US declassifies military attacks in Yemen, Somalia

Look, I am all for going after the bad guys. But these military actions, undeclared wars that are not discussed with the Americans and Congress are greatly disturbing. So, finally, on a Friday, Obama dumps this story on the AP. I guess now he feels there is some political gain for him, why else. I have been reporting for months about the built up or our forces and treasure throughout Africa.When do assassinations become that as opposed to killing ”military combatants”? What Judge and Jury? As defined, “Africa, our last frontier”

From the post Three thousand U.S. soldiers on their way to Africa

Army Times: A brigade of 3,000 US soldiers will be deployed to Africa to battle terrorism and hunger or whatever. I think this about sums it up.

“As far as our mission goes, it’s uncharted territory,” Hogg said from his headquarters in Vicenza, Italy

Though U.S. soldiers have operated in Africa for decades, including more than 1,200 soldiers currently stationed at Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, the region in many ways remains the Army’s last frontier.

Roughly 3,000 soldiers — and likely more — are expected to serve tours across the continent in 2013, training foreign militaries and aiding locals.

But “I’m not there to win their wars or settle their differences,” he added. Of course not, just our  blood and treasure.

The White House is partially lifting the lid of secrecy on its counterterrorism campaign against al-Qaida in Yemen and Somalia by formally acknowledging for the first time that it is conducting lethal attacks in those countries.

Under the War Powers Resolution of 1973, the White House is required to report to Congress every six months on U.S. combat operations abroad. Friday’s report includes a secret attachment with classified details, which was not released publicly

The decision by President Barack Obama to declassify the existence of the counterterror actions in those two countries amounts an incremental move toward greater openness about the use of U.S. force overseas. It does not reflect any change in the intensity or basic character of the U.S. campaign to defeat al-Qaida.

The report applies only to U.S. military operations, including those by special operations forces _ not those conducted by the CIA.

“In all cases we are focused on those al-Qaida members and affiliates who pose a direct threat to the United States and to our national interests,” National interests? What National interests?  Town Hall

You might want to check out the set up for this Obama makes it illegal for U.S. Citizens to criticize the government of Yemen -by Executive Order

In other words, the U.S. Government will now punish anyone who is determined — in the sole discretion of the U.S. Government — even to “indirectly” obstruct the full transition of power to President Hadi. But what if someone — a Yemeni or an American — opposes Hadi’s rule and wants to agitate for a real election in which more than one candidate runs? Is that pure political advocacy, as it appears, now prohibited by the U.S. Government, punishable by serious sanctions, on the ground that it “obstructs” the transition of power to Hadi? Can journalists who report on corruption or violence by the Hadi regime and who write Op-Eds demanding a new election be accused, as it seems, of “threatening Yemen’s political stability”?

As it does with most U.S.-compliant dictators in the region, the Obama administration has since been propping up Hadi with large amounts of money and military assistance, but it is now taking a much more extreme step to ensure he remains entrenched in power — a step that threatens not only basic liberties in Yemen but in the U.S. as well:

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