out of DOD since the only stakeholder would be AFRICOM pushing for more involvement, credit again to Trump.


3 posted on 01/19/2020 6:41:20 PM PST by socalgop
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To: yesthatjallen

No more “kick-backs” for them.


4 posted on 01/19/2020 6:50:50 PM PST by TrumpisRight (It is --> President Trump <--)
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To: socalgop

So fighting terrorist groups keep Russia and China in check? How does that work I wonder.


5 posted on 01/19/2020 6:51:40 PM PST by American in Israel (A wise man's heart directs him to the right, but the foolish mans heart directs him toward the left.)
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To: yesthatjallen

That’s the crown jewel of the foreign policy money scam. We give mass amounts of foreign aid to a corrupt country. Corrupt country hires the family members of the globalist elites, and gives them contracts.. High level money laundering. We do it all around the world, but even Ukraine isn’t corrupt enough. There’s no where on earth more easily manipulated and corrupt and than Africa.

If we pull out, they’re feeding trough is empty


6 posted on 01/19/2020 6:53:20 PM PST by DesertRhino (Dog is man's best friend, and moslems hate dogs. Add that up. ....)
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To: yesthatjallen

Let Africa Sink
http://www.kimdutoit.com/2017/05/05/let-africa-sink/


7 posted on 01/19/2020 6:54:41 PM PST by FreedomPoster (Islam delenda est)
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To: yesthatjallen

Since it’s illegal for Americans to bribe members of foreign governments all we do in Africa is just going to China’s benefit.
The truth is just the opposite of what these politicians say!


8 posted on 01/19/2020 7:00:36 PM PST by mrsmith (Dumb sluts (M / F) : Lifeblood of the Media, Backbone of the Democrat/RINO Party!)
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To: yesthatjallen

This exact same excuse is used again and again by the Establishment Politicians of both parties.

We must not leave anywhere our troops are mired down because it could/may/possibly lead to Armageddon/Disaster/Catastrophe.

To quote some lyrics: It’s the same old story the same old song and dance my friends.


9 posted on 01/19/2020 7:01:41 PM PST by ocrp1982 (ll)
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To: yesthatjallen
calling on Esper to stop

Call away.

10 posted on 01/19/2020 7:05:44 PM PST by Jeff Chandler (BLACK LIVES MAGA)
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To: yesthatjallen

So submit a formal Declaration of War, Congressman Whateveryour******* name is.

L


11 posted on 01/19/2020 7:08:33 PM PST by Lurker (Peaceful coexistence with the Left is not possible. Stop pretending that it is.)
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To: yesthatjallen

Traitors.


12 posted on 01/19/2020 7:38:32 PM PST by Farcesensitive
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To: yesthatjallen

Adam Smith is corrupt scum - his district is crime infested, full of illegals....


13 posted on 01/19/2020 7:48:51 PM PST by sheehan (DEPORT ALL ILLEGALS.)
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To: yesthatjallen

Send these Critters’ kids to Africa. Bring our troops home. The war is here.


14 posted on 01/19/2020 8:05:07 PM PST by Trumpisourlastchance
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To: Trumpisourlastchance
Let other countries deal with the headache of Africa.

Should remove ALL of our troops from that continent.

15 posted on 01/19/2020 8:39:46 PM PST by Mogger
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To: yesthatjallen

These a-holes need to send their sons and daughters to that sh*thole continent. Even our Special Forces are slaughtered and the Pentagon and political clowns do nothing. Since WWII, America has tasked itself to send our forces to every sh*thole former colony all over the world. What has this policy done good for America?


16 posted on 01/19/2020 8:52:45 PM PST by shanover (...To disarm the people is the best and most effectual way to enslave them.-S.Adams)
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To: shanover

Some of the elites are getting rich from this.

Follow the money.....

Congress gives prostitution a bad name.


17 posted on 01/19/2020 9:23:22 PM PST by cgbg (The Democratic Party is morphing into the Donner Party)
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