“As an imperial power, there’s never been anything like the United States when it comes to garrisoning this planet. By comparison, the Romans and imperial Chinese were pikers; the Soviet Union in its prime was the poorest of runners-up; even the British, at the moment when the sun theoretically never set on their empire, didn’t compare. The U.S. has some 800 military bases ranging in size from small American towns to tiny outposts across the planet, and yet you could spend weeks, months, years paying careful attention to the media here and still have no idea that this was so. There is no discussion, nor does Congress hold hearings on global basing policy; reporters aren’t sent out to cover the subject; and presidents never mention it in speeches to the nation.

“There is an occasional mention of bases in South Korea or Bahrain, home of the Navy’s Fifth Fleet, but that is about all. Don’t even think to ask just why the U.S. garrisons the planet in this fashion or what it might mean. It would be un-American of you to do so.

“Now, without notice, discussion, or debate, a network of bases is appearing in Africa,ensuring that the U.S is involved with wars on that continent for decades to come.
The huge presence of the Chinese in almost every African country is the reason. (adapted and edited from an article in Tomgram)

The Chinese are there to exploit the mineral wealth and, no doubt, other things as well. And all building done by (imported) Chinese-only workers is done to the enrich of the elites and the well-connected, with with little gain to the general African populations. But what are the American military supposed to do in the sweltering heat? At what point can we expect them to say “Enough of your plunder, thank you, clear out!” – and then start a war? Heaven preserve us.