Niger...sorry...
Too many Islamists groups in Africa....either we control them there by teaching the people to fight them or fight them here.
Niger doesn’t offer enough rare earth elements that we can’t get from other areas....the idea is to keep other nations fro acquiring their control.
Yes
This really should be the French Foreign Legion’s job, with us giving logistical support.
Since they elected a President who married his mommy, it will be awhile before the get their collective heads out of there ass.
Also the French have lost more Frenchmen in France in two years then they have lost in ten years supporting us in Afghanistan. Think about it, Afghanistan is safer for a Frenchman then France!
Niger just happens to be right in the middle of the nations like Mali who are best promising sources for rare earths... and rare earths are critical for technological development in the future; whoever gets development rights- and both Russia and China are very interested-is going to be in a very good position to influence the global economy, including us. Niger is like an aircraft carrier in a sandy sea of vital resources.