Africa: U.S. Foreign Policy in Africa: Oil and Commandoes

Mar 24, 2014 | Noel Brinkerhoff, AllGov.com
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When the U.S. military raided a renegade Libyan tanker on March 16 in the Mediterranean Sea, the mission was successful by all accounts. About 30 Navy Seals managed to storm the Morning Glory—which was loaded with 234,000 stolen barrels of crude oil worth about $20 million— and take control without anyone getting hurt. The fragile interim government of Libya was delighted to get its oil back after rebels in Cyrenaica tried selling it to the highest bidder.

Aside from going off without a hitch, the stealthy mission provided a rather noticeable example of what American foreign policy in Africa is all about these days: Special Forces and oil.