Killing Of 4 Soldiers In Niger Raises Questions About U.S. Mission In West Africa

05:41

October 12, 2017

In this image provided by the U.S. Air Force, a U.S. Army carry team transfers the remains of Army Staff Sgt. Dustin Wright of Lyons, Ga., late Thursday, Oct. 5, 2017, upon arrival at Dover Air Force Base, Del. Wright, 29, of Lyons, Ga., was one of four U.S. troops and four Niger forces killed in an ambush by dozens of Islamic extremists on a joint patrol of American and Niger Force. (Staff Sgt. Aaron J. Jenne/U.S. Air Force via AP)

When four members of a Green Beret unit were killed in Niger last week, it was likely the first time most Americans heard that U.S. troops were serving in the West African country. The Pentagon is investigating and The New York Times reports the results will likely show the U.S. troops were sent to a hostile area without adequate risk assessment.

Here & Now's Lisa Mullins learns more from New York Times reporter Thomas Gibbons-Neff (@Tmgneff).

This segment aired on October 12, 2017.