France upset that White House isn’t doing more to intervene in Mali
However, the unusually harsh criticism from Paris underscored the longtime U.S. ally’s growing frustration with the U.S. commitment to the Mali mission.
The U.S. is providing “invaluable” intelligence-gathering help for the Mali campaign, the French officials said. But the U.S. has yet to decide on whether to agree to France’s request for U.S. planes to refuel French fighters in flight, they said. France has a small fleet of aging refueling tankers and says more are needed to maintain the tempo of air operations in remote Mali.
France also has asked the U.S. to send additional manned and unmanned surveillance planes to spy on rebel communications, but the White House so far hasn’t responded to that request either.
Obama administration officials have said they support the French campaign but want to get a clear picture of the mission and the rebels being targeted in French strikes before providing more assistance.
Blowback
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Vietnam II?
portlandon on January 21, 2013 at 2:17 PM
They know full well that to do so would draw even more attention to the administration’s failures in Libya.
Christien on January 21, 2013 at 2:18 PM
Why do we have to fight France’s wars for them?
Illinidiva on January 21, 2013 at 2:18 PM
Sounds like a country dedicated too much of their budget on butter rather then guns.
WashJeff on January 21, 2013 at 2:18 PM
Hey EUtopia you don’t like that Giggles created a terrorist sponsor state at YOUR behest in Africa?
Frag toi.
You were aghast he might mose.
You wanted him to break it you helped by it Fwance.
Hug a rainbow.
harlekwin15 on January 21, 2013 at 2:19 PM
I say restart the draft and send the Obama voters and their smart phones over to fight the war.
Then leave them there.
Dack Thrombosis on January 21, 2013 at 2:20 PM
Wow, I am crushed. First, the French are not members of NATO and in the 1980′s refused to let Reagan use French airspace to attack Khaddify. And, since they are not members of NATO, surely they are have all the necessary equipment and troops to carry out such an operation on their own./s
SC.Charlie on January 21, 2013 at 2:22 PM
Hey, didn’t the Froggies want a less imperial president? Well, now they have him!
stvnscott on January 21, 2013 at 2:23 PM
They hated Cowboy Bush. Okay, now they’ve got one of their own.
vityas on January 21, 2013 at 2:28 PM
Sheesh…
A strip or two of white cloth isn’t that expensive..they should buy it themselves.
Oh…drones…I’m guessing they want some drones…
Well, let’s send them some Obama voters…same thing.
ProfShadow on January 21, 2013 at 2:29 PM
Hollande needs to learn how this game is played.
Obama has no friends.
Jabberwock on January 21, 2013 at 2:36 PM
Ze Americains are not being imperialist enough? How dare they!
Now go and fight so we can taunt you a second time!
chimney sweep on January 21, 2013 at 2:39 PM
No war for French Oil!!
Caper29 on January 21, 2013 at 2:45 PM
That’s not entirely right.
France is indeed in NATO. Always have been. They are the third largest contribting memer, both in terms of defence expenditures and deployable military personal.
The “French Withdrawal” as you saw it was just a desegregation of the French military from the rest of NATO troops starting with French President Charles de Gaulle. The Lemnitzer-Ailleret Agreements detailed how French forces would dovetail back into NATO’s command structure should East-West hostilities break out during the Cold War. President Nicolas Sarkozy had France rejoin the integrated military command structure of NATO.
I don’t like the French as much as you do, but let’s get our facts straight.
BigGator5 on January 21, 2013 at 2:49 PM
Mon Dieu!!!
Schadenfreude on January 21, 2013 at 2:50 PM
France got into this mess, it’s theirs. Isn’t that what they said about Bush and Ira?
Tasha on January 21, 2013 at 2:51 PM
That’s Iraq.
Tasha on January 21, 2013 at 2:52 PM
France is upset? Oh nooooooooo!! I thought we are the bullies of the world who should stop involving ourselves in the business of everyone else? What gives France??
Dollayo on January 21, 2013 at 3:03 PM
Sure, why not? We’re all French now and believe the world runs on an unlimited supply of unicorn farts.
RadClown on January 21, 2013 at 3:12 PM
BigGator5 on January 21, 2013 at 2:49 PM
Thanks for the correction. De Gaulle was a pompous ass when he suddenly took France out of NATO in 1966. I don’t know how I missed them totally rejoining NATO back in 2009.
SC.Charlie on January 21, 2013 at 3:16 PM
Clear picture? Since when has that mattered. And as to who, they are wearing the uniforms, driving the equipment and sloppily following the training America gave them. Oh, and a lot of their bearded friends and cousins are along to mourn the decimation of Al Queda.
BL@KBIRD on January 21, 2013 at 3:33 PM
France to America: “Hey could you hold this bag for just a second?” “Thanks, I’m outta here.”
Red Creek on January 21, 2013 at 3:42 PM
You’re welcome. I don’t think you were the only one to miss that.
BigGator5 on January 21, 2013 at 3:44 PM
We had other things on our mind in 2009, I missed it too.
Who is John Galt on January 21, 2013 at 4:04 PM
How’s about eliminating $7,000,000 Hawaiian vacations first, as a sign of good faith to show you’re serious?
8 weight on January 21, 2013 at 4:07 PM
I think we should send the same numbers as France sent to Afganistan, or Iraq, or Vietnam, or Lebanon, or Somalia, or etc.
Old Country Boy on January 21, 2013 at 4:08 PM
I think we’ve spent enough blood and treasure in defending the French. The debt from over 2 centuries ago has been paid in full.
Although, on the other hand, world wars typically start with the French making horrible military decisions, getting their butts handed to them and then everyone jumping in to protect them while millions of French collude with the enemy and thousands help fight back.
deepdiver on January 21, 2013 at 4:15 PM