"Gaetz accused government officials of delaying the inevitable departure of U.S. forces from Niger to spare the Biden administration the embarrassment of having to close facilities that cost the United States hundreds of millions of dollars to build only recently " a charge officials denied."

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"There's a very narrow path here to finding an accommodation that addresses their interests and concerns and our interests and concerns," said a senior State Department official, who like some others spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss the Biden administration's diplomatic efforts.

"It may not work, but the fat lady hasn't sung yet."

Yes, but what do Gaetz's female victims have to say about this obviously non-partisan, concerned citizen report?

"Hundreds of people protested in Niger's capital city of Niamey over the weekend, demanding that U.S. troops leave the country in demonstrations whipped up by Niger's junta.

Russian anti-aircraft defense systems and 100 instructors arrived just two days before the protests, following a defense pact signed with Russia in December. The Russian troops are part of Africa Corps"Moscow's state-recognized replacement for the paramilitary Wagner Group."

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"Last month, Niger ended its military agreement with the United States. Niger's military spokesperson, Col. Amadou Abdramane, cited reasons including the "condescending attitude" of U.S. officials in attempting to lecture Niamey over ties with Russia and Iran.

The decision followed a visit by Molly Phee, the U.S. assistant secretary of state for African affairs, and Gen. Michael Langley, the chief of the U.S. Africa Command.

More than 1,000 U.S. soldiers are stationed at a U.S. military air base in Agadez, a desert city nearly 600 miles northeast of Niamey, where the United States operates drones in order to monitor jihadi activities."

Niger's junta had been hostile toward most Western nations"except the United States, which it considered a key partner until this month.

Washington had invested millions of dollars on its air base and in the training of Niger's troops, including Nigerien coup leader Gen. Abdourahmane Tchiani, who was trained by the U.S. military.

Niger's junta now perceives the U.S. military bases as being more beneficial for the United States than they are for Niger, which has been fighting jihadis for over a decade.

Since 2017, the U.S. military has stopped joint operations in the country after four U.S. soldiers were killed while hunting for an Islamic State leader."

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