Akhilesh Pillalamarri, Defense News: Is the new US drone base in Niger worth the cost?
For decades, large parts of Africa have been home to local radicals and militants. But these local radicals do not present a direct threat to U.S. national security — so does their mere existence justify the construction of a new drone base that has a price tag of $100 million?
The cost of operating the facility, located in the middle of the Sahara desert in Agadez, Niger, is estimated at $30 million a year. By the end of the 10-year agreement for the use of the site in 2024, named Nigerien Air Base 201, the U.S. will have spent around $280 million.
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WNU Editor: Are the militants in the region a threat to the U.S.? The above commentator believes not. In my opinion .... I am not sure. But I do agree that we should have a debate on what are our goals in this part of Africa, to define our objectives, and to explain to the public on what needs to be done. Conducting foreign policy without public input has not worked out well for the U.S. since 9/11, doubly so in places like Niger.
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