tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8435065948620169670.post6415167244610519762..comments2023-08-29T03:31:24.755-07:00Comments on Under the Burning Bridge: Hollande's lonely war in Mali - Iraq revisited?Fripouillehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14321346986665375480noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8435065948620169670.post-55981554918683031262013-01-18T11:33:41.313-08:002013-01-18T11:33:41.313-08:00Hi Nadege and yes, the next few weeks are likely t...Hi Nadege and yes, the next few weeks are likely to throw up all sorts of surprises.<br /><br />Fom what I understand, Mali itself doesn't have any large amounts of major resources such as oil, gas, uranium and others, but, and very importantly, its geographical position helps France to access countries further south which do have them.<br /><br />And Mali is also an ex-colony so it's a large market for French-produced goods and a member of the Francophone club, whose objectives you are surely aware of. <br /><br />Yup, no interests to be defended = no war. That's as sure as eggs is eggs...<br />Fripouillehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14321346986665375480noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8435065948620169670.post-63511924213528099952013-01-18T05:16:37.678-08:002013-01-18T05:16:37.678-08:00If any country (France this time) is fighting, it ...If any country (France this time) is fighting, it is because there are interests to be defended.<br />I read very quickly the other day that during the last US elections, during a debate, a journalist asked Obama and Romney about Mali. They both looked like deer caught in headlights. They had no clue (or didn't want to answer) but journalists have known that Mali is a big deal and the rise of terrorism in that country has to be stopped. <br />Somalia? Zero oil. Nobody is trying to bring democracy to that ruined country.<br />It will be interesting to find out what will happen in the next few weeks.Amandahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06031276247743743680noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8435065948620169670.post-11384365711999258402013-01-17T09:03:11.198-08:002013-01-17T09:03:11.198-08:00Hi Vagabonde, and I've read similar estimates ...Hi Vagabonde, and I've read similar estimates of allied support, although I also read that satellite and other surveillance intelligence is also being given to the French, by America in particular.<br /><br />Whatever, as I write this we're still waiting for confirmation of the number of killed and injured at the refinery in Algeria. Another snippet, French journalists are (quite rightly imho) beginning to complain about the French military and other authorities' information lockdown. No journalists are allowed into most areas of Mali, even accompanied by or embedded within military units, and what little information is being given is being doled out little by little. All governments do this of course, but the French - as well as the Israelis - are particularly loath to have journalists around.<br /><br />At the end of the day though, the French are going to need assistance soon if they are to avoid losing their grip on the situation, particularly now that things may spill over into other areas. 'Wait and see', as the French now say in English?Fripouillehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14321346986665375480noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8435065948620169670.post-89906728482263352662013-01-16T19:56:03.487-08:002013-01-16T19:56:03.487-08:00I have been trying also to find out what is going ...I have been trying also to find out what is going on in Mali. I just read that the UK is sending two C-17 and Canada one C-17, Belgium two C-130 and Denmark 1 C-130, Africans countries are sending troops: Nigeria 900, as well as Burkina Faso, Togo, etc for a total of close to 3,300 troops. The US is supposed to send spy planes, drones and refueling tankers. That does not sound good. Vagabondehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10774109692564954568noreply@blogger.com