Mali: An African war France couldn’t avoid
“We must stop the rebels’ offensive, otherwise the whole of Mali will fall into their hands – creating a threat for Africa and even for Europe,” his foreign minister Laurent Fabius told reporters to justify backing Mali’s dilapidated national army.
For months, military planners in Paris had been working on discreet and limited support for an African-led effort due later this year to try and drive Islamists out of France’s ex-colony.
That scenario was swiftly overtaken on Thursday as rebels captured the central town of Konna that is a gateway towards Bamako 600 km (375 miles) further south.
With Mali’s army impotent, Hollande ordered the first military strikes of his career. Now France has deployed troops, C-160 transport aircraft, attack helicopters and has Rafale jets on standby the question is: where does it go from here?
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Wait. Socialists go to war?
aryeung on January 13, 2013 at 3:32 PM
“War is ok, just as long as we do it.” -Socialists
BigGator5 on January 13, 2013 at 3:57 PM
France being there with the tepid goal of handing this over to an African coalition means there’s a good chance this implodes.
theperfecteconomist on January 13, 2013 at 4:12 PM
France and the EU created this disaster from their insistence that the US intervene in Libya. The EU didn’t want a million Libyan refugees flowing into Europe, so they called us.
Those al qaeda thugs are the ones that Quaddafi paid to help him put out the rebellion.
But, hey, what’s some regional instability as opposed to having open borders in the EU?
chimney sweep on January 13, 2013 at 4:19 PM
“Zee white zurrender flags are ready for deployment!”
albill on January 13, 2013 at 4:21 PM
So when do we expect a Mali led Vichy France?
Flange on January 13, 2013 at 4:42 PM
France to the rescue! Run for your lives!
RadClown on January 13, 2013 at 4:43 PM
Ya know…. 0bama has also sent US military folks to Mali too.
I don’t know which side he sent them to support; And it is quite likely that they don’t know either.
LegendHasIt on January 13, 2013 at 5:27 PM