sparklite2 wrote: Why are we in Niger?
That was my first reaction upon reading the disheartening headlines. The next thought was the Pakistani-ISI-Awan-IT-scandal and the suspicion that their access to our nation's most sensitive national security data compromised our soldiers in Yemen back in January.
I haven't found much on the relationship between Niger and Pakistan other than Pakistan has an embassy in Niamey, although Niger does not maintain a permanent embassy in Islamabad.
Then I searched for related news between Niger and Pakistan and came upon this little detail:
"Niger has become the world’s fourth-largest producer of uranium ore after Kazakhstan, Canada and Australia."
Perhaps that is one of the reasons our troops are there.
see #13