Wilsonian Wars, Wilsonian Ruin

[Valin]

Via Meadia: Walter Russell Mead

6/12/12

 

 

After we expressed our concerns during NATO’s Libyan war that the afterparty was likely to be chaotic and unpleasant, we’ve been watching the horrific humanitarian and political consequences unwind in several places.

 

Most recently, Via Meadia has been keeping a careful eye on the growing troubles in northern Mali and the storied historical city of Timbuktu for some time. Two groups — the Tuareg independence movement MNLA and the al-Qaeda affiliated Ansar Dine — are involved in a struggle for control of a large part of northern Mali. Together, both groups put up a united front in dealing with Mali’s feeble and divided central government, with the result that they’ve seized control of large parts of the country. They then declared a “union” and announced their intention to establish an Islamic, well, something, and began the usual persecutions of and reprisals against their enemies. Due to both tribal and religious differences, their alliance is tenuous and they are held together only by their loathing and jealousy of the south — and their fear that outside groups like the group of west African nations known as ECOWAS will send troops against them.

 

To make matters more complicated, many of Timbuktu’s original residents, who are displeased with the newcomers, decided to establish their own armed movement — the Patriots’ Resistance Movement for the Liberation of Timbuktu. At this point we have something that looks partly like something out of Evelyn Waugh’s Scoop, partly like a Monty Python sketch, partly like a terrible human tragedy and partly like something much more ominous: a jihadi center organizing itself in an area of weak states and deep regional and ethnic rivalries.

 

(Snip)

 

A report on the great fustercluck otherwise known as Syria.

 

Nothing to see here.....move along.

[Valin]

Mali: Islamists 'seize Gao from Tuareg rebels'

6/17/12

 

Islamist forces in northern Mali are reported to have seized the town of Gao after clashes with Tuareg-led rebels.

 

Residents say the Islamists have taken over buildings occupied by the Tuaregs - including their headquarters - and raised their black flag.

 

At least 20 people have been killed and witnesses say many Tuaregs have fled.

 

(Snip)