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Sanderson was right, the advantage really was on P·B's side!
It wasn't because of firepower superiority but because the Nigerien Minister of Defence, along with a large troop, had taken over the airport and the artillery positions, then had the northern forces block the roads, preventing the French armored troops from advancing. That Nigerien colonel, with 300 men, rushed to the town, firmly seizing command of the battle.
This was the legal advantage, you Americans and French, no matter how powerful, are just foreign forces here. To confront the local Nigerien army is to deny the rules set by your politicians, to trample on Niger's national sovereignty.
Theoretically, even if the Nigerien military ordered a bombing, America and France could only huff and puff in condemnation.
Of course, if America and France were to pull some dirty tricks here, all Niger could do was whine and ask for some compensation.
