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US plans to give Kenya drones in Shabaab war

July 21, 2012 · 324687 Comments2012-07-21+08%3A30%3A39Qalinle+Hussein

A U.S. military Shadow drone used for surveillance and reconnaissance is pictured in flight. U.S. officials are in the process of expanding regulations to allow the use of non-military drones in civilian airspace, but some lawmakers are warning that not enough attention is being paid to security and privacy implications of such a move. (Handout/ AAI Corporation/Reuters)

NAIROBI — The United States plans to provide eight small drones to Kenya as part of a new package to help combat Somalia militia Al-Shabaab.

According to a report in The Wall Street Journal, the “eight hand-launched Raven drones” will form part of key military assistance from the Pentagon.

The WSJ said a review of Pentagon documents shows that Kenya will get the Raven drones with sensors used to pinpoint targets.

Ravens are unarmed but can be used to identify targets for strikes using ground forces, the WSJ says.

“This assistance will help build the capacity of Kenyan national military forces to conduct CT (counterterrorism) operations by providing tactical unmanned aircraft systems and training,” the WSJ reported quoting a Pentagon document.

“This assistance will improve the tactical effectiveness and operational reach of the Kenyan National Defence Forces engaged in CT operations against Al-Shabaab in Somalia.”

The Ravens for Kenya are part of an initial $41.4 million package of military aid that also includes trucks, communications gear and rifles for Burundi, Djibouti and Uganda, WSJ said.

Daily Nation

July 21, 2012

Follow @somalilandpress

By Qalinle Hussein

Tags: Al shabaab, drones, Kenya, Military, Pentagon, The Wall Street Journal

mohamed says:

kenyan did ask U.S This sort of assistance before put U.S refused.

Even if given to kenya This hand held drones it will not make any difference, becuase al-shabab and militia operating Those area usually melt into The population.

It is just another LICENSE TO KILL MORE SOMALI INNOCENT CIVILIAN.

The real solution to This problem is first recruite genuine somali army from That zone,train Them & must get Their salaries on time.

NOT RAG-TAG militia train and Paid by The kenyans or The ethiopian.

Definitely west not interested to see somalis take in charge put it will be matter of time before all somalis take arm and join This fight.

3:49 am on July 21, 2012

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- nchemuya says:
  
  mohamed, dont be fooled, even with 'genuiune somali army' alshabaab will have to be overcome miltarily to some extent. it's not one solution fitting all, it's a cocktail of small solutions that will add up to one stable somali. efforts must be made to first neutralize Alshabaab (if you find your house on fire, the first step is putting out the fire), build capacity of the SNA while putting in place a political system that will fill in the vacuum once these terrorists are diminished. Now we cant do one and then the next, they have to be done concurrently… and no one wants to kill somali civilians, that's just ludicrous, a conspiracy theory hatched by bored muslims who have refused to speak out loud against terrorists who attack in the name of a beautiful religion – islam
  
  4:00 am on July 21, 2012
  
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  - mohamed says:
    
    nchemuye.
    If you look somali problem not That difficult to solve put it needs honest helping hand like The turkish one not manipulators.
    
    Currently This part of somalia it needs first security before anything else,Than political system will follow.
    
    Somalis now are quiet observing what is happening on The ground.
    
    Also ask your self This question if your genuine somali person,why The west never allow to give equipment & regular salaries small somali army in mogadishu and oTher parts of somalia while paying A.U forces each soldier $1200 on top of That allowance?
    
    SNA are The ultimate answer To This security problem in This part of somalia.
    
    The answer to This question is clear west wants somalia to remain under Trusteeship,put how long it will last not That long”guaranteed most somalis will join The fight”.
    
    A lot of somalis now realizing al-shabab it’s MYTH, infact most of Them are informers either neighbouring or abroad.
    
    5:33 am on July 21, 2012
    
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    - mohamed says:
      
      correction….neighbouring countries.
      
      5:51 am on July 21, 2012
      
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    - nchemuya says:
      
      i cannot belive this.. alshabaab, a myth? so AU, KDF, SNA are pretending to be fighting in somalia? what about the suicide bombs and pictures of slain burundi soldiers? if they are acting they must very good actors.
      
      10:43 am on July 21, 2012
      
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      - mohamed says:
        
        Your missing The point here by mile”at The present There is no SNA”.
        
        Yes There is small infective ill equipt ill train not Paid militia so call SNA,it was design to remain That way.
        
        To stay a country which does not belong to you & explore Their natural resources from land to sea”you need good excuse to remain That country,one of Them is creating militia suicide bombers”.
        
        Somalis 90% are secular muslims we have no association with any religious extremism it’s not in our religion nor our culture.
        
        7:24 pm on July 21, 2012
Ayuush says:

I think this al-shabaab nonsense is a MYTH, it is only poor civilians that are dying, AU, KDF, SNA are invaders!!! What about the civilians who are not armed that are being herded in the thousands, into jails and are forced to pay for their loved ones release. Definitely the country is foreign occupied.

5:24 pm on July 21, 2012

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