What Are US Special Forces Doing in Niger?
(NEWSER) – The deaths of three Green Berets in Niger on Wednesday—along with those of several Nigerien soldiers—is raising questions about the US mission in the African country, reports the Washington Post . The incident, involving what are believed to be the first hostile-fire casualties in the country for US troops, took place 120 miles north of the capital of Niamey near Niger's border with Mali. An official tells CNN that US forces were ambushed by as many as 50 ISIS fighters, though earlier reports suggested they met with al-Qaeda militants . Reuters reports they may have fallen victim to a "trap." So why are they there? A rep for US Africa Command says "US forces are in Niger to provide training and security assistance to the Nigerien Armed Forces, including support for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance efforts," in the battle against extremists.
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According to the Post, 800 US personnel are in Niger, with most involved in the gathering of reconnaissance from Niamey. The US is also working on a base for surveillance drones in Agadez, closer to northern Mali and southern Libya. Lt. Gen. Kenneth McKenzie, director of the Pentagon's Joint Staff, stressed that the overall mission in Niger wasn't considered combat. He added that the relationship between Niger and US forces is "a very good success story." But Andrew Lebovich of the European Council on Foreign Relations tells the Atlantic the incident "seems to sow some potential confusion: It was reportedly a training exercise very close to where jihadist groups are very active." He concludes that "the US seems to be getting closer and closer to combat operations," per the Post.
this is interesting. I wish I could say more
I think there are a lot of folks who wish they knew more about what's going on in Niger.
:~\
This is all we need to know about why we have Special Forces in Niger:
Boko Haram is most definitely a worthy target. This battle here is being reported as being with isis. How many fronts/actions do we have going on there, and to what purpose?
Nice to meet ya Tom!
Boko Haram is allied with ISIS, so it makes it a front against them as well.
The US knows well that the two have been working together more; we also know that Boko haram and isis do not always have the same goals. In some cases, as seems to happen often, there is disagreement too, such as when isis tried to instal a new leader for them last year. Another must mention is Al-Shabab whom many qualify as being perhaps more dangerous than Boko Haram.
Regional conflicts in many cases are directly related to these and many other smaller groups' activities, and while we maybe interested in pursuing the activities of terrorists, we are also stepping into disputes that range beyond that at times I'm reckoning. Just what is the Plan?
It would also help to know THIS!!!
ISIS and al Qaeda are in Niger ...... nuff said.
While I believe your observation may be valid, we should know whether or not we are opening another front of war.
They've been there for quite some time (pre-dating ISIS).
Hi Jeremy,
True. We also are building a $100 million drone base there. ~LINK~
My interest lies in understanding just how wide a conflict three deac spec ops indicate? Are we understanding our role/mission there or are we attempting to sanitize news Vietnam War style?
I hear what you're saying but honestly, IMO, most Americans can not handle the realities of what is involved in such decisions.
They need to learn to trust those that are trained to make them. Not easy I understand but it is what it is.
Sparty On,
Indeed we place well earned trust in our people on the ground, from the generals to the agents working below the radar. I do not however always trust the political maneuverings that place our folks there in the first place. When we build up our presence the way we have here in Niger, and now with three dead soldiers, it's in our interest to understand what the political goals are. The entire African continent is so volatile, it would be dangerously easy to slip-up and step into something larger than anticipated. That's concerning.
Btw, pleased to meet you!
:~)
It's now four dead soldiers...The body of the fourth was found by Niger military.
Most can't handle the realities of military operations in the most basic sense let alone a Special Ops operation.
Ahhh man,,
:~(
,,,thanks for the update kavika.
Thanks for the info XD,,,nice to meet you!
You too Larry.
Point is the geopolitics of this stuff is beyond most of us that aren't involved.
i was in some of those areas back in the day. Trying to put a US civilian template in most undeveloped countries is a fools errand regardless.
just saying ....
Yep!
Well sir I do appreciate you making a generous contribution. Your experience is invaluable; any offered elucidation is graciously accepted.
:~)
Nice to have a discussion with someone who disagrees but doesn't have to devolve into sophomoric insults and partisan nonsense. We need more of that on both sides. No doubt
Agreed and thank you Sparty On; looking forward to future discussions.
:~)
Are you shocked that Special Forces are in Niger...You shouldn't be, in 2016 Special Forces were deployed to 138 countries around the world.
We should soon be stepping into another war/police action soon.
They could be there for just about any reason one could imagine. It's tragic for their families and friends, but this is not even a blip on the international stage. As you say Kavika, we have people everywhere.
UPDATE: Niger Ambush Came After ‘Massive Intelligence Failure,’ Source Says
WASHINGTON — A senior congressional aide who has been briefed on the deaths of four U.S. servicemen in Niger says the ambush by militants stemmed in part from a "massive intelligence failure."
The Pentagon has said that 40 to 50 militants ambushed a 12-man U.S. force in Niger on Oct. 4, killing four and wounding two. The U.S. patrol was seen as routine and had been carried out nearly 30 times in the six months before the attack, the Pentagon has reported.
The aide, who spoke on condition of anonymity because he is not authorized to speak publicly, said the House and Senate armed services committees have questions about the scope of the U.S. mission in Niger, and whether the Pentagon is properly supporting the troops on the ground there.
Myeshia Johnson cries over the casket of her husband, Sgt. La David Johnson, who was killed in an ambush in Niger, upon his body's arrival in Miami, on Oct. 17, 2017
I'm quite sure that we are operating in more than just Niger, and this could just be the tip of the iceberg as far as US involvement goes.
ISIS and related Islamic extremists groups are now spreading throughout Africa.
Even more so now that the Islamic State has recently suffered such severe losses in Iraq and Syria-- they are looking to expand operation in other areas, such as Europe, Africa, and the Philippines.
They need to win battles for the sake of propaganda-- their victories get them more followers (but victories for ISIS is no longer the case in most cases in the Middle East-- so they have to go elsewhere...).
Local armies in different African countries vary considerably in their effectiveness.
Chad has always had one of the very best forces when it comes to fighting there terror groups. They have kept terrorism down in their own country-- and had even been helping other local countries in their fight against the Islamic State.
But recently-- all of a sudden-- Chad withdrew their forces from Niger-- which really set back efforts in fighting the Islamic State in the area.
Can you guess why Chad would suddenly do a thing like that?
Here's why!
Because they were listed on the '' muslim ban'' as a country....Pretty frickin' dumb by the administration.