Well, no, since the time to ask such a question would have been before the U.S. established a base in Niger. But, look, the GAE has never felt that it needed to explain why it does any of what it does, has it? And why is that? My guess is that it's because, for some decades now, the American people have never bothered to demand any such explanations.
But, hey, that's "representative democracy" for you. It's a little late to complain now, I think. All we can do now is sit back, bring out the popcorn, and watch the GAE sh*t show disintegrate. I'm just glad that our guys are getting out of that sub-Saharan Third World hell-hole.
Well, that was not how it was envisioned or intended, but certainly how it has evolved.
Blaming the American people for not managing their political representatives in essence on a daily basis is a bit too much. One typically finds many effective management levels between a Board of Directors and the labor force in the field or on the production line.
Not so in politics, of course, especially where the Board is often split down the middle with different goals.
As for the military: “In Niger, the U.S. has had two military bases, called Air Base 101 and Air Base 201, and first started drone operations in 2013. While Niger is one of the poorest countries in the world, its geographic location and natural resources have increased its importance to global powers. Specifically, Niger’s location gives the U.S. ability to engage in counterterrorism throughout much of West Africa.”
Absurd!! To coming Niger and West Africa is an absurdity. Someone was paid off in the Obama administration. Who?
Why were we there? To back up the French who used a corrupt “democracy” to rip off the resources and feed their nuke plants in France. Anyone who grew sick of French presence was deemed an —”ISIS Terrorist” and put down. It drove many an African into their ranks. If the French hadn’t been so greedy it might have kept power for another few decades. Russia is being Russian, opportunists using 19th Century “Great Game” politics to gain position and resources. They will use a bit of power to leverage into a force they can use (much like England in the 19th Century).