Editorial Board New York Times October 22, 2017

The United States has been at war continuously since the attacks of 9/11 and now has just over 240,000 active-duty and reserve troops in at least 172 countries and territories. American forces are actively engaged not only in the conflicts in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria and Yemen that have dominated the news, but also in Niger and Somalia, both recently the scene of deadly attacks, as well as Jordan, Thailand and elsewhere.  An additional 37,813 troops serve on presumably secret assignment in places listed simply as “unknown.” The Pentagon provided no further explanation.    Read full story.

Photo caption: Air Force officers walk toward an MQ-9 Reaper at Nigerien Air Base 101 in Niger.  Credit: Staff Sgt. Joshua R. M. Dewberry/Air Force