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Africa Subsaharan
U.S. Officials See Extended French Campaign in Mali
2013-01-15
U.S. defense officials said a French military campaign against extremist rebels in Mali will be a time-consuming effort, and have yet to decide on specific steps to take in support of the intervention.

While France has carried out airstrikes since last week against Islamist militants in northern Mali, rebels and al Qaeda-aligned groups continued to advance on government-controlled towns.

U.S. officials predicted that the French campaign, with military support from Mali's neighbors, would drive back al Qaeda.

"Our hope is that ultimately they will be able to succeed in establishing better security in Mali," Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said in Lisbon, on a trip during which he will confer with European allies.

Gen. Carter Ham, the head of U.S. Africa command, said in an interview with The Wall Street Journal Tuesday that the French campaign "may prove to be decisive," but that it wouldn't end after a few days of airstrikes.

"My sense is that the French are committed and understand this will not be a short-term campaign," Gen. Ham said.
Posted by:tipper

#4  See also WAFF > FRANCE IS PUTTING BOOTS ON THE GROUND, 24-HOUR ]Air] BOMBING CAMPAIGN, RAF FERRIES FRENCH EQUIPMENT | [CBC News] FRANCE WILL DEPLOY 2,500 TROOPS IN MALI, 800 FRENCH SOLDIERS, INCLUDING SPECIAL FORCES, ALREADY IN MALI.

and

* DEFENCE.PK/FORUMS > FRENCH "RAFALE" STRIKES
[+ GAZELLE light combat helos + MIRAGES] OVER MALI | RAFALES HARASS ISLAMIST TERROROIST GROUPS IN MALI.

* SAME > [Guardian.UK] MALIAN REBELS OVERRUN GARRISON TOWN + ADVANCE TOWARDS CAPITAL.

RELATED BHARAT RAKSHAK > MALI MILITANTS ADVANCE DESPITE FRENCH AIRSTRIKES.

* SAME > [Dawn.com] NATO BACKS FRANCE IN MALI, BUT SAYS NO [Alliance-level] AID REQUEST, as made by France.

Posted by: JosephMendiola   2013-01-15 23:56  

#3  Bits leaking out now about a Mali junior officer who took the US Army MTT graduation certificate and then went over to AQ. Shades of SGT Doe in Liberia a few years back.
Posted by: Besoeker   2013-01-15 21:19  

#2  First the botched rescue operation in Somalia and now an extended campaign in Mali, is some Gallic comeupance in the cards?

And I love how they have limited press assess to their operations. Where are the protests, oh right they are not the US....
Posted by: Rifle308   2013-01-15 21:16  

#1  Comment dire « quagmire » en français?

"bourbier..."

Posted by: M. Murcek   2013-01-15 20:04  

00:00