We’re learning more about the ambush in Niger that killed 4 and wounded 2 Green Berets earlier this month.
First up, from the Pentagon:
Why the U.S. military is in #Niger – https://t.co/OkDmbNagu8 pic.twitter.com/kieboh1Biy
— US AFRICOM (@USAfricaCommand) October 20, 2017
Highlights…
We’re in Africa to make America safer:
"A safe, stable, secure and prosperous Africa is an enduring United States interest," reads first sentence of AFRICOM Niger statement.
— Erin McPike (@ErinMcPike) October 20, 2017
And we have 800 troops in country:
AFRICOM says US has 800 personnel in Niger for training & assistance to help Niger "bring stability and security to their country."
— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) October 20, 2017
According to the Pentagon, they “were prepared for this deployment”:
DoD: troops ambushed in Niger "participated in extensive team &individual training that focused specifically on their projected mission set"
— Elizabeth McLaughlin (@Elizabeth_McLau) October 20, 2017
Pentagon says 4 Special Forces soldiers slain in Niger 'were prepared for this deployment,’ had adequate training
— TimJohnson (@TimJohnson4) October 20, 2017
But it’s not a “direct combat mission”:
US military's AFRICOM: The U.S. military does not have an active, direct combat mission in Niger.
— Chad Pergram (@ChadPergram) October 20, 2017
All the networks are reporting from anonymous sources as well.
The ambush make have occurred because the meeting attended by the Green Berets ran long:
#News via #FOXNEWS "Niger ambush may have happened because meeting dragged, US officials say" | https://t.co/HI5nA1WXlX pic.twitter.com/SN6FjGzJdz
— Jorge Luis Lopez Esq (@lopezgovlaw) October 20, 2017
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Sgt. La David Johnson’s body was found later on and “nearly a mile away” from the ambush location:
Sgt. La David Johnson's body was found nearly a mile away from the scene of Niger ambush, per @barbarastarrcnn
— Kaitlan Collins (@kaitlancollins) October 20, 2017
This was a routine mission:
US military: US patrol in Niger was routine; did not have or require specific White House approval – @MacWBishop / @NBCNightlyNews
— Micah Grimes (@MicahGrimes) October 20, 2017
But also a “massive intelligence failure”:
NEW: Niger ambush came after "massive intelligence failure," senior congressional aide tells @NBCInvestigates. https://t.co/TN97FRESlX
— Micah Grimes (@MicahGrimes) October 20, 2017
There were no American air assets in the area and the Green Berets used a private contractor for their evacuation:
Here's why private contractors were used to extract from the fight in Niger https://t.co/NuxiSGIyBv pic.twitter.com/7gwkRLyLra
— Brandon Wall (@Walldo) October 20, 2017
Earlier this year, the U.S. military asked for more support in Niger:
https://twitter.com/TomNamako/status/921482310968659968
And this language won’t go over very well:
https://twitter.com/TomNamako/status/921482463716761600
Sen. Lindsey Graham went on record linking the danger of Islamic terrorists in Niger to a potential future 9/11-style terror attack:
Sen. Lindsey Graham: “We don’t want the next 9/11 to come from Niger” https://t.co/bOevJao2dJ
— CNN Politics (@CNNPolitics) October 20, 2017
The FBI is assisting in the investigation:
The FBI is assisting Niger authorities in the investigation of the deaths of four US servicemen https://t.co/p9UY3QrbuE pic.twitter.com/XZ4E56HFHA
— CNN (@CNN) October 20, 2017
The Pentagon is investigating whether US soldiers in Niger were lured into ambush https://t.co/UInCziOY0f pic.twitter.com/sh75aoZ052
— Politics Insider (@Politicsinsider) October 20, 2017
Exit question:
Will Democrats use Niger as Trump’s Benghazi?
https://t.co/UDybokNBWN— McClatchyDC (@McClatchyDC) October 20, 2017
Get ready for it.
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