Navy Bases in Africa?

[LawMan018]

So I'm talking to a buddy of mine who joined the Navy and is in tech school now or whatever you call it for them... And he's saying he tried to get stationed overseas in Germany or England but they're closing Naval bases down over there and starting to build them up in Africa... Starting in South Africa and working their way up... Just wondering if any of you guys have heard this and the potential reasoning behind it? Strategic purposes?

[xero]

I live in South Africa and not heard of anything about this is the media.

[JDawg1536]

So I'm talking to a buddy of mine who joined the Navy and is in tech school now or whatever you call it for them... And he's saying he tried to get stationed overseas in Germany or England but they're closing Naval bases down over there and starting to build them up in Africa... Starting in South Africa and working their way up... Just wondering if any of you guys have heard this and the potential reasoning behind it? Strategic purposes?

I was there last month. The Navy has bases or ports or whatever you wanna call them all over the world. Bush has dumped tons of money into Africa recently, so if they are building new bases there its not a surprise.

[LawMan018]

I was there last month. The Navy has bases or ports or whatever you wanna call them all over the world. Bush has dumped tons of money into Africa recently, so if they are building new bases there its not a surprise.

Weird... Any thoughts on "why" Africa? I mean, I know it has a shitload of problems (well, not so much South Africa)... But doing it for humanitarian purposes just doesn't seem like ol' Bush...

[CSAR]

1. It's a developing continent with a lot of untapped natural resources (e.g., oil, diamonds, etc.).
2. It's becoming a hotbed for terrorist activity and training.
3. Pirating, especially off the coast of Somalia, is on the rise.
4. China is making moves and courting African countries with natural resources.
5. We're the US of A. We go where we wanna go.

[J431S]

5. We're the US of A. We go where we wanna go.

thats not true....i'm currently in north africa....not a single US base around here that i know of ......except in the middle east!!!

[JDawg1536]

Weird... Any thoughts on "why" Africa? I mean, I know it has a shitload of problems (well, not so much South Africa)... But doing it for humanitarian purposes just doesn't seem like ol' Bush...

What CSAR said looks pretty right on.

[JDawg1536]

thats not true....i'm currently in north africa....not a single US base around here that i know of ......except in the middle east!!!

Spain, Italy, Crete, Saudi...... those close enough for you?

[breacherup]

HOA=Horn of Africa, I spent some time there last year. Don't know anything about Naval Bases, but the US Army and Marine Corps are doing a lot of good work in a part of the world that could easily become a terrorist haven if it is not "inoculated". This is an area where the Bush administrationis doing the right thing in the right way.

[JDawg1536]

HOA=Horn of Africa, I spent some time there last year. Don't know anything about Naval Bases, but the US Army and Marine Corps are doing a lot of good work in a part of the world that could easily become a terrorist haven if it is not "inoculated". This is an area where the Bush administrationis doing the right thing in the right way.

From what I understand the countries in Northern Africa are already full of them. Maybe not so much in the southern part of the continent though.

[CSAR]

thats not true....i'm currently in north africa....not a single US base around here that i know of ......except in the middle east!!!

You don't know, because you don't need to know.

[ScreaM]

I believe the Horn of Africa is a large base, or at least a popular deployment for the Navy in South America. Besides Naples, Italy or Greece, the Navy is for the most part disconnected from Europe.

[ScreaM]

Sorry breacherup... didnt see you post

[southmadejd]

I know Jbouti(spelling????) is a huge supply point for the "war on terror" in the middle east so I am not sure if that is where the bases are going. Like another member said....the Marines and Army do alot of humanitarian missions in Jbouti and the surrounding area.

[J431S]

You don't know, because you don't need to know.

there are only few embassies and consulate offices, no naval or military bases dude.

[CSAR]

there are only few embassies and consulate offices, no naval or military bases dude.

US Navy ships making small circles around the coast of Africa are military bases. And we have SPECOPS there that you don't know about. BTDT.

[J431S]

i know where u are going with this but passing through certain waters does not mean a base is established on those waters.