Counterterrorism operations in Africa may soon be getting the help it needs, but the fight against militants that operate in the region is long from over. According Nov. 1 Reuters report, Niger has given authority to the U.S. military to arm its drones, which would boost its efforts in assisting the Nigerian military to oust militants from the region. (Currently, the U.S. military could only use its drones for surveillance purposes.) Though the United States has previously asked Niger for the authorization, the Oct. 4 ambush on U.S. and Nigerian troops by militants operating along the Niger/Mail border has increased pressure on the Nigerian government to provide more options to the U.S. military...
