AF-PAK NO LONGER TERRORIST HAVEN
US MUST FOLLOW TERROR THREAT TO AFRICA
By Gordon Duff STAFF WRITER
Whatever terrorist training was going on in Afghanistan and Pakistan has moved on. Life under the scrutiny of Predator drones tends to be short and ends explosively. Afghanistan is now more beset with a tribal uprising, a tradition there and Pakistan is trying to prevent one. It is time for us to pack up and move to Africa where, based on our Detroit terrorist attack this week, leads us to Nigeria.
We knew Nigeria, Ghana, CAR (Central Africa Republic) and other areas across the African sahel were a rich ground for terrorists to plant the seeds of whatever it is they do. In fact, call this a coincidence, but, to some of us here, this is an old “stomping ground.” Over the past 3 years “we” (editors, writers, advisers at VT) have visited and/or made proposals for counter-terrorist military and police training programs using advanced technologies in these countries and several more in Africa. The immediacy wasn’t felt adequately, it should be now.
We have always known the real war on terror would take us to West Africa. Destabilizing the oil rich nations with a long history of friendship with the US and EU yet plagued with extreme governmental inefficiencies has always been a goal of the real world terrorist networks, which originated in Egypt.
There are two key areas of economic impact that are at risk, the Suez Canal and the proposed gas pipeline which will be supplying Europe from Nigeria. This pipeline will be heading thru “terrorist central” and will be a vital source of, not only revenue for Africa, but vital gas supplies which can make Europe less dependent on gas supplies from Russia and Asia filled with “political implications.”
IF THE WAR IS TO FOLLOW US, THEN “BRING IT ON”
Northern Nigeria and Northern Ghana will be operational centers for world terrorism, if not now, ten years from now. This has been known for many years but little real preparations have been made. Both Ghana and Nigeria have highly trained professional armies, but also have societies that are subject to instabilities. They are “an accident waiting to happen.”
The nations at risk are vital to the US and the EU, not only for oil and gas but Nigeria is the most populated nation in Africa and, potentially, a regional superpower in her own right.
OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS
Wouldn’t it be nice to fight a war where we could actually be advisers and not have to carry all the weight?
Wouldn’t it be nice to actually be fighting in a country with gas and oil again and not in the middle of nowhere for no known reason?
Wouldn’t it be nice to be somewhere we could actually resupply without having to fly over Russia?
FOLLOW THE THREAT, NOT THE PAST
In 40 years, the population of Nigeria alone will be nearing 300 million. They can be the largest bastion of radical Islam or one of America’s closest allies and trading partners. Ghana, though smaller and with much less oil, is under similar threat as are the nations surrounding and to the north across the Sahara, and other regions of Africa.
We are simply following the wrong threat and being drawn into wars meant to push us into defeating ourselves. If we are going to fight, if we have made the decision we are going to be in a permanent war, then bring it closer to home, fighting real threats and helping people that wants us there.
If war is going to be our only remaining industry, then, perhaps, we should start acting like it, hire some professionals to run our military, get some smart folks in the State Department and begin playing on the world stage like we knew what we were doing. Did I mention that we need a new intelligence service? How about replacing Homeland Security with an organization that can put real terrorists on the “No Fly List” instead of musicians and Senators.
Building American foreign policy on the convenience of Israel or a bunch of oil Sheiks is very “80s.”
These are serious times for serious people. No more clowning around.
VT Senior Editor Gordon Duff is a Marine combat veteran and regular contributor on political and social issues.
Gordon Duff posted articles on VT from 2008 to 2022. He is a Marine combat veteran of the Vietnam War. A disabled veteran, he worked on veterans and POW issues for decades.
Gordon is an accredited diplomat and is generally accepted as one of the top global intelligence specialists. He manages the world’s largest private intelligence organization and regularly consults with governments challenged by security issues.
Duff has traveled extensively, is published around the world, and is a regular guest on TV and radio in more than “several” countries. He is also a trained chef, wine enthusiast, avid motorcyclist, and gunsmith specializing in historical weapons and restoration. Business experience and interests are in energy and defense technology.
ATTENTION READERS
We See The World From All Sides and Want YOU To Be Fully InformedIn fact, intentional disinformation is a disgraceful scourge in media today. So to assuage any possible errant incorrect information posted herein, we strongly encourage you to seek corroboration from other non-VT sources before forming an educated opinion.
About VT - Policies & Disclosures - Comment Policy
