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.
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.
Careful, Frenchies...you are in danger of shedding your reputation as cheese-seating surrender monkeys.
Careful, Frenchies...you are in danger of shedding your reputation as cheese-eating surrender monkeys.
Seriously.
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!
A thousand troops = massive land assault?
Al Quida is in trouble. Maybe code pink can rush to their aid.
Muslims are fatalists. They react to everything as “Allah wills”. Obama has been giving them every reason to believe that this is their time.
They won’t stop until they have a real punishment and massive losses.