North Africa plans on being ready

NEWS: "Saharan states to open joint military headquarters: Four Saharan desert states are to open a joint command headquarters in Algeria to coordinate efforts to counter the growing regional threat from al-Qaeda," BBC, 21 April 2010.

As the long war squeezes the Middle East, the resistance can go northeast or southwest into Central Asia and/or Africa, respectively. In the northeast, the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation awaits. In the southwest, it's Africom. Great powers displaying similar strategic instincts--not a bad thing.

This story is about the locals networking, and it's a good sign.

Yes, I expect Africom was plenty involved behind the scenes:

The Joint Military Staff Committee of Algeria, Mali, Mauritania and Niger will be based in Tamanrasset.
They want to increase co-operation and move towards joint operations against terrorism, kidnappings and trafficking.

Frankly, you want such HQs spread all over Africa more than you want explicit versions of the same from Africom.

Truly fifth-generational. Their victories are your victories, while your enemies losses are all their own.

Think I wrote that in a book a while back.

[thanks to Michal Shapiro and John Ryan]