U.S. expands aid to French mission in Mali
The United States is significantly expanding its assistance to a French assault on Islamist militants in Mali by offering aerial refueling and planes to transport soldiers from other African nations, the Pentagon announced Saturday night…
The United States has concluded that the expanded assistance is legally sound because of France’s notification to the United Nations Security Council that its mission in Mali is being offered at the request of the African country’s government, which is fighting “terrorist elements,” Pentagon spokesman Lt. Col. James Gregory said in a statement.
“Under these circumstances, the U.S. can lawfully provide support to France’s efforts in the armed conflict in Mali,” Gregory said. Gregory said the coup bars “foreign assistance funds,” not military support.
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What? No Drones?
Oh wait, the Obama Drones are too busy sending out press notices against gun ownership on a Friday.
ProfShadow on January 27, 2013 at 12:33 PM
Vietnam gift from the French wasn’t enough.
Oil Can on January 27, 2013 at 12:50 PM
Okay, any one of our resident NeoCons wanna come on here and expound on what a virtue it is to prop up the FRENCH of all people in yet another Turd-World bunghole?
MelonCollie on January 27, 2013 at 1:06 PM
So the Brit transports finally got off the ground. Yea!
Dusty on January 27, 2013 at 2:00 PM
I am not a NeoCon by any stretch but helping the French in this case is in our interest. Protecting southern Mali is primarily in the interest of France so it is fitting that they provide the manpower, combat forces, and manage the campaign. They know the country and the people. It is in the US interest to deny AQ and its affiliates from having breathing room to train and raise funds for terrorism. The mission depended on decisive action and getting the right mix of forces close to the battlefield. The US has that capability as well as C3 and ELINT elements which also help the mission. Had the French been forced to rely on their own logistics they would have arrived by sea weeks later and had to travel much further and had a longer logistical tail. France is our ally in the fight against AQ and have provided men and vital intelligence in the broad fight as well as bases to operate from. They also provided combat forces in Afghanistan.
lexhamfox on January 27, 2013 at 2:28 PM
But I thought Osama was dead and Al Qaeda was on the run?
profitsbeard on January 27, 2013 at 2:52 PM
Chutzpah on stilts! Obama vows “Never Again” on Holocaust Remembrance Day
Meanwhile, Obama’s F-16s, tanks and money are gifted to genocidal Muslim Brotherhood supremacists… and works to disarm American citizens.
Terp Mole on January 27, 2013 at 3:46 PM