It's worth noting that most of those deployments are not going to be shooting operations. US special forces are often used to train local forces in their tactics and, in some cases, is used as a form of diplomacy by the US.
Yes, the article states as such and lists several nations where the US was involved in training or "exercises" with other nations and groups of nations. It is still scary to have our military involved in that many countries.
Part of that training involves accompanying local troops to “observe “ implementation of those tactics.
This is not an inaccurate statement, but not every visit involves going out to "observe". There is a lot of training that takes place before they go out and, in many cases, they never go out. It depends on what they are training for.. If it is "anti-terrorism/insurgency" training related to the country fighting groups inside their country, yeah.. "Observing" is an important part of the training, but they also train and train with countries against external threats. One of the reasons for the jump is China's increased saber waving in SE Asia and the US's need/desire to strengthen militaries in that area to counter that threat.
Or, from China's perspective, the US's need/desire to encircle them with "presence". Which might - just maybe! - contribute to increased "saber waving". But I'd guess that the biggest increase has really been in Africa vs. SE Asia, especially Sub-Saharan Africa.
I’m aware of this…intimately aware of this. The better part of five years of my life was dedicated to this. From Oman to Panama and Ecuador. There is almost always a motive and even if we don’t do something directly with the host country we do find a way to do something. Some level of reconnaissance is usually at play and engagement while avoided can happen.
Back in the day the US had a small military base in NZ for the Antarctic stuff. It was withdrawn when the nuclear ships row blew up. Anyway - just an example of logistical stuff. It was located at Christchurch airport I don't know if they have anyone in NZ these days It was part of "Operation Deep Freeze" My dad had the official patch for it on his jacket as he went to Antarctica on the US Icebreakers - I had several official US coastguard caps, including the watch hat which was great in winter. Picture something out of Fargo. This is the only time i went on a US navy vessel. Coolest mission ever
It's not a naval base, but US cargo planes support McMurdo via airbases in New Zealand. https://www.nationalguard.mil/News/...g-completes-31st-season-of-antarctic-support/
I wondered if they had reopened. They all closed because of the US 'non-confirm" nuke policy after NZ's nuke ban. But the relationship thawed when the Clarke government supported Afghanistan in '2001 and suddenly the US needed it's friend again IIRC the icebreakers don't come because the new ones are nuclear powered. I think they stage from Oz. The one my dad last sailed on in the early 80s was a nuclear one. I went on it in the port, but never had the cap! Anyway, my point was there is a shit tonne of US logistics around the world and NZ scientists really appreciated it. The alternative for the kiwis was going down on the prop Hercules compared to the US Starlifter.
Pretty sure only the Russians use (or have used) nuclear-powered icebreakers. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuclear-powered_icebreaker http://large.stanford.edu/courses/2016/ph241/zerkalov2/
Ummm.. Go read the article I linked. McMurdo, for the most part, is supplied by US Hercs. C17s are far too big for McMurdo and they aren't exactly equipped to land on ice runways.
Yeah, can't imagine anything OTHER than C-130s for that job. A C-17 would seem to be a really, really bad idea, honestly.
I wish to submit a correction to this post: https://www.airforcemag.com/c-17s-begin-deep-freeze-flights-in-antarctica/
I am mad at myself for posting a picture of Matt Taibi. His assface shows up on this thread when I look at BigSoccer on my phone. Basically, I suck.
"train local forces" belongs in quotes. I had to double check that headline wasn't from The Onion. It's from the New York Times.
You are talking to a Christchurch kid! Dad flew to the Ice on a US Starlifter several times. They operated during the summer as part of Deep Freeze prior to 1984 Starlifter seems to be the Lockheed C-141 - now retired. I went on board the starlifter and the herc on an open day as a kid
ok - so that is even more impressive - but this plane wasn't operating in the era I am talking about - it was the earlier Star Lifter
I really wonder what happened to that guy since his Squid stuff. Though apparently that book contained a lot of wild speculation.