Washington Post: Deaths of four U.S. soldiers in Niger hint at the shadow war against ISIS in Africa
NIAMEY, Niger — Less than a year ago, the Islamic State’s ambitions in Africa seemed all but shattered. In Libya, militias assisted by U.S. Special Operations soldiers and airstrikes drove the militants from their stronghold in the city of Sirte. Hundreds of Islamic State fighters died. Others fled south toward desert hideouts.
“There were no more black flags,” recalled Claudia Gazzini, a senior Libya analyst for the International Crisis Group, describing the situation when she visited southern Libya after the militant group’s defeat in December.
But many highly trained Islamic State fighters crossed into the vast ungoverned areas of impoverished Niger, according to regional security officials and analysts. Some then flowed to zones where militants were active in Mali, Nigeria and other countries.
The fighters have helped inject new energy into a spreading Islamist militancy, creating fresh challenges for U.S. forces in the region. Few Americans knew their troops were engaged in one of the world’s most complex battlegrounds until four U.S. soldiers were killed by militants last month in a remote corner of Niger.
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WNU Editor: President Bush will be remembered for launching a war of choice against Iraq, while pursuing a failed policy of nation building in Afghanistan. President Obama will be remembered for the surge in Afghanistan, sending U.S. forces back into Iraq after leaving the country, and .... of course .... being instrumental in the overthrow of Libyan strongman Qaddafi. Unfortunately .... the fall of Qaddafi .... with no follow-up from the West .... has resulted in a leadership vacuum and countless wars that are ideal for both Al Qaeda and ISIS to prosper. And here is an easy prediction .... this is going to get worse.
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