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Africa Horn
US gives Kenya six boats to fight terrorism
2006-10-07
MOMBASA, Kenya - The United States government on Friday gave the Kenyan Navy six boats to patrol its coastline and help combat “insecurity and terrorism”.

“This is timely in view of the heightened concerns by Kenya about the potential exploitation of the Kenyan coast by criminal groups and terrorists,” US Ambassador Michael Rennenberger said in the Kenyan port city of Mombasa. “The project valued at $3 million is a major initiative to help the government of Kenya combat insecurity and terrorism.”
And I'm guessing that we're including training and some advisors.
Security experts say KenyaÂ’s porous borders and coastline could be exploited by militants posing a threat to US interests and looking for a gateway into the continent through Kenya. Kenya has already witnessed a number of attacks -- the 1998 Al Qaeda bombings of the US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania and an attack at a coastal resort four years later.

Kenya’s Defense Minister Njenga Karume said the east African government was worried about instability in Somalia. “These are worrying trends that may greatly affect trade and even damage Kenya’s tourism and shipping industries,” he said. “We are thankful to the US government for carrying out ... and further offering maritime training courses which go into promoting skills in counter-terrorism activities.”

The United States and Kenya have a common security interest in Somalia, where Islamist forces have been battling a transitional government.
Posted by:Steve White

#1  Give them John F'n Kerry to command those swift boats
Posted by: Captain America   2006-10-07 13:29  

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