Mali - Al Qaeda's Hunting Reserve

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

France steps in with help from friends.

Well, here we go again. The insurgents have taken the northern part of the country, so now France steps in to try and salvage a formal colony. Lots of help from NATO allies except the United States which should probably stay visibly out of this. If the 'great Satan' becomes visibly involved it will be a propaganda coup for Al Qaeda.

This is like a cancer, and if it spreads to both coasts of Africa no shipping in the Indian nor the South Atlantic coasts will be safe except under heavy convoy.

Most Islamic states have disavowed Al Qaeda, knowing which side the butter is on. This has echos of the Christian crusades except at the time the Moors were the ones considered civilized. In this case, however, the Al Qaeda insurgents are not trying to build an empire so much as trying to destroy our civilization.

[Bipin 3,402]

I'm interested to hear what Harper's stance is on the matter. Being quite willing to support his allies (though often British or U.s. mind you) I'd like to see where this goes. I have a friend in the regular army and another as a submariner in the Navy.

[libellibicus 396]

Us Brits are providing transport support for the French troops. It's only a matter of time before we have some Boots on the ground. With Afghanistan winding down, our Government won't want to see our Military sitting around with nothing to do. I'm just glad that I retired from the Army after my 2 tours in Northern Ireland, 1 tour in Bosnia, Gulf War 1, Gulf War 2 and Sierra Leonne. Al Qaeda is like a Cancer, and West Africa is a breeding ground for this form of Islamist terrorism. Afghanistan Mk2? I reckon so!

[Cobraroll 138]

Thing is, the Touaregs in Mali have been separatists for some time now. They want to make their own country in Mali's northern half, Azawad. After the Libya revolution, many Touareg mercenaries came back after fighting for Ghadafi. They lost the war (which they probably don't care much about as long as they got paid), but managed to get away with a lot of weapons and stuff when retreating (it's not like they had any superiors who objected). So they use those Libyan weapons to fight for independence. So far, so good (from their perspective).

Thing is, they don't know squat about organization. They're a bunch of people with loosely the same goal (Independent Azawad), but apart from that one issue, they don't seem to agree on much. The Touaregs' main organization quickly lost control of the region, which descended into lawlessness. And that vacuum was exploited by AQIM, Al-Qaeda In Maghreb. They had a decent command structure, ways to communicate, and some experience in organizing a rebellion (many of them fought in the Algerian Civil War). Before long, AQIM held most of Northern Mali, while the Touaregs were parked on the side lines. Parts of Mali have become an Islamic society stricter than most.

Now, Anti-Western Islamists with their own playground is not a very desirable situation for anybody in the Western World, so it's easy to see why France wants to intervene. I don't think this will become another Afghanistan, seeing as the conservative Islamic culture isn't as ingrained in Mali, and AQIM don't have much support in the population. They're not on a home turf, which makes it very hard to fight a guerilla war.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

I'm interested to hear what Harper's stance is on the matter. Being quite willing to support his allies (though often British or U.s. mind you) I'd like to see where this goes. I have a friend in the regular army and another as a submariner in the Navy.

At the moment, he's playing his harp ... er ... piano. They've sent one heavy lift transport to assist with logistics. Wonder how the government (Harper) will justify the next step. If it could be proven that the insurgents are really invaders, Mali would have a case before the League of Nations ... er ... United Nations just like Haile Selassie. Probably get the same answer, too.

[Cottoncandy Cyanide 145]

I swear, Al-Qaeda is like a curse in this world. To be honest, i personally think they're making their own religion look bad. Sorry if what I said was ireelevant to the topic. I'm not the big girl on the world news.

[LexusInfernus 908]

Well good for the French, I hope they have some success in wiping out those Al Queda rats.

Hopefully they can save some of those ancient graves those Al Queda barbarians were demolishing.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

This is a tentacle of infection.

"Militants" should be treated as the scum they are and shot on sight. If they want to trample on people, let them be trampled back. We've been far too tolerant of some of these so called "freedom" movements. Freedom to enslave is not one of the principles we endorse.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Update.

The African Union is stepping up to the plate led by Nigeria. It appears that the insurgents are rather afraid of getting taken by their African cousins who have the same regard for life and property as they do.

The associated mess in Algeria continues.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

AU meets.

I've always felt that Africa was for the Africans. Seems they are willing to step up, and I hope they are able.

---

And later today: Algeria has a rather shorter fuse than the appeasers would like.

Those people in the "diplomatic" world who hesitate in situations like this should be spanked. The only way to deal with terrorists is immediately hit them back. Hostages should be considered lost, even if it was someone in my immediate family, I would prefer to have them back or dead. Incarceration by these criminals is often a fate worse than death.

[BLANKBLANK 4,414]

How's this for coincidence... The Bundesbank (German central bank) wants 3000 tonnes of its gold back which it once deposited in other central banks (removed after the Second World War you see due to fears the Commies may invade West Germany and get their mitts on the yellow stuff). The Bundesbank and the France central bank have agreed that 350 tonnes of Bundesbank gold will be removed from the France central bank and back into Germany, a process that will take SEVEN years.

Next there have been all sorts of rumours that officially held central bank gold is nothing but tungsten filled replicas and the real stuff has been rehypothecated (counted twice or more) or sold to other parties. So the France central bank may not even have the Bundesbank gold so its need more gold, like 350 more tonnes of it.

Mali produces a decent bit of gold and lo and behold the French step in over 'insurgency concerns' and so is all of this just some attempt at controlling Mali's gold mining facilities just to honour Bundesbank gold repatriation requests?

It sounds like conspiracy theory nonsense, but then why else would France get involved with Mali? Don't forget Mali was once territory held by France many years ago so France knows the area so to speak...

It sounds like nonsense, but I'm a firm believer in following the money which explains weird things like Libyan rebels forming their own central bank in Benghazi in the middle of a civil war (remember Libya last year and the overthrow of Gaddafi?), and other rumours about the transfer of 144 tonnes of Libyan gold to satisfy a request from Venezuela to get its gold back...

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Would be interesting if the major currencies of the world were still on any kind of gold standard, but that is well and truly a thing of the past.

[macvirt 361]

This has nothing to do with Al Qaida in any way or form. That is just dumb propaganda / reporting, not journalism. The situation in Mali is complex, with variables from consequences of colonialism for demographics to economics and beyond to interactions with the consequences of political and economic shifts on the african continent. There are elements of religion as well as belief, but for the most part those are merely abused for propaganda purposes and little else.

By the way, the decisions on the moving of gold deposits has nothing to do with that situation in Mali It is part of a growing trend of seperation from the UK from both Europe and the US (the UK is once again the country with the most tangible and intangible goodwill in international political and financial relations - a position the US lost under the first Bush) experimenting with the potential to once again become an independant empire seperate from the US (strengthened by the changes in Commonwealth organisation and financial structuring as well as the strong growth among and strong position in strategic resources reserves among several Commonwealth members). Ironic incident, the US "reminding" the Brits that it "would be best" to stay in the EU. But in extension of that trend the growing seperation from most of the economic zones of the world away from the US. European mainland for example, but also the ASEAN countries as well as the - with the aid of China - growing strength of both the south american and african economies. For the agreements between France and Germany as the central powers of the EU it is just that, part of historic agreements. It's a geopolitical shift that gives way to such policy changes, nothing else. That revolutions and riots tend to foster their own economics, usually in terms of hard resources, is a completely different phenomenon. One very unfortunate, but hardly new in our human history.

[LexusInfernus 908]

It sounds like conspiracy theory nonsense, but then why else would France get involved with Mali? Don't forget Mali was once territory held by France many years ago so France knows the area so to speak...

How about because the government of Mali asked for an intervention, the UN security council approved the use of force and it being in everyone's interest if those Al Queda affiliated rats do not conquer an entire country for themselves. Why France? Well first of all, its not just France, other countries are helping, though its mainly French ground troops. Second, France, being the former colonial owner of the country still has the best contacts with the country for now, making them the ideal choice to lead such a mission.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Update.

Seems to be going smoothly so far. Morsi in Egypt is a damned fool.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

When allies are not.

The Tuaregs should have known better in the beginning. The Al Qaeda groups would only oppress them as well. Changing sides in the middle of a war is always dangerous.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Progress, but it is slow going.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

After Gao, Timbuktu.

Of course these 'bandits' will just scatter into the countryside. They will probably have to be hunted down individually.

Update - Gao secured (maybe).

  Edited January 26, 2013 by A Nonny Moose  

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

And on to Timbuktu.

Historically, Timbuktu is a great centre of Islamic learning, and has been for centuries. Let us hope these vandals have not destroyed this ancient library.

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Ancient library burned.

Unfortunately there are probably no copies elsewhere as this was mostly on old scrolls and manuscripts. Vandals!!!

There is a certain parallel in this behaviour with the book burnings of the NAZIs in the 1930s. Does anyone doubt that Al Qaeda is evil?

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Africa steps up, uh -- half way.

Here we go again with an underfunded 'peace' keeping operation. Seems the world is out of money for this kind of thing.

Update

A drop in the bucket and out of Canadian citizens pockets. Could we not have found better use for that tiny amount?

[A Nonny Moose 8,261]

Appears to be all done except the rabbit hunt.

Experienced African desert troops will chase the miscreants down. Expect no prisoners.