Article

2012-03-24 Africa North

Mali's Tuareg Rebels Fight On as World Slams Coup

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Posted by Fred 2012-03-24 00:00|| || Front Page|| [1 views ] Top

#1 This has got to be the weakest coup ever. How does a lowly Captain overthrow an entire government. And, of course, this was done, what, 30 days before elections were due. And now the Tuaregs are pushing south. Retards. Has anyone figured out how many soldiers were involved in the coup. It just seems like there couldn't have been many. It seems like they just seized the t.v.station and the presidential compound and that's about it. Seems like a couple of platoons pulled it off. Unbelievable.

Posted by Kentucky Beef 2012-03-24 14:55|| 2012-03-24 14:55|| Front Page Top

#2 Also, I'm thinking this has got to make Mali look like a great place for Al-Qaida to set up shop. Azawad has got to look like a nice safe haven now for any remnants of Algeria jihadi groups still struggling through the southern Atlas Montains. Any theories on how this relates to Jihadis in Libya?

Posted by Kentucky Beef 2012-03-24 15:02|| 2012-03-24 15:02|| Front Page Top

#3 How does a lowly Captain overthrow an entire government

Ambition? Charisma? Connections to certain political factions?

It's also not unusual in that region for an officer to be relegated to the lower ranks due to lack of political, family, or tribal connections or because they aren't 'savvy' enough to engage in extra-curricular moneymaking, or because they are too talented or capable to cut loose; it's safer to keep them in where they can be watched.

Posted by Pappy 2012-03-24 15:42|| 2012-03-24 15:42|| Front Page Top

#4 Also, I'm thinking this has got to make Mali look like a great place for Al-Qaida to set up shop.

They've been there for a few years already: Al-Qaeda in Magreb (AQIM), to be exact. There were reports that Iran had been trying to supply arms to both them and other groups in North Africa via Mali.

Any theories on how this relates to Jihadis in Libya?

There were Tuareg fighters in Libya fighting for Qadaffi. They aren't aligned with AQIM. the Libyan Islamists are getting backing from others.

Posted by Pappy 2012-03-24 15:51|| 2012-03-24 15:51|| Front Page Top

#5 #3 How does a lowly Captain overthrow an entire government

Let's ask Sgt Samuel K. Doe. Whoops. He's dead. But he was Prez for a while

Posted by Frank G 2012-03-24 15:56|| 2012-03-24 15:56|| Front Page Top

#6 Big problem is, once you become president, noone can promote you.

Posted by Thing From Snowy Mountain 2012-03-24 16:08|| 2012-03-24 16:08|| Front Page Top

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