Senators Stunned to Discover We Have 1,000 Troops in Niger
Source: The Daily Beast
The death of four soldiers has opened eyes to that mission. It’s also raised a question: How can our presence there be justified by a law passed in 2001?
BETSY WOODRUFF
10.22.17 9:15 PM ET
The death of four U.S. Special Operations Forces troops in Niger has generated a raucous conversation about how presidents should comfort bereft Gold Star families.
But, quietly, it’s fueling a more difficult debate than whether a phone call or a letter suffices in the aftermath of tragedy; mainly, why were U.S. troops in the country in the first place, and does Congress need to exert more authority when it comes such deployments?
Many lawmakers assiduously duck these questions. But on the Sunday shows, several were forced to address them in the aftermath of four soldiers dying under still-mysterious circumstances near the small town of Tongo Tongo. In the process, two powerful Senators tacitly admitted that they hadn’t even known the extent of U.S. involvement in Niger in the first place.
Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), one of the chamber’s most hawkish members, told host Chuck Todd on Meet the Press that he didn’t know until recently that a thousand U.S. troops are stationed in Niger.
Read more: https://www.thedailybeast.com/senators-are-stunned-to-discover-we-have-1000-troops-in-niger
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With all that oil production coming out from there and ExxonMobile and Chevron having a huge presence there?!! I wouldn't put it past this administration that they were planning to create diversions so the these oil giants can step in to "save" the Niger and Nigerians. Remember who is SOS, they are all carving out pieces of our democracy to benefit themselves only. 
