“Hard times create strong men. Strong men create good times. Good times create weak men. And, weak men create hard times.”

― G. Michael Hopf, Those Who Remain

Just how far over the horizon are we going to have to go? When Biden humiliated our troops by surrendering Kabul Air Base, he said it was all good because we have “over the horizon” capabilities for intelligence and counter-terrorism capabilities. From Foreign Policy:

The Biden administration has denied that the threat is as dire now as it was two decades ago, saying the U.S. defense and intelligence apparatus maintains an “over the horizon” capability for detecting and taking out future terrorist threats to the U.S. homeland and other U.S. interests. On Monday, U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said that “the president has been clear that, from his perspective, American counterterrorism capabilities have evolved to the point where we can suppress that terrorism threat without keeping thousands or tens of thousands of troops on the ground in a country.”

The truth is murkier. Though the U.S. military had some forewarning of Thursday’s devastating attacks and shooed American evacuees away immediately beforehand, U.S. intelligence assets are, as yet, nowhere near where they need to be to achieve that capability in Afghanistan, experts and informed U.S. government sources say. Nor does the United States now possess the military bases or platforms from which to efficiently take out future terrorist threats in Afghanistan.

Even some Democratic allies of President Joe Biden say he has been overstating U.S. counterterrorism capabilities since all U.S. forces left Afghanistan, thus robbing Washington of most of its eyes and ears on the ground. “We’re all kind of scratching our heads over what he’s been saying,” said one senior Democratic official who has been briefed on the issue but spoke on condition of anonymity.

I wanted to remind you of the debacle in Joe Biden and his Administration Handlers are weak, weak men who are incapable of learning and they are creating hard times. Have you heard that our troops have been ordered to leave our NEW base in Niger.

Meanwhile Niger is kicking out American troops and bases.

Energy and weaponry still rule the world, and China admits this reality while Americans fight over semiotics. https://t.co/my3ejMXQVV

— Russ Greene (@GreenPlusAnE) April 22, 2024

CNN reported:

US Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell met with Niger’s Prime Minister Ali Lamine Zeine on Friday and they agreed – after Niger’s demands – that the US would militarily withdraw from the country, according to a State Department official.

In the coming days, there will be conversations over the timeline for the withdrawal with the Department of Defense, the official said.

The major drawdown will significantly impact the US troop presence on the continent of Africa, and the move comes amid serious US concerns about the country’s deepening relationships with Russia and Iran. The New York Times first reported on the expected withdrawal.

Yes, our Airmen were just finishing that drone base:

The entire Biden Administration should be forced to endure extreme heat, dust storms, plagues of locusts and flash floods. The don’t care about the hard work of our military or $100 million of our tax dollar. What kind of counter-intelligence and over the horizon capabilities are lost with this base loss. Weak men make hard times.

The Nigerian Military Junta that took over the country is getting super cozy with Iran, China and Russia. From Just The News:

Despite this reported lack of basic supplies and military activities at the base, operations there still cost U.S. taxpayers $1 million a month, per the Gaetz report.

The 100 Russian officials who arrived in Niger last week were part of the Africa Corps, a paramilitary group intended to replace the mercenary organization known as the Wagner Group, according to Russia’s state-owned news outlet RIA Novosti.

Meanwhile, Niger also appears to be cozying up to Iran. The Wall Street Journal reported last month that Niger is reportedly exploring a secret deal that would allow Iran to access its uranium reserves to help the Islamic Republic’s nuclear program.

China also appears to be strengthening ties with Niger. Last week, the Chinese Embassy in Niger announced that the two countries signed a “series of oil cooperation agreements.”

Biden left 1,100 U.S. troops "functionally stranded" in Niger, where they have been "pleading for help," as they have been unable to receive potable water, medical care and other basic supplies. However, the U.S. Embassy in Niger has been blocking reports https://t.co/TqZuwyJEjP

— *Gun Grunt™* D1/4 (@FMFGrunt) April 22, 2024

While y’all are being distracted by the Trump Show Trials, the world is crumbling and we are being humiliated all over the world. Biden has lost a record eleven embassies. And Cookies, our troop are about to get pitched out of Niger’s neighbor Chad.

Much remains to be clarified regarding the note from the Gov’t of #Chad threatening to cancel the Status of Forces Agreement for the small #USA SOF team operating in the #Sahel country. I suspect @GmahamatIdi is just maximizing leverage ahead of polls. https://t.co/2SzTo1GtIt

— Dr. J. Peter Pham (@DrJPPham) April 19, 2024

We shall see. Our troops shouldn’t be anywhere that doesn’t benefit our country, but getting thrown out?

Featured Image: Airman Magazine/flickr.com/cropped/Creative Commons