The Mystery of Niger
WASHINGTON D.C. - October 27 Donald Trump lays the responsibility of the Niger controversy on the military in attempt to escape the controversy after conflict with the wife of a green beret and why were the soldiers in harm's way in the first place without adequate gear.
Four American soldiers died in Niger after an undisclosed mission but why were they there in the first place? The ambush and death of these soldiers only raises more questions than answers, and makes it clear that the U.S. military have a firm presence in Africa. The death Sgt. La David Johnson, who was killed in Niger while being separated from the group has also raised controversy. Why was the green beret so far from the others? It also took the president 12 days to acknowledge the deaths of the four of 12 original soldiers on the obscure mission in Niger and only after being pressed by journalists to do so.
Why were these soldiers in a position to be attacked? There were originally a total of 11 soldiers on the mission but it has been revealed that a helicopter left with only 7 of the 11 and there are accounts that they may have been left alive. However these soldiers shouldn't have been in this position in the first place, in Niger the military aren't allowed to go on missions that may involve an enemy encounter, why were these soldiers in front of enemy weapons? There are also questions on whether or not the soldiers had adequate protection and support on this mission. It was revealed that the party had asked for drone support but was denied access by the Pentagon before the deadly ambush. It also isn't clear on what the mission was. It began with a training mission of forces in Niger but turned into a possible high risk assignment. What looked like a low risk task turned fatal.
While the military says there is a light presence in Niger there is a large 800-1000 U.S. troops currently in Niger. There hasn't been a revelation on what the soldiers are sent to do but small units are sent out and seem to be anti-Al Qaeda groups which have been sent since 2008 to North Africa as a breaking down of hub of potential extremist groups.
Head of Senate Armed Services Committee, John McCain has implored that the Pentagon give more information on what is happening in Africa as Donald Trump seems even more reluctant to do so; even threatening to subpoena officials working at the pentagon. McCain has been a driving force trying to bring out information undisclosed by both the commander in chief and the pentagon. While senator Tim Kaine has also said, “I don’t think Congress has necessarily been kept completely to date, and the American public I think certainly has not.” Apart from the conflict in Africa there also seems to be a conflict of information which hasn't been shared with either the public or congress.
