The Pentagon last month quietly released a report revealing that — despite sending forces to at least 22 countries in Africa — the U.S. isn't reaching its objectives.

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

    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

    Were I the US, I would simply pick partners in Africa who are popular and who do not suppress the will of their own peoples.

      • zifnab25 [he/him, any]
        ·
        2 years ago

        Its almost a joke at how often even folks like Sankara and Castro were initially willing to compromise with Western interests, only to be rebuffed and sanctioned and outright assaulted. Their final forms were more impressive than their initial positions if for no other reason than they'd been backed into them.