AFRICOM may mean overcrowded Stuttgart schools

[unhappycamper]

AFRICOM may mean overcrowded Stuttgart schools
By John Vandiver, Stars and Stripes
European edition, Sunday, December 14, 2008

STUTTGART, Germany — School district officials are considering a variety of options to contend with a potential spike in enrollment next school year at Patch High School.

While redistricting is something that’s being looked at, it will be a last and unlikely option, according to Frank Roehl, superintendent for the Heidelberg School District.

A more likely scenario involves shifting some students from Patch Elementary to Robinson Elementary, Roehl said, and using the freed-up space for the nearby high school.

Everything hinges on what the enrollment numbers are for next year, and that won’t be known until preregistration in April, Roehl said.

“What we’re trying to do is have a decision ready on the shelf,” said Roehl, adding that it is possible no change will be required.


Rest of article at: http://www.stripes.com/article.asp?section=104&article=59398

[Ghost Dog]

1. Thanks for that, uhc. Here in the Canary Islands we are very interested

to learn about AFRICOM's (apparently, well-hidden) plans...

There's a segment of the population which would like to see AFRICOM HQ set up here in the islands, for the obvious economic reasons (although, we're maybe not so effective when it comes to running schools)...

Others oppose for also obvious reasons.

A guy I listen to, works as a waiter here but is from Southern Morocco close to the border with illegally-occupied Western Sahara and says his people feel more Saharan than Moroccan, says there is construction work going on near Tan-Tan (Southern Moroccan coast), but says it is all-but impossible, because of all the security on the ground, to get close enough to see what's going on there.

Humm.

The respected journalist Ignacio Cembrero, writing in today's 'El País', says that Morocco plans to double its military budget next year, to €3,206 million (US F-16s, a French frigate...), citing neighboring Algeria's similar budget (due to rise 10% next year to some €3,820 million) - and, he might have added, but didn't so I will, recent purchases of Russian weapons systems.

Humm.

Word from Sahara's Polisario is beginning to suggest that they may soon feel they have no other option but to go back to 'hot' war for freedom, after, what, 20 years of truce and UN supposed intermediacy...

Saharans are not 'terrorists' and we should not allow them to be tarred with that brush.

Thanks again, unhappycamper. Any carefully-selected news in this area is welcome.

:hi:

(edit: El País ref. (in Spanish): http://www.elpais.com/articulo/internacional/Marruecos/duplica/2009/gasto/militar/elpepiint/20081214elpepiint_6/Tes/ ; Sahara Solidarity: start maybe here: http://www.google.es/search?q=sahara+solidarity )

[unhappycamper]

2. You're welcome, Ghost Dog.

I've been following the whole AFRICOM thing since it was stood up last year. The US military has been looking for a home in Africa but no one wants it (for good reason) IMO.