U.S. military effort in Somalia should be proportional to the threat

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
October 13, 2020
Contact: press@defensepriorities.org

WASHINGTON, DC—Today, Bloomberg reported that President Trump has demanded plans to withdraw the hundreds of U.S. troops in Somalia. Defense Priorities Senior Fellow Lt. Col. Daniel L. Davis issued the following statement in response:

“For over a decade, the U.S. military has fought the Al-Shabaab insurgency in Somalia. Al-Shabaab threatens the government in Mogadishu and has conducted terror attacks in nearby states—but poses little threat to the U.S.

“The Somali people and government should be responsible for their own security, not rely on U.S. servicemembers for local policing. Any anti-U.S. terrorists can be countered with standard military forces proportional to the threat. Washington should not risk American lives for open-ended missions disconnected from U.S national security.”

Author

Daniel
Davis

Senior Fellow & Military Expert