Reuters reports that the Pentagon is quietly building up a small airstrip in a remote region of east Africa that is a complex microcosm of how Washington runs military operations overseas — and how America's way of war will probably look for the foreseeable future. Chabelley Airfield is less than 10 miles from the capital of the small African nation of Djibouti but the small airport is the hub for America's drone operations in the nearby hotspots of Somalia and Yemen as part of its war against Islamic militants. "The U.S. military is being pressured into considering the adoption of more of a lily pad basing model in the wake of so much turbulence and warfare across the region," says Dr. Geoffrey Gresh. "Djibouti is a small, relatively safe ... ally that enables the U.S. special operators to carry out missions effectively across the continent."
In September 2013, the Pentagon announced it was moving the pilotless aircraft from its main base at Camp Lemonnier to Chabelley with almost no fanfare. Africom and the Pentagon jealously guard information about their outposts in Africa, making it impossible to ascertain even basic facts — like a simple count — let alone just how many are integral to JSOC operations, drone strikes, and other secret activities. However a map in a Pentagon report indicates that there were 10 MQ-1 Predator drones and four larger, more far-ranging MQ-9 Reapers based at Camp Lemonnier in June 2012 before the move to Chabelley.
The Pentagon does not list Chabelley in its annual Base Structure Report, the only official compendium of American military facilities around the world. "The Chebelley base ... [is] a reflection of the growing presence of the U.S. military in Africa," says Dr. David Vine, author of 'Base Nation: How U.S. Military Bases Abroad Harm America and the World". "The [U.S.] military has gone to great lengths to disguise and downplay its growing presence in Africa generally in the hopes of avoiding negative attention and protests both in the U.S. and in African countries wary of the colonial-esque presence of foreign troops."
American drones fly regular missions from Chabelley, an airstrip the French run with the approval of the Djiboutian government. Washington pays Djibouti for access to Paris' outpost. Part of the reason for this circuitous chain of responsibility could be the fact that the Pentagon's drone missions are often controversial.
Critics contend targeted strikes against militants are illegal under American and international law and tantamount to assassination. "The military is easily capable of adapting to change, but they don't like to stop anything they feel is making their lives easier, or is to their benefit. And this certainly is, in their eyes, a very quick, clean way of doing things. It's a very slick, efficient way to conduct the war, without having to have the massive ground invasion mistakes of Iraq and Afghanistan."
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China has sent two warships to the Republic of Djibouti in Africa, where it will open its first overseas naval base:
China has dispatched troops to Djibouti in advance of formally establishing the country's first overseas military base. Two Chinese Navy warships left the port of Zhanjiang on Tuesday, taking an undisclosed number of military personnel on the journey across the Indian Ocean.
An editorial Wednesday in the state-run Global Times stressed the importance of the new Djibouti facility -- in the strategically located Horn of Africa -- to the Chinese military. "Certainly this is the People's Liberation Army's first overseas base and we will base troops there. It's not a commercial resupply point... This base can support Chinese Navy to go farther, so it means a lot," said the paper.
The Global Times said the main role of the base would be to support Chinese warships operating in the region in anti-piracy and humanitarian operations. "It's not about seeking to control the world," said the editorial.
Also at The Atlantic and Xinhua (newer article).
Related: A Small Secret Airstrip in Africa is the Future of America's Way of War
US warns China after lasers injure American pilots in Africa
The United States has issued a formal warning to China after personnel at the Asian country's military base in Djibouti used lasers to interfere with U.S. military aircraft, minorly injuring two pilots, according to the Pentagon.
Top Defense Department spokeswoman Dana White told reporters Thursday that the U.S. is confident the Chinese are behind the "very serious incidents," which have increased in the past few weeks.
"There have been two minor injuries. This activity poses a true threat to our airmen. We have formally demarched the Chinese government. And we've requested that that Chinese investigate these incidents," White said during a Pentagon briefing.
The U.S. government, meanwhile, has warned airmen to be cautious when flying in certain areas in Djibouti, in Africa, due to the recent incidents.
Also at CNN.
Related: A Small Secret Airstrip in Africa is the Future of America's Way of War
China Sends Troops to Djibouti Ahead of Establishment of its First Overseas Military Base
Chinese Companies to Build Commercial Spaceport on the Horn of Africa
The Hong Kong Aerospace Technology Group (HKATG) and a Shanghai-based Touchroad International Holdings Group have entered into a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the government of Djibouti to build a $1 billion commercial spaceport with seven launch pads and three rocket engine test facilities.
Djibouti President Ismail Omar Guelleh met with company officials on Monday to discuss the planned Djiboutian Spaceport, which will be constructed in the northern Obock region near the entrance to the Red Sea. It would be the first orbital spaceport in Africa.
[...] HKATG and the Djiboutian government will manage the spaceport for a period of 30 years. The government will then take control over the facility.
Construction of the spaceport is expected to begin after the parties sign a formal agreement in March. The project is expected to take five years.
The Djiboutian government said the project will require the development of a port facility, a network of highways, and a power grid.
See also: Rocket Report: SpaceX reaches 'ludicrous' cadence; ABL explains RS1 failure
Previously:
A Small Secret Airstrip in Africa is the Future of America's Way of War
China Sends Troops to Djibouti Ahead of Establishment of its First Overseas Military Base
U.S. Complains That Chinese Military Personnel Are Injuring American Pilots With Lasers in Africa
(Score: 1, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday January 19 2016, @08:08AM
Do you see a Roman Empire in existence today?
Fuck You, America. Your future is downfall.
(Score: 0, Interesting) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday January 19 2016, @08:13AM
http://thehill.com/policy/defense/261153-chinas-military-makes-move-into-africa [thehill.com]
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday January 19 2016, @08:20AM
Predicted by Orwell in 1948. We have always been at war with Eastasia, and Africa is the Disputed Zone. Have you read Nineteen Eighty Four? Do you even read?
(Score: -1, Troll) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday January 19 2016, @08:34AM
Wow, you got your foreign policy views from an overrated book. Do you even wipe your ass?
(Score: 2) by DeathMonkey on Tuesday January 19 2016, @07:17PM
Wow, you got your foreign policy views from an overrated book.
Well, they do cover some of this territory in those Twilight books, which is clearly more your speed. Just think of Team Edward as the impending global communist uprising.
(Score: 5, Funny) by aristarchus on Tuesday January 19 2016, @08:51AM
Predicted by Orwell in 1948. We have always been at war with Eastasia, and Africa is the Disputed Zone.
No! We have always been at war with Oceania, and Africa is the Disputed Zone. I will lean you into the loop, to help you unremember.
Have you read Nineteen Eighty Four? Do you even read?
I read it when it first came out, in the original Greek. Then I read it again, in 1948 I think. Definitely read it again in 1984, a sort of "anniversary" edition, if you will. But then I tried to read it on a kindle from Amazon, and the entire book just disappeared like it was erased from history.
(Score: 0) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday January 19 2016, @08:35AM
so is the pentagon really just doing this cos china is doing it?
how the mighty have fallen
(Score: 2) by MostCynical on Tuesday January 19 2016, @08:49AM
I kinda hope that the US is doing this because it is cheap/cheaper than wherever they were using before.
"I guess once you start doubting, there's no end to it." -Batou, Ghost in the Shell: Stand Alone Complex
(Score: 3, Insightful) by Geezer on Tuesday January 19 2016, @11:02AM
Seeing as how the primary mission of the US military is to provide profits for the industrial complex, I doubt whether cost/benefit is a factor.
(Score: 2) by Joe Desertrat on Tuesday January 19 2016, @06:13PM
Seeing as how the primary mission of the US military is to provide profits for the industrial complex, I doubt whether cost/benefit is a factor.
Cost/Benefit IS a factor, just not in the way the GP was implying...
(Score: 2) by frojack on Tuesday January 19 2016, @09:25AM
Google maps satellite image of the base https://goo.gl/maps/JKeJXwfJct22 [goo.gl]
No, you are mistaken. I've always had this sig.
(Score: 3, Touché) by isostatic on Tuesday January 19 2016, @10:59AM
a remote region of east Africa
less than 10 miles from the capital of the small African nation of Djibouti
So which is it? A remote region, or 10 miles from a capital city the size of Washington DC?
(Score: 4, Funny) by deimtee on Tuesday January 19 2016, @11:12AM
Yes.
No problem is insoluble, but at Ksp = 2.943×10−25 Mercury Sulphide comes close.
(Score: 1, Informative) by Anonymous Coward on Tuesday January 19 2016, @05:42PM
It can be both. Especially ten miles inland in a country that is hugely dependent on the shipping industry.
DC has 6 million people. Djibouti's capital has 600 thousand. The 'state' where the base sits is nine times larger than Djibouti's capital and has a population of 69,000. (So 1% the density of Djibouti's capital, which itself is 10% the density of DC).
(Score: 2) by isostatic on Friday January 22 2016, @05:19PM
It's about 3 miles from the local town and 5 from the capital's ring road.
(Score: 2) by jmorris on Tuesday January 19 2016, @07:36PM
So what is the intent of the original article or the posting here? Is it another attempt to help the terrorists find the Americans? Kinda think they know that, or they really, really suck at this stuff. Are we supposed to be angry about the 'revelation' that we are killing terrorists? Should we be angered at the revelation that even after almost eight years of Obama a few countries are still sticking in as allies for the long run? Everybody who watches a newscast or one of the political debates already knows we are making a half assed attempt to 'degrade' them. We all know friendly countries in the area are assisting in that with basing. Is the American political discourse improved by knowing the operational details? Not that I can see.
I really think it is time to question the motives of the opposition. If we invade with massive ground forces, no matter the care and precision of the attack, we are told it is terrible, civilians are killed, war crime. If we carpet bomb we are told it is inhumane, a war crime, blah blah. On the other hand if we precision strike only the actual combatants we are told that too is a war crime because we are 'assassinating' them. And if we stopped both and they grow and further unleash Hell over there we will certainly be accused of standing by and allowing crimes against humanity, then when they strike us here the accusation with be we didn't do enough to prevent it. All from the exact same critics. When does the irrationality become so great that plausible deniability can't be granted and we can question their actual loyalty?
Glenn Beck seems to have been correct:
"Radicals / Islamists / Communists / Socialists will:
* work together against Israel
* work together against Capitalism
* work together to overturn stability"
That was on his infamous blackboard in 2011 and it is looking pretty darned prophetic these days. They do seem to be putting up a very unified PR front and otherwise acting in a loose alliance.