Niger: Another Joe Biden Foreign Policy Disaster/Embarrassment

[psk836]

https://www.americanthinker.com/blog/20 ... ussia.html

U.S. hands over $110m base to Niger junta to release 1,000 U.S. Army hostages, watches helplessly as base goes to Russia

"With no Fox News cameras around and nobody paying much attention to what was going on in Niger, a disgraceful, utterly humiliating exit of the U.S. military from that benighted country now led by a military junta, has dealt the U.S. another strategic blow, and entirely preventably. The crummy little tinpot junta now running Niger has managed to kick Uncle Sam around, much as the Taliban and Iran did, creating an accumulating pattern of lost U.S. influence. And sure enough, they got us good, because Joe Biden let them."

"The base was a critical node in the U.S. war on al-Qaida, ISIS, and all their evil little allies operating terrorist operations from the northern African region. Niger had been the U.S.'s bigfoot footprint in that region and its value was incalculable.

With that the baseline reality, some of the self-righteous karens at the State Department decided that now was just the time to lecture and hector Niger's mirrored-sunglass coup leaders about 'democracy,' as if that place ever had any idea about the concept.

The coup leaders didn't take it well, and ordered the U.S. out. To make matters worse, they held 1,000 U.S. servicemen hostage in the desert without water or food for weeks, as the U.S. attempted to hold on, until this past week when the U.S. agreed to fork over the brand-new state-of-art U.S. $110 million military base there just so we could get our servicemembers out. And to make it worse, they decided to hand it over to Russia."

"The Times also notes that on Niger's famous yellowcake front, they've decided to give access to that to Iran, which has lots of money from President Obama's and Joe Biden's release of impounded Iranian cash along with big nuclear ambitions. Niger's coup leaders would probably like a slice of that for themselves, and the uranium they exchange it for will supply the missing magic to advance Iran's evil plans.

Who the heck was behind this disaster, who couldn't figure out that hot-from-a-coup coup leaders preening in their military uniforms might just take a 'democracy' diktat pretty badly? Who got into the screaming match instead of treated these characters with kid gloves as a national security matter? Who failed to forecast that they'd react the way they did?

And aside from the huge loss of military presence and the expensive base in the desert, now to be enjoyed by Russians expanding their footprint to west Africa, who is responsible for this horrific loss of U.S. influence? This roughly creates a second stepping stone of influence for Russia, which got the first lilypad in in Syria, when Obama drew his red line and turned tail, while this gives them a second base of influence. Advantage: Russia. Disadvantage: The U.S."

[clusterchuck]

YAH, but what about mAtT GaEtZ? Haven't you heard? He's cOmPrOmIsEd.

And whatever you do, don't pay attention to the USAF whistle blower reporting the incompetent/azz covering "state department" employees putting the lives of soldiers in danger for "diplomacy" efforts.

And, for the love of GOD, don't mention the Rooskie's "detaining" the 1,000 U.S. soldiers on the ground while Biden bent over and took it up the azz.

https://aibafs.net/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=147056#p878015

[Evil]

They suspended our agreement. That is a foreign policy failure. Staying is not an option unless you really want or troops to be sitting ducks.

Niger is turning to Russia for security and Iran to sell uranium. Clearly the problem is the leadership in Niger.

What would you two foreign policy geniuses do, become occupiers like you've done so many times in the past?

[nolaxride]

They suspended our agreement. That is a foreign policy failure. Staying is not an option unless you really want or troops to be sitting ducks.

Niger is turning to Russia for security and Iran to sell uranium. Clearly the problem is the leadership in Niger.

What would you two foreign policy geniuses do, become occupiers like you've done so many times in the past?

How is this more embarrassing than approving an agreement with a terrorist organization that gives them the country and then reducing our troop strength to the point we can't safely evacuate?

[Chester Cheesewright]

They suspended our agreement. That is a foreign policy failure. Staying is not an option unless you really want or troops to be sitting ducks.

Niger is turning to Russia for security and Iran to sell uranium. Clearly the problem is the leadership in Niger.

What would you two foreign policy geniuses do, become occupiers like you've done so many times in the past?

► become occupiers? Absolutely not. No way, José!

Unless you’re a Jew

[psk836]

https://www.reuters.com/world/africa/ru ... 024-05-02/

"WASHINGTON, May 2 (Reuters) - Russian military personnel have entered an air base in Niger that is hosting U.S. troops, a senior U.S. defense official told Reuters, a move that follows a decision by Niger's junta to expel U.S. forces.

The military officers ruling the West African nation have told the U.S. to withdraw its nearly 1,000 military personnel from the country, which until a coup last year had been a key partner for Washington's fight against insurgents who have killed thousands of people and displaced millions more.

A senior U.S. defense official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Russian forces were not mingling with U.S. troops but were using a separate hangar at Airbase 101, which is next to Diori Hamani International Airport in Niamey, Niger's capital.

The move by Russia's military, which Reuters was the first to report, puts U.S. and Russian troops in close proximity at a time when the nations' military and diplomatic rivalry is increasingly acrimonious over the conflict in Ukraine.

It also raises questions about the fate of U.S. installations in the country following a withdrawal."

"After the coup, the U.S. military moved some of its forces in Niger from Airbase 101 to Airbase 201 in the city of Agadez. It was not immediately clear what U.S. military equipment remained at Airbase 101.

The United States built Airbase 201 in central Niger at a cost of more than $100 million. Since 2018 it has been used to target Islamic State and al Qaeda affiliate Jama'at Nusrat al-Islam wal Muslimeen (JNIM) fighters with armed drones.

Washington is concerned about Islamic militants in the Sahel region, who may be able to expand without the presence of U.S. forces and intelligence capabilities.

Niger's move to ask for the removal of U.S. troops came after a meeting in Niamey in mid-March, when senior U.S. officials raised concerns including the expected arrival of Russia forces and reports of Iran seeking raw materials in the country, including uranium.

While the U.S. message to Nigerien officials was not an ultimatum, the official said, it was made clear U.S. forces could not be on a base with Russian forces.

"They did not take that well," the official said.

A two-star U.S. general has been sent to Niger to try and arrange a professional and responsible withdrawal."