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| East/Subsaharan Africa |
| Djibouti doesn't mind U.S. forces... |
| 2002-09-20 |
| Acting Foreign Minister Mahamoud Ali said several hundred American troops have been stationed at Le Monier barracks for about five months and that Djibouti has been cooperating in the U.S.-led war against terrorism. Djibouti's so poor, they can't even get terrorists to come there... As an American helicopter hovered overhead, several young men said Thursday they welcomed U.S. forces in Djibouti a day after the Pentagon said it had sent 800 troops to the tiny but strategically important nation in the Horn of Africa. The young men sitting in the shade chewing a semi-narcotic leaf known as khat said they've seen U.S. forces in town since April, particularly at the small airport. "Wow, man! Lookit the helicopter! Maw! Bring the kids and lookit this here thang!" "I'm happy they're here. There are no problems in Djibouti, the security is very good," said Abdurahman Moussa Soultan. "I don't like al-Qaida ... they have no intelligence." He isn't talking about regular enemy situation reports... Others said they hoped the U.S. presence would mean jobs in this poor country which relies on port fees and foreign aid for survival. They've got nothing to export, and no money to import anything, so nobody ever comes there. The port fees don't amount to much... "For us it's good because we can make conversation with them and maybe have some jobs when more of them come," said Mohamed Said Ali. "We like to have Americans here." "'Course, since this is one of the most boring places on earth, we like to have most anybody stop by and see us. Relieves the tedium, y'know..." The foreign minister said the U.S. troops have been training "in preparation for the next few months." Wonder what they're gonna be doing...? |
| Posted by:Fred Pruitt |