France Invades Mali

[CountDeMoney]

I was expecting the last one to be holding a sign reading "Burma Shave". 

Only a handful would get that reference.

And "Burka Shave" works better anyway.

[Phillip V]

France Orders More Troops Into Mali

Number of French soldiers will be 2,500; Arab states are being asked to help finance the effort.

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/16/world/africa/france-mali-intervention.html

[mongers]

Channel 4 News reporter Lindsey Hilsum arrives in Mali

French intervention in Mali: what happens next?

Landing in Bamako, the capital of Mali, it's hard to believe that this is a country at war.

Airport staff greeted us with their customary courtesy, as dozens of women in colourful dresses and butterfly headgear patiently queued outside to meet their family members arriving from Paris. The evening streets were quiet, as we drove past the yellow castle on the river which Colonel Gaddafi built as offices for the Malian government.

Yet many, if not most, people in Bamako have friends and relatives in the north where the fighting is taking place. Our driver's sister is a nurse at the hospital in Gao, which has been under Islamist rule for the last nine months. He said that she told him there were far more dead than injured amongst the Islamists who've been targeted by French bombing raids for the past two days.

The people of Gao stayed inside during the bombing, which destroyed the old customs house, part of the airport and other places which the Islamists had used as their headquarters.

People were especially happy to see that the police had been attacked. In recent months, the Islamist police in Gao have dragged suspected thieves and others to Sharia courts which have ordered the amputation of limbs and other punishments. Even smoking could earn you a flogging.

The Islamists have melted away into the desert or back into the population. They no longer control the city.

"Now the people of Gao are going out on the streets to have a smoke just because they can!" he said. "And women are going out without headscarves."

The jihadi groups made the mistake of leaving the cover of the cities of Gao, Kidal and Timbuktu and heading for Konna, south of their northern strongholds. When the French attacked Konna from the air, the jihadis had no choice but to flee, exposing themselves along the roads and in the open desert, allowing the French to bomb again.
.....

Rest of item and film report here, worth a look:

http://blogs.channel4.com/lindsey-hilsum-on-international-affairs/french-intervention-in-mali-what-happens-next/1394

[Phillip V]

Islamists Abduct Foreigners in Algeria

'Islamist militants attacked a gas production field in southern Algeria on Wednesday, kidnapping at least seven foreigners and killing a French national.'

http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2013/01/16/world/africa/16reuters-algeria-kidnap.html

[Grey Fox]

All this footage of the French Army reminds us all that they really need to update their camouflage.

[Phillip V]

French Ground Troops Directly Attacking Islamist Rebels

"Reports in the French media said hand to hand fighting was under way."

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/01/17/world/africa/france-mali-intervention.html

Adm. Edouard Guillaud, the French chief of staff, told Europe 1 television that ground operations began overnight. "Now we're on the ground," Admiral Guillaud said. "We will be in direct combat within hours."

Soon after he spoke, French news outlets reported contact between French and Islamist forces in the village of Diabaly, north of Ségou on the approaches to Bamako, the capital.

"I cannot say whether it will be one hour or 72 hours," Admiral Guillaud said. He said French troops were familiar with "conflict of a guerrilla nature to which we are accustomed in this kind of region."
...
The jihadists are "dug in" at Diabaly, Defense Minister Le Drian said Tuesday at a news conference. From that strategic town, they "threaten the south," he said, adding: "We face a well-armed and determined adversary."

Mr. Le Drian also acknowledged that the Malian Army had not managed to retake the town of Konna, whose seizure by the rebels a week ago provoked the French intervention. "We will continue the strikes to diminish their potential," the minister said.

[Valmy]

All this footage of the French Army reminds us all that they really need to update their camouflage.

Yeah I know budgets are tight in Euro armies but they cannot spring for desert camo?

[CountDeMoney]

I hope the US gets in on some of this action beyond "logistical" with some really nice close air support.  Islamist fighters deserve the finest munitions that can be delivered.

[Grey Fox]

Desert or woodland.  Vietnam era pattern needs to be replace by some of the digital ones. Multicam(new name is stupid) or CadPat.

[Phillip V]

Mitt Romney should volunteer to go to Mali and lead the war.

Here he runs into an African woman and casually speaks French with her: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4hjgzXFLcrE

[derspiess]

Desert or woodland.  Vietnam era pattern needs to be replace by some of the digital ones. Multicam(new name is stupid) or CadPat.

We didn't wear that in Nam.  It was plain olive drab or in some cases tiger stripe.

[Malthus]

I was expecting the last one to be holding a sign reading "Burma Shave". 

Only a handful would get that reference.

And "Burka Shave" works better anyway.

It does. 

[Grey Fox]

Desert or woodland.  Vietnam era pattern needs to be replace by some of the digital ones. Multicam(new name is stupid) or CadPat.

We didn't wear that in Nam.  It was plain olive drab or in some cases tiger stripe.

When did it start? After Nam?

[Ed Anger]

I hope the US gets in on some of this action beyond "logistical" with some really nice close air support.  Islamist fighters deserve the finest munitions that can be delivered.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rkwobh_jxFo

bork bork bork bork?

BOOM

[Darth Wagtaros]

Desert or woodland.  Vietnam era pattern needs to be replace by some of the digital ones. Multicam(new name is stupid) or CadPat.

I thought the US stopped using the digicam stuff.