Discussion on The Spear Podcast: Strategies for Escaping Detection

In 2011, Todd Angstman and his Special Forces team found themselves in Gao, Mali, a bustling hub of trans-Saharan trade that was about to become a hotbed of unrest. The nearest American forces were almost a thousand kilometers away, leaving Angstman to prepare for the worst-case scenario.

The Arab Spring and subsequent uprising in Libya had led to a decrease in security across northern Mali. Displaced Tuareg tribesmen entered Mali, threatening the region's stability. In this tense environment, Angstman had to make decisions with limited information.

Communications were spotty in Gao, making coordination with the combined arms task force deployed in the city challenging. The image in the article, credited to Sgt. Conner Douglas, United States Africa Command, may provide visual context to these events. It was taken during the deployment, though the exact timing is unclear.

The image may have been taken before Angstman had to figure out how to get across the lone bridge for hundreds of miles before it was too late. It may also have been taken during a period when Angstman was preparing for potential attacks by the Tuareg tribesmen, or when communications were spotty in Gao.

The image may have been taken during a time when the nearest American forces were almost one thousand kilometers away from Gao. Despite the distance, Angstman had to make sure his team was ready to evade should the Tuaregs start attacking the Malian government.

The search results do not provide information about the troops located on the other side of the lone bridge during Angstman's time in Gao, Mali. However, it is known that a combined arms task force was deployed in Gao, working alongside Angstman's Green Berets.

The image, taken by a member of the United States Africa Command, offers a glimpse into the challenging and uncertain circumstances faced by Angstman and his team during their deployment in Gao, Mali. It serves as a testament to their resilience and dedication in the face of adversity.