Kathianne
01-28-2013, 10:52 PM
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323644904578270374130708196.html
U.S. to Expand Role in AfricaMilitary Pact With Niger Brings American Forces Closer to Conflict in Mali
By ADAM ENTOUS (http://online.wsj.com/search/term.html?KEYWORDS=ADAM+ENTOUS&bylinesearch=true) and SIOBHAN GORMAN (http://online.wsj.com/search/term.html?KEYWORDS=SIOBHAN+GORMAN&bylinesearch=true)The U.S. signed an agreement Monday with the West African country of Niger that clears the way for a stepped-up American military presence on the edges of the conflict in neighboring Mali.
The U.S. and France are moving to create an intelligence hub in Niger that could include a base, near Mali's border, for American drones that could monitor al Qaeda-linked militants in Mali's vast desert north, U.S. officials said Monday.
The moves show the extent to which the U.S. and France are girding for what could be an open-ended campaign against the militants in North and West Africa.
U.S. and French officials said they see Niger as a logical hub for intelligence-collection operations nearby in Mali, where France has deployed warplanes and ground troops to drive Islamist militants from cities and towns they have held for months. War planners say small air strips in Niger could be used as launching pads for spy missions and strikes.
The signing of the so-called status-of-forces agreement with Niger was a necessary precursor for American military operations there, officials said. U.S. officials said discussions with Niger on a drone base were at an early stage.
...
Have we heard this before?
U.S. to Expand Role in AfricaMilitary Pact With Niger Brings American Forces Closer to Conflict in Mali
By ADAM ENTOUS (http://online.wsj.com/search/term.html?KEYWORDS=ADAM+ENTOUS&bylinesearch=true) and SIOBHAN GORMAN (http://online.wsj.com/search/term.html?KEYWORDS=SIOBHAN+GORMAN&bylinesearch=true)The U.S. signed an agreement Monday with the West African country of Niger that clears the way for a stepped-up American military presence on the edges of the conflict in neighboring Mali.
The U.S. and France are moving to create an intelligence hub in Niger that could include a base, near Mali's border, for American drones that could monitor al Qaeda-linked militants in Mali's vast desert north, U.S. officials said Monday.
The moves show the extent to which the U.S. and France are girding for what could be an open-ended campaign against the militants in North and West Africa.
U.S. and French officials said they see Niger as a logical hub for intelligence-collection operations nearby in Mali, where France has deployed warplanes and ground troops to drive Islamist militants from cities and towns they have held for months. War planners say small air strips in Niger could be used as launching pads for spy missions and strikes.
The signing of the so-called status-of-forces agreement with Niger was a necessary precursor for American military operations there, officials said. U.S. officials said discussions with Niger on a drone base were at an early stage.
...
Have we heard this before?