Leading From Behind in Mali?

[Valin]

Via Meadia:

 

1/11/13

 

[uPDATE] France is at war in Mali, launching air strikes against jihadi forces threatening the country’s fragile (and not very impressive) government. Given the sharp limits on France’s ability to project power, French officials are in discussions with the Pentagon about possible American intelligence and logistics support.

 

The conflict in Mali is France’s third military intervention in Africa since 2011; besides the Libyan war, French troops were engaged in the Cote d’Ivoire.

 

The American footprint in Africa is also expanding and the chaotic aftermath of the Libyan war has only increased the threat from radical jihadis in that part of the world. No solution to this problem is in sight; the United States and its allies have some hard slogging ahead. For the people of the region, where political and religious strife has already taken an economic toll, more strife inevitably means more hardship. These problems aren’t pretty, and they aren’t going away.

 

(Snip)

[Draggingtree]

Crisis in Mali

 

West Scrambles to Counter Islamist Offensive

 

By Matthias Gebauer in Sevare, Mali

France led the West on Friday in offering to help Mali's interim government push back a surprise offensive launched Thursday by Islamist forces from the north. Elite French troops are reportedly already on the ground.

A huge convoy of cars suddenly drove into the small city of Sevare, in central Mali, at around 3 p.m. on Thursday. One could already tell from the incessant honking that something was amiss. "Get out while you still can!" screamed the sweat-drenched driver of a dilapidated blue Mercedes. Then he stepped on it, and the other cars raced away behind him.

Within a few minutes, the air was so thick with dust that it was hard to see. Panic broke out. Not knowing what to do, those standing around jumped on the few remaining minibuses in the intersection. Everyone wanted to get away -- and fast.

Even the police were gripped with sudden anxiety. Phones started ringing non-stop on the rickety tables in the blue-painted main station and officers kept running into the room shouting.

"We can no longer guarantee your safety,"

For now, the frontline between their area, governed by sharia law, and the rest of Mali lies a great distance from the capital city. But Thursday's events have clearly shown the country's military has little with which it can counter the rebel fighters.

http://www.spiegel.de/international/world/france-and-west-pledge-support-after-islamists-start-offensive-in-mali-a-877050.html