Posted on 01/15/2013 6:43:34 PM PST by MinorityRepublican
BAMAKO, Mali — After a punishing bombing campaign failed to halt the advance of al-Qaida-linked fighters, France pledged Tuesday to triple the size of its force in Mali, sending in hundreds more troops as it prepared for a land assault to dislodge the militants occupying the northern half of the country.
The move reversed France’s earlier insistence on providing only aerial and logistical support for a military intervention led by African ground troops.
France plunged headfirst into the conflict in its former colony last week, bombarding the insurgents’ training camps, arms depots and safe houses in an effort to shatter the Islamist domination of a region many fear could become a launching pad for terrorist attacks on the West and a magnet for extremists from around the world.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
After all that protesting Europe did against the US in Iraq and Afghanistan you would think they would apply their own righteousness to themselves. Go ahead and bomb the crap out the Muslims in Mali...hypocrites.
I think the big question is are these French regular army, or Legionnaires? When Cuban mercenaries were cutting up rough in Africa, and the French deployed the Legion, the Cubans left skid marks, beating feet out of there.
However, since the French deployed regulars in Afghanistan, they have probably gotten a taste for it and want an opportunity to try out a more generous ROE, whacking al Qaeda with open orders.
Are you talking specifically about the French, who sent troops to Afghanistan and provided close-air support to our own troops?
Vive La France....Get Some!
The French will have the same success the American’s enjoyed when we first attacked the Taliban. Large numbers of Taliban were killed and their government was overthrown. But to what end? The fundamentalists continue to wage ceaseless war. If the West is serious about stopping the worldwide fundamentalist wave, then it must address the Saudi problem. The Wahhabi fundamentalists who finance and motivate this behavior have a refuge in Saudi Arabia. They don’t attack those decadent royal lowlifes as long as they get money from the oil and are allowed to freely operate.
Talking about the leftist million man marches and protests against the US in Europe when we bombed the crap out of “innocent Muslims” in Iraq. No protests when European Socialists bomb the crap out of Muslims in another country.
I wonder if Al Queda and the Taliban have an office in France?
Careful, Frenchies...you are in danger of shedding your reputation as cheese-seating surrender monkeys.
As of January 13th, it is estimated that 400 French soldiers are on the ground in Mali.
* 21st Marine Infantry Regiment – one company
* 1st Foreign Cavalry Regiment – one Armored platoon
* 2nd Marine Infantry Regiment – one company
* 4th Special Forces Helicopter Regiment (French equivalent of the 160th SOAR)
* Miscellaneous ground Special Operations units
* Two companies from the 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment (part of the French Foreign Legion) are being readied for deployment
http://sofrep.com/16061/battle-for-mali-operation-serval/
Careful, Frenchies...you are in danger of shedding your reputation as cheese-eating surrender monkeys.
The protests in Europe were about the US going into Iraq, and they were right.
Most of them are French regulars, but I read somewhere there was a battalion of light armor Foreign Legion. Other Europeans are providing air transport and intelligence.
No protests from them either.
Seriously.
ditto!
Some of the French troops killed in Afghanistan were killed defending an American base.
From the article: “Although at least 13 countries have offered support to the Mali mission, only France so far has boots on the ground. On Tuesday, U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta reiterated the Obama administration’s position, saying no American troops will be sent. The U.S. is helping with communications and intelligence-gathering, and may allow American aircraft to help with transport.”
Could the intelligence gathered by the Obama administration somehow be leaked to the al Qaeda terrorists? Oh what am I thinking — NEVER!
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.