What African nation is not ran by self-serving despots? Throw in rampant cronyism and add that in Tanzania they are hacking up albino children to sell their body parts to witch doctors. MY GAWD is nearly 2009 Like Clyde said – “beyond my tax dollar”.

Even if all are accurate and factual this is poor journalism.

The one with the biggest and baddest toys doesn’t always win (see Viet Nam, Afganistan and the Arabs against Israel how many times).

Sometimes it’s the grunt in the dirt and mud with what he carries that makes the difference, sometimes it’s the high cost technology in space. It’s a balance to have what is needed, when it’s needed, where it’s needed.

Politics is for the civilians (see politician) to make and those of us that serve(d) in the Armed Force to enforce. Once again the country has chosen and still the mmilitary serves.

So, why are we buying more f-22’s and not training up so many of our troops in basic combat skills?

Hopefully, the new administration will listen to Mj Beebe, although, on the flip side,could this be ground work for a new African Bailout?

I hope this isn’t something as shallow as a DoD bid to curry favor with the new Prez via his home country, is it?

And, how on earth does one help Africa? What Mathis and Beebe are right-much better to give everyone a share of the pie rathr than fight over it-but the African need is beyond my tax dollars-hear than Beebe? You get the Africans to do it themselves, that’s great stuff-but I’ve alrady got too many US financiers on my back.