'Nigeria: the context for violence' (2006-2013)

[Stan]

Said it earlier, by singularly focusing on terrorism, a host of other more complex and interwoven phenomena are not dealt with sufficiently. As it stands, the entire basis for AFRICOM's Trans-Sahara Counter-terrorism Partnership needs to be reconsidered.

Not to put a damper on your quest for AFRICOM, but the program you are referring to started in 2001 under EUCOM.

The basis for the TSCTI was little more than a follow-up to the Pan Sahel Initiative (PSI). Supposedly, the US would train and equip a rapid-reaction company in Chad, Mali, Mauritania and Niger. The problem then and now is the partners to include Nigeria blew it when the funds ran out and they were expected to carry the ball and improve their relations in the region.

The USA blew it thinking we could influence dictators with money and training. What they did was simple...

Training a dictator's rogue military generally means (that training) will later be used against the very population it was intended to protect.

Jeez folks, this is not rocket science

[KingJaja]

How much is the Nigerian army expected to do? Contribute to Liberia and Sierra Leone, police Darfur, contribute to Somalia (we are out of that thankfully), police the Niger Delta and fight Boko Haram?

[KingJaja]

When the army is used against the populace. The populace doesn't usually remember that whoever trained the army had the "best of intentions". Especially when the populace is Islamic and the trainers are American.

[Stan]

When the army is used against the populace. The populace doesn't usually remember that whoever trained the army had the "best of intentions". Especially when the populace is Islamic and the trainers are American.

That's the part I hated most.

There's a great strategy research project by USMC LTC Mary Jo Choate here. She does a great job of filling in the blanks where most of the USG has even begun to comprehend.

She should have wrote this in 85 and we may have had far less Sierra to deal with (SIGH).

[Stan]

How much is the Nigerian army expected to do? Contribute to Liberia and Sierra Leone, police Darfur, contribute to Somalia (we are out of that thankfully), police the Niger Delta and fight Boko Haram?

I couldn't agree with you more and do see your valid points.

When half of Africa was signing on to TSCTI, most of the former Eastern European nations were doing the same with far smaller assets. Hell, we are still doing "it" and can't afford nor support most of the initiatives with barely 1.4 million people ! There are more disasters than success stories.

The Nigerian Army is considered to be number 2 on the continent in quality and shear size. A ton of stuff goes along with that prestige and the Nigerian government signs on for things it can't pay for. Is President Jonathan expected to turn all of those promises around into a more realistic approach ?