Posted on 07/02/2005 10:20:13 AM PDT by Wiz
July 2, 2005: American military commanders are becoming increasingly worried about developments in West Africa, particularly the Gulf of Guinea. The western end (Ivory Coast, Liberia, and Sierra Leone) is in melt-down, barely being held from total chaos by some 20,000 international peacekeepers. Worse, bandits and militiamen from these countries have occasionally spilled over into neighboring Guinea, threatening its stability and creating humanitarian emergencies, as they plunder, murder, and kidnap local people.
At the other end, Nigeria is in semi-chaos, with the threat of religious civil war hovering over it while being troubled by increasingly dangerous criminal gangs pirating oil. Complicating the situation is Nigeria's territorial dispute with Cameroon. Nigeria occupies the oil-rich Bakassi Peninsula, on the Gulf of Guinea, and some area on Lake Chad, that are generally regarded as belonging to Cameroon. In 1994 Cameroon took the matter to the World Court. In 2002, after eight years in adjudication, the court awarded the peninsula to Cameroon. Nigeria has ignored the ruling, and remains in occupation of the region. A couple of weeks ago Nigerian troops fired on Cameroon troops, killing one, which does not bode well for the prospects of a peaceful settlement.
Most of the rest of the states along the Gulf of Guinea between the two ends are in no great shape.
(Excerpt) Read more at strategypage.com ...
ping
As usual, whenever the MSM and the democritters get aroundto noticing this, it will be the fault of Bush, Cheney, and Haliburton.
And this is where the libs want us to give yet more unaccountable money??
At least it gives The UN authenticity.
Africa is just one, giant s**thole anyway. They're bound and determined to live in the Stone Age and butcher each other.
Any more, cold as it sounds, I say........let 'em. Just put a big honkin' fence around the whole damned continent and let 'em have at it.
...and of course, EAST Africa is no bed of roses either:
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Note: The following text is an exact quote:
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http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/pa/pa_1158.html
UBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
This information is current as of today, Sat Jul 02 2005 15:36:22 GMT-0700.
East Africa
July 01, 2005
This Public Announcement is being reissued to remind Americans of the continuing potential for terrorist actions against U.S. citizens in East Africa, and to note the dangers of maritime piracy near the Horn of Africa and southern Red Sea near Yemen. This supersedes the Public Announcement of December 29, 2004, and expires on December 28, 2005.
Supporters of Al-Qaida and other extremists are active in East Africa. Americans considering travel to the region and those already there should review their plans carefully, remain vigilant with regard to their personal security, and exercise caution. Terrorist actions may include suicide operations, bombings, or kidnappings. Terrorists do not distinguish between official and civilian targets. Increased security at official U.S. facilities has led terrorists to seek softer targets such as residential areas, clubs, restaurants, American commercial interests, western-oriented shopping centers, places of worship, hotels, schools, outdoor recreation events, resorts, and beaches. In particular, terrorists may target civil aviation and seaports. Americans in remote areas or border regions where military or police authority is limited or non-existent could also become targets.
Americans considering seaborne travel near the Horn of Africa or in the southern Red Sea should exercise extreme caution, as there have been several incidents of armed attacks and robberies at sea by unknown pirates in the last year. When transiting around the Horn of Africa or in the Red Sea near Yemen, it is strongly recommended that vessels travel in convoys, and maintain good communications contact at all times.
U.S. Government facilities worldwide remain at a heightened state of alert. They may temporarily close or suspend public services to review security. On occasion, the travel of U.S. Government personnel is restricted, and U.S. posts may advise private American citizens to follow similar restrictions. Consular services to American citizens could be affected if employees’ movements are restricted. In those instances, U.S. embassies and consulates will make every effort to provide emergency services to American citizens. American citizens in need of emergency assistance should telephone the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate before visiting there.
Americans living or traveling in East Africa are encouraged to register with the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate through the State Department’s travel registration website, https://travelregistration.state.gov. Americans without Internet access may register directly with the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate. By registering, American citizens make it easier for the Embassy or Consulate to contact them in case of emergency.
U.S. citizens planning to travel to East Africa should consult the Department of State's country-specific Public Announcements, Travel Warnings, Consular Information Sheets, the Worldwide Caution Public Announcement and other information, available at http://travel.state.gov. Up-to-date information on security conditions can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 in the U.S. and for callers outside the U.S. and Canada a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444.
...and then there's the CENTRAL African Republic:
http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/tw/tw_940.html
KENYA is not on my vacation list...
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http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/tw/tw_923.html
Travel Warning
United States Department of State
Bureau of Consular Affairs
Washington, DC 20520
This information is current as of today, Sat Jul 02 2005 15:41:06 GMT-0700.
KENYA
July 01, 2005
This Travel Warning is being issued to remind American citizens to consider carefully the risks of travel to Kenya at this time due to ongoing safety and security concerns. This supersedes the Travel Warning of November 29, 2004.
The Department recommends that private American citizens in Kenya evaluate their personal security situation in light of continuing terrorist threats and the limited ability of the Kenyan authorities to detect and deter such acts. The U.S. Government continues to receive indications of terrorist threats in Kenya and elsewhere in eastern Africa aimed at U.S. and Western interests. Terrorist actions may include suicide operations, bombings, kidnappings, or attacks on civil aviation. U.S. citizens should be aware of the risk of indiscriminate attacks on civilian targets in public places including tourist sites and locations where Westerners are known to congregate, as well as commercial operations associated with U.S. or other Western interests.
American citizens in Kenya should remain vigilant, particularly in public places frequented by foreigners such as clubs, hotels, resorts, Western-oriented shopping centers, restaurants, and places of worship. Americans should also remain vigilant in residential areas, schools, and outdoor recreational events, and should avoid demonstrations and large crowds. In particular, there is a continuing threat against Westerners in the capital, Nairobi, and some locales in the coastal region. In addition to the terrorist threat, there are increasing incidents of criminal activity, including carjacking, robbery, and other violent crime, especially after dark.
Americans who travel to or reside in Kenya despite this Travel Warning are encouraged to register through the State Department’s travel registration website, https://travelregistration.state.gov. By registering, American citizens make it easier for the Embassy to contact them in case of emergency. Americans without Internet access may register directly with the U.S. Embassy in Nairobi. The U.S. Embassy is located on United Nations Avenue, Gigiri, Nairobi, Kenya; telephone (254)(20)363-6000; fax (254)(20)363-6410. In the event of an after-hours emergency, the Embassy duty officer may be contacted at (254)(20)363-6170. The Embassy home page is http://kenya.usembassy.gov. U.S. citizens should consult the Department of State’s Consular Information Sheet for Kenya, the East Africa Public Announcement, and the Worldwide Caution Public Announcement, which are available via the Internet at http://travel.state.gov. American citizens may obtain up-to-date information on security conditions by calling 1-888-407-4747 toll-free in the United States or 202-501-4444 from overseas.
What about NORTH Africa?
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Note: The following text is an exact quote:
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http://travel.state.gov/travel/cis_pa_tw/pa/pa_1165.html
PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Office of the Spokesman
This information is current as of today, Sat Jul 02 2005 15:43:15 GMT-0700.
Middle East and North Africa
March 14, 2005
This Public Announcement is being updated to alert Americans to ongoing security concerns in the region. U.S. citizens are reminded to maintain a high level of vigilance and to take appropriate steps to increase their security awareness. This Public Announcement supersedes the Public Announcement issued on November 11, 2004, and expires on September 13, 2005.
The Department of State continues to warn of the possibility for violent actions against U.S. citizens and interests in the region. Anti-American violence could include possible terrorist actions against aviation, ground transportation and maritime interests, specifically in the Middle East, including the Red Sea, Persian Gulf, the Arabian Peninsula and North Africa.
The Department is concerned that extremists may be planning to carry out attacks against Westerners and oil workers in the Gulf region. Armed attacks targeting foreign nationals in Saudi Arabia that resulted in many deaths and injuries, including U.S. citizens, appear to have been preceded by extensive surveillance. Extremists may be surveilling Westerners, particularly at hotels, housing areas and rental car facilities. Potential targets may include U.S. contractors, particularly those related to military interests.
Credible information has indicated terrorist groups seek to continue attacks against U.S. interests in the Middle East. Terrorist actions may include bombings, hijackings, hostage taking, kidnappings and assassinations. While conventional weapons such as explosive devices are a more immediate threat in many areas, use of non-conventional weapons, including chemical or biological agents must be considered a possible threat. Terrorists do not distinguish between official and civilian targets. Increased security at official U.S. facilities has led terrorists and their sympathizers to seek softer targets such as public transportation, residential areas, and public areas where people congregate including restaurants, hotels, clubs, and shopping areas.
On occasion, the travel of official personnel at embassies and consulates around the world is restricted because of security concerns, and these posts may recommend that private U.S. citizens avoid the same areas if at all possible. Services to U.S. citizens in countries abroad may be affected if employees' movements are restricted. If this happens, U.S. embassies and consulates will make every effort to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens. In case office hours are reduced, U.S. citizens in need of emergency assistance should telephone the nearest U.S. Embassy or Consulate before visiting in person.
In addition, U.S. citizens planning to travel to the Middle East or North Africa should consult the Department of State's country-specific Public Announcements, Travel Warnings, Consular Information Sheets, the Worldwide Caution Public Announcement and other information, available on the Consular Affairs Internet website at http://travel.state.gov. Up-to-date information on security conditions can also be obtained by calling 1-888-407-4747 in the U.S. and for callers outside the U.S. and Canada a regular toll line at 1-202-501-4444.
And they could care less about the Mexican border.. Well, do tell, obviously they are incompetent then.. They would not know a Coup D'Etat brewing if it jumped up and b!itch slapped them..
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