8/9/2019 AFRICOM: The Military at the Forefront of Terrorism (Le
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Translated from French-speaking media in Mali:
Le Quotidien de Bamako; 21 April 2010
(reporter: Dieudonn Diama)
Exercise Flintlock 10
The Military at the Forefront of Terrorism
Prior to start of the military exercise Flintlock 2010, the
USEMB in Mali organized last Monday
April 19 a press luncheon to inform journalists of the aspects.
It was a lunch during which, they
discussed by telephone with Max Blumenfeld, Communication
official of the American
Command in Europe.
Initially planned from 2 to 23 May, the exercise Flintlock 2010
starts today April 21 to end on
May 25. It seems to be an opportunity with a view to of
generating a unified vision for co-
operation and stability in the Trans-Saharan area.
In his turn, Max Blumenfeld explained why the Flintlock exercise
is a military training which
occurs each year to fight against terrorism in the Trans-Saharan
area. For him, it is an exercise
which has existed for several years, and whose objective is to
develop much stronger relations
between the military forces, to allow the various countries to
exchange ideas to face terrorism,
with the drug trafficking, of weapons and human beings which
occurs in the area. Also, it (note:
the exercise) aims to reinforce military interoperability as a
base for security and stability in the
region. It is an issue of making it possible for local security
forces to ensure the safety in the
region.
For this year, the exercise is summarized with military
trainings in Senegal, in Mali, in
Mauritania and in Nigeria. Thus, a multinational center of
coordination will be established in
Ouagadougou (Burkina Faso) in order to be used as focal point
for the dissemination of
multinational information as well as the planning of joint
operations. At this center,
representatives of the partner nations will have training phase
which will lead to a command
practical exercise which will integrate teaching, the creation
of scenarios and a control group. .
This is with an aim of improving the capacity of the
participants to be work together in order to
solve a possible crisis consisting of illicit activities which
would disturb stability in the rural
areas.
The exercise will also include training of small units as well
as other partner nation and U.S.
military activities in the sub-region. In particular medical and
veterinary action programs
(MEDCAP) and (VETCAP) will be conducted with an aim of bringing
to the rural populations
access to basic medical and medical information.
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Let us recall that this exercise will be carried out in the
context of the partnership in the fight
against terrorism in the Trans-Saharan area under the
supervision (note: umbrella) of the
American command of Africa (note: USAFRICOM) and the command of
special operations of
Africa. (note: SAOCAFRICA).
Let us note that this exercise will consist of 1200 personnel
including approximately 350individuals in Mali.
Flintlock is a military exercise intended to develop the
capacities of the military units and staffs
of the African nations, Europeans and the US.
Of note is that the communication official could not travel to
Bamako because of the closing of
the air lines in Europe, due to a cloud of volcanic ash.
