Simon Ateba is Chief White House Correspondent for Today News Africa covering President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, U.S. government, UN, IMF, World Bank and other financial and international institutions in Washington and New York.
U.S. Representative Matt Gaetz (R-FL) on Thursday took to the floor of the House of Representatives with a powerful and impassioned demand for the immediate withdrawal of U.S. troops from Somalia.
Gaetz, a member of the House Armed Services Committee, argued that the presence of American troops in Somalia is not only ineffective in achieving its goals, but also costly both in terms of resources and the potential recruitment of terrorists.
He pointed out that there are currently around 900 U.S. troops in Somalia and that the War Powers Resolution would bring them home. Gaetz argued that the future of Somalia must be determined by the Somalian people and not by foreign influences.
“It’s time to bring our troops home,” he said.
He also expressed concern about the opportunity cost of having U.S. troops in Somalia, as it takes resources away from other critical areas where the U.S. needs to hold the high ground.
Gaetz also expressed his belief that the U.S. military is not an effective capability for defeating ideologies and that its presence in Somalia can sometimes be a basis for terrorism recruitment. He also noted that the U.S. has trained several African leaders who later led coups in their respective countries.
In his speech, Gaetz emphasized that the U.S. should not be engaged in nation-building in Somalia or elsewhere, as it often leads to a lack of trust from friends and mockery from enemies. He called for the U.S. troops in Somalia to come home and suggested that a vote for this resolution would be a step in the right direction.
Gaetz’s speech highlights the need for a reevaluation of U.S. military presence in foreign countries, particularly in light of the ongoing conflict in Somalia. His call for the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Somalia is a step towards a more cautious and strategic approach to foreign policy.
His demand comes at a time when the U.S. military presence in Somalia is under intense scrutiny, and his call for action is expected to spark a heated debate in the coming days.