When the lives of four Americans were lost in the Benghazi attack in 2012, Republicans opened a four-year, $7-million investigation that left no stone unturned to figure out what happened. Now comes the Niger four, where we already have far more questions than answers and a Republican administration that thus far has done next to nothing to clarify our mission in Niger, the circumstances under which four servicemembers died and two more were wounded, and why one soldier in particular—Army Sgt. La David Johnson—was initially unaccounted for for two days.
Even Defense Secretary James Mattis and Sen. John McCain, chair of the Senate’s Armed Forces Committee, don't have the clarity they want.
When asked whether the Trump administration was being up front about the ambush in southwest Niger on Oct. 4, McCain issued a blunt “no” on Wednesday. [...] “We deserve to have all the information."
What is perhaps most troubling so far is new information indicating that following the October 4 ambush in southwest Niger, the U.S. soldiers were extracted by private contractors working for Berry Aviation. TIME-owned digital magazine The Drive writes:
The top American headquarters for military operations on the continent, U.S. Africa Command, has now confirmed that private contractors helped casualties evacuate the area afterwards, but has again declined to elaborate on the U.S.-Nigerien patrol's overall objectives or who is responsible for the attack. [...]
Private contractors working for Berry Aviation in Niger’s capital Niamey “were on alert during the incident and conducted casualty evacuation and transport for U.S. and partner forces,” Robyn Mack, a spokesperson for U.S Africa Command, or AFRICOM, told The War Zone in an Email.
Here's what else we know about the attack that took place, from CNN.
Four US soldiers were killed and two wounded: In what is the deadliest combat mission of Trump's short presidency to date, the Defense Department has identified all four service members killed in the ambush that occurred near the Niger-Mali border by up to 50 fighters from ISIS in the Greater Sahara, a US official said.
Sgt. La David Johnson, Staff Sgt. Bryan Black, Staff Sgt. Jeremiah Johnson and Staff Sgt. Dustin Wright died as a result of the October 4 attack, after helping local forces in Niger combat terrorists. [...]
Officials said the 12-man Green Beret-led team had just completed a meeting with local leaders and were walking back to their unarmored pick-up trucks when the unexpected ambush resulted in a firefight that lasted 30 minutes until French Mirage jets arrived overhead to fly low passes in an attempt to disperse the attackers.
Sgt. La David Johnson was separated: A large-scale search-and-rescue operation involving US, French and Nigerien troops was launched soon after US officials realized one of the US service members was unaccounted for.
Johnson is also the servicemember whose widow was told by Donald Trump, "he knew what he signed up for" after Trump was criticized for not properly acknowledging those who had made the ultimate sacrifice and their families.
We also know that military intelligence deemed it "unlikely" U.S. troops would encounter hostile forces on the mission and an ISIS affiliate is likely responsible for the attack.
There are about 800 US troops in Niger and the US military has maintained a presence in the northwest African country for five years, with small groups of US Special Operations Forces advising local troops as they battle terrorist groups, including ISIS in the Greater Sahara, the ISIS-affiliated Boko Haram.
And if you’re wondering exactly why we have forces in Niger, you’re not the only one.
“I think the administration has to be more clear about our role in Niger and our role in Africa and other parts of the globe,” Rhode Island Sen. Jack Reed said Tuesday.
“They have to connect it to a strategy. They should do that. I think the inattention to this issue is not acceptable.”
What’s also mystifying is the sense that Defense Secretary Mattis still isn’t satisfied with what he knows about the attack. Isn’t he supposed to be saving us from the Idiot in Chief who still thinks Nambia is an African country worthy of praise.