CrossTalk: AFRICOM

Militarization of Africa... A geopolitical priority.

Has Africa made it to the list of US geopolitical priorities? Why is the US military expanding its secret intelligence operations in Africa? What is behind the growth of AFRICOM? Why is the US training and equipping militaries in a number of African states? Is it a price to pay for peace and order in Africa? Or is it just about the protection and promotion of American interests at the expense of Africa's search for stability? CrossTalking with Ivan Eland, Peter Pham and James Mittleman on July 9.

Follow Peter Lavelle on Twitter http://twitter.com/PLCROSSTALK

Asia is World's Top Weapons Importer: SIPRI

Asia is world's top weapon importer: SIPRI - International - World - Ahram Online

'Tunisia, where mass protests ousted strongman Zine El-Abidine Ben Ali early last year, launched the so-called Arab Spring and inspired similar movements in Egypt, Libya and elsewhere.

"During 2011, the governments of Bahrain, Egypt, Libya, Tunisia and Syria used imported weapons in the suppression of peaceful demonstrations among other alleged violations of human rights and international humanitarian law.

"The transfer of arms to states affected by the Arab Spring has provoked public and parliamentary debate in a number of supplier states," the report said.

The volume of deliveries of "major conventional weapons" to African nations increased by a massive 110 per cent in 2007-2011 over the previous five-year period, with deliveries to North Africa up by 273 per cent.'