At the same time, West African officers trained and advised by U.S. special operators keep overthrowing the governments the United States is trying to prop up — including four coups by Flintlock attendees since 2020. SOCAFRICA’s chief, Rear Adm. Milton “Jamie” Sands, tells Rolling Stone that the United States was not responsible for the rebellions, was powerless to prevent them, and suggested a major reason for the coups was popular dissatisfaction with U.S. partners on the continent who suppress the will of their own peoples.

“I would tell you that there’s no one more surprised or disappointed when partners that we’re working with or have been working with for a while in some cases decide to overthrow their government,” Sands tells Rolling Stone during a conference call with members of the press. “We have not found ourselves able to prevent it.”

:who-did-this:

    • Tankiedesantski [he/him]
      ·
      2 years ago

      Is your local soup kitchen really cool and good if it hasn't been labeled a VEO by the feds?

    • thisismyrealname [he/him]
      ·
      2 years ago

      this concept has been in the metropole under different names for at least 3 decades. the FBI targeted animal rights and ecological groups in the 90s/00s, and switched to "black identity extremists" in the 10s/20s.

    • Frank [he/him, he/him]
      ·
      2 years ago

      I'm pretty sure they already do something like this. The FBI has a bunch of "They're basically terrorists" designations for Food Not Bombs and various "Grandma's Against Murder" organizations.

      • Nakoichi [they/them]
        ·
        2 years ago

        Yep my local FNB org has repeatedly been targeted by police harassment. Like fuck we are literally just feeding people. We've moved locations 4 times this year alone.