Thanks for all the training. Now, take your fandangled drones and ...
Another Nuland Triumph
Published: 2024-03-20
Updated 2024-03-22: The US put its hand to its ear and yelled “What did you say?”. See update.
Another Nuland Triumph
The TL;DR is from our heroes at Antiwar:
US Looking To Stay in Niger Despite Order To Leave, Dave DeCamp, Antiwar, 2024-03-19
The reporter who knows the territory is Nick Turse, who has been reporting on "full-spectrum combatant command" AFRICOM since it spread its wings over Françafrique in 2007. For more detail, see his report:
U.S.-Trained Niger Junta Kicks Out U.S. Troops, Drone Base, Nick Turse, The Intercept, 2024-03-19
Context
The rise of BRICS+ and the lesser known SCO (Shanghai Cooperation Organisation) created for the 'minnows' on the geopolitical map a new choice. There is, all of sudden, a second entry on the geopolitical power-block ballot paper.
Following WWII, the US forcefully dismantlement the European colonial powers’ imperial projects. This created the space for the emergence of the Non-Aligned Movement to attempt to sit between the "West" on one side and the USSR on the other. A repeat, with many differences, of that process is under way currently due to the emergence of the BRICS+/SCO block as a counter to the hegemonic USA.
A window into this process is happening in Niger and its neighbours of Mali, Burkina Faso and Chad. They are flexing a little “UN Charter “ sovereignty.
Of the 6 inhabited continents, North America, Europe and Australia are largely colonized by the now failing USA neo-imperial project known primarily by its military alliance, NATO. The SCO, with its core of China and Russia have rather rapidly, since 2013, assembled a block of participating nations throughout Asia, with a little less penetration in the southeast. BRICS is also experiencing a rapid expansion, partially fueled by NATO’s latest failed military endeavour, this time in Ukraine. Its recently doubled size warrants the acronym BRICS+.
NATO tucked its tail between its legs, defeated by the irrepressible Afghans, and fled. A failed coup in Kazakhstan, just before the Russian SMO in Ukraine was defeated by Russia's security organisation, the CSTO. NATO ran a coup against Pakistan's Imran Khan. India is maintaining its diplomatic independence. Iran is a full participant in the SCO. Saudi Arabia has partially aligned itself with BRICS+/SCO. And onwards the stories go as nation states reposition themselves within the changing geopolitical lanscape.
While there is still a tussle in some parts of Asia, with Brazil in South America and the Republic of South Africa in Africa representing the growing BRICS+ group, these two continents of Africa and Latin America contain nation states which are considering geopolitical re-alignment.
The current "dispute" in Niger has a long history, a synopsis of which can also be found at Antiwar and by Nick Turse (who has been publishing predominantly at The Intercept recently).
A Summary Timeline
Articles are arranged choronologically, focusing on the US takeover of Françafrique under the banner of the War on of Terror via AFRICOM. Nick Turse’s articles have his name in bold to distinguish them. The headlines themselves tell a story.
2017
Senators 'Stunned' to Learn US Has 1,000 Troops in Niger, Jason Ditz, Antiwar, 2017-10-23
2019
US Air Force Begins Flight Operations Out of Niger, Jason Ditz, Antiwar, 2019-08-16
2021
NATO Nations Wage Hidden War in Mali, Rick Rozoff, Antiwar, 2021-04-29
NATO Confirms Direct Role in Mali War, Rick Rozoff, Antiwar, 2021-06-22
2023
Less Than a Mile From Drone Base, Bandits Stole Bags of U.S. Tax Dollars in Broad Daylight, Nick Turse, The Intercept, 2023-02-20
Soldiers Mutiny in U.S.-Allied Niger, Nick Turse, The Intercept, 2023-07-26
Victoria Nuland Meets With Niger Junta Leaders, Dave DeCamp, Antiwar, 2023-08-07
Pentagon Misled Congress About U.S. Bases in Africa, Nick Turse, The Intercept, 2023-09-08
Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso Establish Military Alliance, Vowing to Collectively Defend Against External Aggression, Connor Freeman, Antiwar, 2023-09-17
Macron Says France Will Withdraw Troops, Ambassador from Niger, Dave DeCamp, Antiwar, 2023-09-24
US Says It Plans to Resume Security Partnership With Niger, Dave DeCamp, Antiwar, 2023-12-13
Does it, now?
Vision, or Lack Thereof
The drone base at Agadez is of crucial importance to AFRICOM (the DoD) and the CIA. It provides not only the drone based surveillance, but also a large secure facility to be used by whichever branches of the US' foreign intelligence/operative community obtain consent from the DoD. Its loss would represent a major blow to AFRICOM and those agencies. As Turse brought to our attention, the recent coup in Niger was by the Presidential Guard, who were trained by the US.
This echoes another, very recent article by Turse, this time about AFRICOM's total failure to do anything useful apart from spend money on the other side of Africa in Somalia. The old report, from 2007 referred to in Turse’s article, could well have been written "yesterday". It reveals that expecting a military force and covert intelligence operatives to achieve geopolitical objectives successfully without an experienced and knowledgeable diplomatic service is a fool's errand. The repeatedly bungled operations by AFRICOM have generated pushback and support for independence in African nations via balancing the two competing geopolitical power blocks.
Because this tussle between NATO and BRICS+/SCO is in Africa, general geographic knowledge is rather weak in NATOstan, news from the tussle is unlikely to be strongly in NATO's favor. Because its rather hard to run successful narratives about one NATO nation replacing a previous colonial power which is a current member of NATO , one can expect to hear little honest reporting about this from NATO's echo chambers.
A Lady's Touch
Following the coup in Niger, and the failed narrative threat to turn a local economic block, ECOWAS, into a military one, the US sent Ms "Fix it" (Kagan-) Nuland. She managed to come and go without speaking with the leaders of the Presidential Guard. They don't seem to have believed that under Secretary 'Toria had anything useful to say which couldn't be relayed via their own secretaries. This, of course, is another way of saying, please bully our secretaries so that we learn of your threats in writing and thus publish them.
The US' most recent diplomatic fiasco appears to have run along the same lines except with a larger team. Alex Christoforou stated that the US delegation did not provide appropriate notification and did not keep schedule, demonstrating their respect for the Nigerian government. His information was likely largely derived from the recent Wall St Journal article [non-paywalled link], which if one strips the injected narrative from it, is useful.
The US delegation consisted of "Molly Phee, U.S. assistant secretary of state for African affairs [...] accompanied by Celeste Wallander, a senior Defense Department official, and Gen. Michael Langley, the head of the U.S. Africa Command". Neither the State Dept's Phee nor AFRICOM's Langley (a bit unfortunate, that surname) could convince the Nigerans to stop talking to Russia, or anyone else for that matter. The result of their engagement in Niamey was a complete bust, amounting to "Fuck off, and take your drone base with you".
Considering such a magnificent outcome, counter-narratives needed to be generated. “Niger is going to sell uranium to the evil Iranians!” To which the WSJ provides comment from the CEO of the French company Orano, "the [Nigerien] authorities did not express any offensive action against our activities. Quite the opposite, we are trying to work together to improve and resume production." Frankly, its up to Niger to decide to whom they sell their resources. Secondly, Iran quite sensibly wishes to develop an effective nuclear power industry and securing fuel for it is a natural part of that effort.
The government in Niger issued their own comments regarding the busted threat-fest from the US delegation, running the previous US narrative about “terrorism” against them:
The CNSP said the decision was made after the US delegation didn’t show respect for Niger’s sovereignty. [...]
“Niger regrets the intention of the American delegation to deny the sovereign Nigerien people the right to choose their partners and types of partnerships capable of truly helping them fight against terrorism,” CNSP spokesman Col. Maj. Amadou Abdramane said on Saturday.
When you get slapped like that ...
Would the US like another war? They could gin one up if they want one. Good money for the US military industrial base is on offer.
Oh! Their order sheet is full because of Ukraine, is it? And, they're really trying to kick off the China/Taiwan war. Well, how about bribery? USD 34 Trillion in debt, eh? Hmmm. The French already got kicked out, so can't pass it that way. The Belgians? No, very poor reputation down there.
Bit of a curve ball this one. How about we just run media narratives about the Russians, Iranians and Chinese doing nasty things?
Better than nothing.
Update
The US has acknowledged that its presence in Niger is illegal and sees no need to leave because it does not want to. This would be yet another example of the US DoD putting its employees deliberately at risk.
Celeste Wallander, assistant secretary of defense for international security affairs, said at a House Armed Services Committee hearing that the CNSP told the US that the agreement that allows the US to operate in the country is now null and void.
However, she also claimed that the CNSP “assured us that American military forces are protected and they will take no action that will endanger them.” Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh said Tuesday that the US was seeking “clarification” from Niger and is looking to stay.
US Claims It Hasn't Received Formal Request to Leave Niger, Dave DeCamp, Antiwar, 2024-03-21
Niger Says US Will Submit Plan to 'Disengage' Troops, Dave DeCamp, Antiwar, 2024-03-28
Awaing the Future
US Seeks Clarification on Nigerian ‘Disengagement’ Plan, Unknown, Anitwar, unknown
Niger Confirms Nigerians Surrounding US Base Are Not Acting Illegally, unknown, Antiwar, uknown
Niger Prosecutor General Files Case Against US Commander For Murder of Protestors, Anitwar, unknown
Niger, Like Syria Before It, Invites Russia to Assist Against Insurgency, unknown, Antiwar, unknown
…
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Sources
U.S.-Trained Niger Junta Kicks Out U.S. Troops, Drone Base, Nick Turse, The Intercept, 2024-03-19
US Looking To Stay in Niger Despite Order To Leave, Dave DeCamp, Antiwar, 2024-03-19
Niger Termination of U.S. Military Ties Followed Accusation of Iran Uranium Deal, Michael R. Gordon, Gabriele Steinhauser, Laurence Norman & Michael M. Phillips, Wall St Journal, 2024-03-17
[WSJ link: https://www.wsj.com/world/africa/niger-once-key-u-s-counterterrorism-ally-ends-military-ties-7db66dbe]
Interesting Articles: 2024 mid March, YesXorNo, 2024-03-19
📽️ Yemen Houthis Blockade the Indian Ocean! Israel Rejects Ceasefire, Another Flour Massacre in Gaza, Richard Medhurst, 2023-03-16
Offset: 00:22:00 to 00:30:40, and then on to Yemen and other less fun stuff.
Niger Rejects Rules-Based Order, M. K. Bhadrakumar, Consortium News, 2023-08-11
WTF is going on in Niger?, YesXorNo, 2023-08-10
A 'Desperate' Nuland in Africa, Anya Parampil, Consortium News, 2023-08-31
Françafrique, Wikipedia
Macron, Olympic ceasefire. WaPo, no men in villages. Biden upset with Orban. Niger ends US agreement, Alex Christoforou, 2024-03-18
France completes withdrawal from Niger, Mercouris and Christoforou, The Duran, 2024-01-01
Copyleft: CC0
