France to stay in Mali until stability restored
Paris has poured hundreds of soldiers into Mali and carried out 50 bombing raids since Friday in the Islamist-controlled northern half of the country, which Western and regional states fear could become a base for terrorist attacks in Africa and Europe.
Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said that, despite French air support, Malian forces had not been able to dislodge Islamist fighters from the central Malian towns of Konna or Diabaly, just 350 km (220 miles) northeast of Bamako…
Thousands of African soldiers are due to take over the offensive. Regional armies are scrambling to accelerate an operation which was initially not expected until September and has been brought forward by France’s surprise bombing campaign aimed at stopping a rebel advance on a strategic town last week.
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Or they throw down their guns and run away, whatever comes first.
Mark1971 on January 15, 2013 at 11:39 PM
Just like Nam.
Oil Can on January 16, 2013 at 12:08 AM
“Stability” is value-neutral. This could mean surrender.
forest on January 16, 2013 at 12:17 AM
With both hands raised, they’ll stay to restore stability…
Logus on January 16, 2013 at 12:53 AM
France to stay in Mali until
stability restoredmoney runs out.trigon on January 16, 2013 at 1:21 AM
Hundreds of soldiers! I am impressed.
Fenris on January 16, 2013 at 4:02 AM
We’ve already been suckered into fighting this thing when they bail, haven’t we.
apostic on January 16, 2013 at 4:43 AM
I’ll be more impressed when France decides to invade the large sections of Paris that are now islamist no-go zones.
wildcat72 on January 16, 2013 at 7:48 AM
My thoughts exactly with America.
Oh look, we steamrolled a bunch of peasants with improvised bombs and AK-47s. Whoop-dee-f*cking-doo. Boy, that was really hard.
Now how about we march troops into major blue cities, haul every Democrat minority voter who’s wanted for a crime into court, and put a pistol round into the camera of every dumbsh!t liberal ‘reporter’ who’s trying to make the lawful side look bad? THAT would impress me!
MelonCollie on January 16, 2013 at 1:21 PM