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| Africa Subsaharan |
| Battalion of SANDF ready to help in the African Union |
| 2015-02-23 |
| [Sowetan] A SA National Defence Force (SANDF) battalion is being prepared to be deployed by the African Union if required, President Jacob Pre-deployment HIV screening has been waived, everyone good-to-go. "Recently the SANDF became part of the newly established African Capacity for Immediate Response to Crisis (Acirc), which is an interim mechanism to assist in peace and security in the continent until such time that the African standby force is ready," he said in a speech prepared for delivery. "The standby force is a very important initiative by the continent because it enables us to provide African solutions to African problems." Ahh yes, Afri Solutions vir Afri problem, contingent upon colonial funding and logistics. Zuma was speaking at the Armed Forces Day in Potchefstroom, North West. Last year, while attending the US-Africa Summit, the United States pledged support for African peacekeeping and peace-making mechanisms. Following the summit, Zuma said Africa had secured buy-in from the US for peace and security initiatives on the continent, including support for the African Standby Force. Airlift, meds, communications, vehicles, fuel, ammo... the least we could do vir ons volk (our people). In August, City Press reported that the SANDF would be sending soldiers back to the Central African Republic as early as October as part of Acirc. Other African countries had also signed up to put their armies on standby, in case of a crisis. According to the report at the time, they would be getting help from the controversial US Africa Command (Africom) with equipment and possibly transport, as most of the African continent's armies were short of funds. This was set to be finalised at the summit. However, not all African countries are happy with Africom's involvement. Our new friends in Cuba will assist with contracting support for civil engineering and army vehicle maintenance. 200 new trucks could have been purchased at the cost of the contract. I wonder where that funding originated ? |
| Posted by:Besoeker |
| #5 TARGET-ACCURACY-VS-TEETH-VS-JAW ... Its an Oldie FOR 3-4000 Years but always a Funnie. Evar! since ... [THE ROCK'S "HERCULES" MOVIE > HOPLITE-WANNABE TRAINING = "RIGHT! NEXT LESSON, MEN, HOW NOT TO STAB OR SPEAR YOURSELVES [andor your fellow Soldier(s) next to you]! |
| Posted by: JosephMendiola 2015-02-23 21:28 |
| #4 Still slightly better than the traditional African habit of closing one's eyes when squeezing the trigger. |
| Posted by: Pappy 2015-02-23 16:54 |
| #3 It's gotta be a hoax, Bes. |
| Posted by: g(r)omgoru 2015-02-23 15:31 |
| #2 South African police firing the R4 at the range. Just too funny. |
| Posted by: Besoeker 2015-02-23 11:20 |
| #1 I wonder where that funding originated? Two possibles: What very large, Pacific Rim country has been showing much interest in Afrika lately? What traditional-friend of Cuba (and to a lesser extent, the ANC,) has been mucking around as of late? |
| Posted by: Pappy 2015-02-23 11:02 |