US Military Building Up Network of Bases in Italy For Operations in Africa

Reason

The U.S. is building up its military bases in Italy, which could be used for operations in Africa.

The move is the latest example of the Obama administration favoring raids by Special Forces to drone strikes in the campaign against Al Qaeda.

From UPI:

TRIPOLI, Libya, Oct. 15 (UPI) -- The U.S. deployment of 200 Marines to a naval base in Sicily for possible operations in Libya, a short hop across the Mediterranean, underlines how the Americans have been building a network of bases in Italy as launch pads for military interventions in Africa and the Mideast.

The signs are that 20 years after the American military's first, and costly, encounter with Muslim militants in Mogadishu, Somalia, U.S. operations in Africa are growing as the Islamist threat expands.

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Comments

[Eduard van Haalen]

You know who else built up a network of bases in Italy for operations in Africa?

[SIV]

Scipio Africanus?

[Free Society]

The prince formerly known as Octavius?

[CE]

Rommel? No wait, he started in Africa and then went to Italy.

[Fist of Etiquette]

I think Africa is going to like the way Bush spent tax dollars on them more than the way Obama does.

[Paul.]

Oh... Libya... I thought maybe this was a precursor to a Kony operation.

[DJF]

Yeah, after years of US military involvement in central Asia and the Middle East the US military now has a new continent to spend money fighting wars and nation building.

[Anonymous Coward]

But Obama can send troops to Africa with nary a blink from our American anti-war movement and watchdog corporate media because...KISS THE PEACE PRIZE, BITCHES.

[Jon Lester]

And everyone thought Gadhafi was out of his mind when he warned the uprising against him would lead to neo-colonialism.

[wingnutx]

Maybe I'll get a deployment next year after all.