Does even one American in hundred, make that one in a thousand, possibly one in a million, feel we must be involved militarily in Niger? I doubt it. But the U.S. military, from Commander In Chief Joe Biden on down, certainly do. He’s got 1,000 troops in Niger. The new Niger government wants them out.
US presence in Niger goes back to 2013. Authorized by President Obama, it has continued under both Trump and Biden. In 2015, 4 US troops were killed in an ambush. It made no dent in Obama’s foreign policy acquiescing in every cockamamie intervention the military demands.
Last July, a military group, the National Council for the Safeguard of the Homeland (CNSP), seized power from a US friendly government. The new sheriff in town is demanding the US leave. When the US visited Niger recently to plead Uncle Sam’s case, they insulted Niger’s sovereignty by telling the CNSP to stop cozying up to Russia and Iran. The CNSP’s response? “Niger regrets the intention of the American delegation to deny the sovereign Nigerien people the right to choose their partners and types of partnerships capable of truly helping them fight against terrorism.”
One reason the US refuses to leave is its $100 million drone based used for reconnaissance and yes, bombing imagined bad guys in the region.
Leaders of Iraq and Syria, both of whom have long wanted US troops out of defiling their sovereignty, should advise Niger to relax. Niger is now part of American’s foreign policy Roach Motel. US soldiers go in… but never come out.
Walt Zlotow became involved in antiwar activities upon entering University of Chicago in 1963. He is current president of the West Suburban Peace Coalition based in the Chicago western suburbs. He blogs daily on antiwar and other issues at www.heartlandprogressive.blogspot.com.
The US turned more than 1/2 the world into the Roach Motel. Iraq and Syria are Roach Motels. The US started the Roach Motel Business long before its misadventures in Iraq, Syria and Afghanistan. It started that business right after WWII with its bases in Europe and the Pacific.
It brags that SK and Japan are shining successes. And Europe too I suppose.
“Imagined bad guys”, writes this Walt Zlotow from “heartlandprogressive”. Those are Islamists who have been conducting an increasing campaign of killings in western Africa. The WHOLE POINT of the military coup in Niger was that the government wasn’t being efficient enough in fighting the Islamists, same as with other coups in the region, as they are struggling in this war against those who depopulate entire villages.
You can oppose Washington bases without lying. But for some people it’s always, “If Washington criticizes people, then I must defend them!”
Everything is as black and white as it is for those who go along with whatever Washington does. Same level of thinking.
And you think Nigeriens can fight this alone? It will end up with Russian Wagner stepping in instead, as they have done elsewhere. All over Africa they can’t even handle their own artillery, or what air force they have; it’s always Westerners, Indians or Russians.
The US often makes matters worse, but it’s possible there are exceptions.
Who are these “Islamists” everyone talks about?! Why academic struggles over words matter
“ What is labelled “Islamist” in public discourse thus covers an extremely diverse spectrum of ideologies, means and goals, and actors and forms of organisation. The label does not differentiate whether an organisation is violent or not, whether it operates transnationally or not, whether it acts as part of a government, party or not. Apart from some orientation toward Islamic principles – which, on a side note, are highly contested among those actors –, they do not have much in common. Differentiating labels is not merely an academic exercise. What we call a certain phenomenon, group, or activity has consequences for the way we treat them. The umbrella of “Islamism” creates a space for questionable forms of inter- and transnational cooperation, while precluding others”
https://blog.prif.org/2020/12/03/who-are-these-islamists-everyone-talks-about-why-academic-struggles-over-words-matter/
I suppose we’re to fear Muslims after 9/11. They’ll attack us or something, I suppose.
Niger’s yellowcake… It must be important.
Why Words Matter: The Problem With the Term Islamist
https://en.minbarlibya.org/2020/11/25/why-words-matter-the-problem-with-the-term-islamist/
No, I agree with you. I upvoted you. I don’t fully understand your meaning, but I understand it enough to agree.
Regardless the guy who led the coup and deemed himself President believes the US needs him more than vice versa. US felt otherwise and now they are asked to leave.
Niger has no choice but to use an exterminator to get rid of the cockroaches…!