Administration Sees No Change in Rules or Mission of U.S. Troops in Niger
Administration Sees No Change in Rules or Mission of U.S. Troops in Niger by Karen DeYoung – Washington Post
The Trump administration has no plans – and anticipates no requests from the Defense Department – to change the mission of U.S. troops in Niger or the rules under which they operate, following the killing of four American service members in a militant ambush there early this month, according to senior administration and defense officials.
At the same time, officials this week expressed consternation over claims, sparked by the deaths, that Congress has been kept in the dark over how many American troops are in West Africa and what they are doing there.
Senior lawmakers, including Sen. Lindsey O. Graham (R-S.C.), a member of the Armed Services Committee, and Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.), have said they “did not know” there were up to 1,000 U.S. troops in Niger. Armed Services Chairman John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Sen. Jack Reed, the ranking Democrat on the panel, both demanded more information.
“Let’s get a grip,” responded an administration official familiar with U.S. operations in the region. “This has been known for quite a while.” The U.S. mission, the official noted, began years ago under President Barack Obama, has continued under President Trump, and has been repeatedly expanded and briefed on to Congress by both administrations…
