Rep. Matt Gaetz (FL-01) announced on the House Floor Monday the release of a follow-up investigative report into the Biden administration's handling of the coverup of intelligence in Niger, titled "Part II Interim Report - Unwelcome in Niger," detailing recent events in the region, as well as additional active-duty whistleblowers, since the initial bombshell report showing the imminent threat U.S. Forces face in Niger.
This supplemental report, written by the Office of Congressman Matt Gaetz, details how more than 1,000 U.S. service members and contractors currently stationed in Niger are being used as pawns by the U.S. and Nigerien governments while diplomatic negotiations on troop withdrawal are ongoing.
Read: Biden Announces Troops Coming Home From Niger After Florida Rep. Gaetz Reports On Dismal Conditions
Furthermore, the report details a meeting between Rep. Gaetz and Chargé d’Affaires Idi Hassane at the Washington, D.C.-based Niger Embassy regarding requests for oversight flights made by the U.S. government in Niger; additional reports made by active-duty whistleblowers and their spouses to Rep. Gaetz; and the confirmation Russian military personnel are using a U.S. air base in Niger.
According to the report, more than 1,000 U.S. service members currently stationed in Niger, Africa, at Air Base 101 and Air Base 201 are in danger. They are currently being treated as pawns by both the U.S. government and the government of Niger (Conseil national pour la sauvegarde de la patrie or the National Council for the Safeguard of the Fatherland) as a diplomatic negotiation regarding the withdrawal of U.S. troops from Niger is ongoing.
Gaetz says that currently, U.S. troops are being denied fresh rotations and needed medications for chronic illnesses as diplomatic overflights are stalled.
Read: Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz Releases Bombshell Report On U.S. Troop Crisis, Cover-Up In Niger
The report also stated that the US State Department is concealing the dangerous conditions for U.S. troops in Niger to avoid the embarrassing reveal that their Africa strategy has failed. It has led to little more than collapsed governments, coups, and orders to leave countries we once deemed a “model” for U.S. cooperation as Russia and China continue to advance their interests.
Niger’s ruling military cadre announced in March that it had revoked a deal with the U.S. to allow military and civilian Defense Department personnel to deploy in the nation. The agreement has existed since at least 2012.
The U.S. built a $100 million airbase in central Niger to conduct drone strikes against militants associated with the Islamic State and al-Qaida terrorist groups.
Niger’s relations with Western nations have deteriorated since “mutinous” soldiers ousted the country’s democratically elected president last July.
The ruling military commanders recently booted out the French before turning on the Americans. As the Tampa Free Press reported in April, they also have barred German and Italian personnel from entering the country.
Read: Florida Rep. Matt Gaetz Scoops Republican Challengers’ Web Domains, Mocks Past BLM And DEI Record
Gaetz, in recent weeks, denounced the Biden administration for helping train troops in African nations who subsequently turned on and overthrew their own nation’s leadership. Niger was one of those countries.
Soon after the release of the original report, the Pentagon announced that it was pulling nearly 1,100 troops out of Niger.
“I fear the administration will handle this withdrawal similarly to the withdrawal from Afghanistan,” Gaetz continued.
“The safety and security of all service members must be our top priority in this time of transition. I look forward to the administration’s thorough brief on the basis for this decision and their plan for the path forward; our troops deserve as much.”
In an April report, Gaetz noted that the July coup ended U.S. diplomatic overflights, which delivered fresh replacement troops, medical supplies, equipment, mail, and other materials.
“Today, the Biden Administration has announced they will be pulling 1,100 troops out of Niger following my report earlier this week. For too long, the Biden administration has allowed our troops in Niger to languish while it has tried to cover up reality and avoid embarrassment. This is yet another extraordinary Biden foreign policy failure,” Gaetz said in April.
“Our troops are currently sitting on a powder keg caused by political indecision at the top of the Department of State and Department of Defense. With a military junta in charge—who detests our presence and considers us unserious and predatory—the situation seems to be setting the groundwork for catastrophic diplomatic collapse like we saw during the 2012 Benghazi attack,” Gaetz wrote.
“Additionally, these troops are already running short on necessary, life-saving supplies, such as blood and medications.”
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