Voice of Russia quotes Africa Center Director J. Peter Pham on US plans to create domestic counterterrorism units in North and West Africa, where intelligence and technology can be compromised:
The US has launched a program aimed at creating domestic counterterrorism units in North and West Africa. The countries involved – Libya, Niger, Mali, and Mauritania – are hotbeds of terrorism and insurgent activity in the region, and their lightly guarded borders make them unwitting training grounds for these groups. J. Peter Pham, director of the Africa Center of the Atlantic Council, says that the US should make – quote – “tough political judgements” before commencing such a program. This is especially so since last year’s attempt at training domestic Libyan counterterrorist units ended in debacle after local militias stole all of the high-tech gadgetry and weapons during a nighttime raid.