US in ‘Competition of Coalitions’ Against China and Russia, as It Seeks to Counter Threats in Africa and Middle East
Delays to the funding of United States aid and military activities in Africa and the Middle East could raise the threat of attacks on American interests significantly, a senior Defense Department official and two regional commanders told a hearing of the House Armed Services Committee on March 23.
Members received testimony from Dr. Celeste Wallander, Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs, General Michael Kurilla, Commander of U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), and General Michael Langley, Commander of U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM).
Kurilla’s assessment was that terrorist organizations, primarily ISIS and al-Qaeda, had the capabilities to launch an “enabled attack against U.S. or Western interests abroad” within six months….