French Airstrike on Mali

[Longdan]

What ever happened to "Whatever forners do is bad." ?
Damn Eurowimpweenies getting their bombs in first!  What is the worlds coming to?

[Gusington]

^Take it easy champ. You're just starting to fit in around here. Don't ruin it.

[Centurion40]

I am sympathetic towards the French moves in Mali.

Militants have taken control of the central town of Diabaly, French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said, according to CNN affiliate BFM TV.

France's intervention last week was necessary, Le Drian said, to stop a rebel takeover of the capital, Bamako. "If we hadn't done that immediately, Bamako would be today in the hands of the terrorists," he said.

But it was unclear Monday when France's role in the military offensive would end, and whether there could be consequences beyond Mali's borders.

"There are risks in France and in other countries as well," Le Drian told BFM. "We are extremely vigilant in that regard."
Malian Foreign Minister Tieman Hubert Coulibaly said Monday that it was unclear how long clashes with Islamist militants would last.

"Clearly, for us it's not just about making them retreat," he told BFM. "It is necessary to chase them out."
Coulibaly said his country was grateful for France's assistance, which it "urgently requested." And Mali may call on other countries like the United States for military aid, he said. "It is a problem which is currently in Mali, but which concerns the whole civilized world. And those who are in action against Mali could attack the rest of the world," he told BFM.

"It is a cancer which could have spread if we had not intervened, of course with the precious aid of France."

[LongBlade]

Yeah. From the little I've heard there are some bad guys down there deserving whatever target practice the French can visit upon them.

[Longdan]

France has long had a different kind of policy towards former colonial places
than what is considered "normal".  They have been willing to intervene militarily
when invited in areas they no longer rule.  After the horrendous experiences in
Indo-China and Algeria things changed.  They learned enough, perhaps, to get
ahead of the game.  Generally you don't learn by winning or by declaring victory
and leaving.  A good asskicking can make a difference.  France was running behind
the learning curve since Waterloo.  Always learning the wrong thing at the wrong time.

[TheCommandTent]

Al Qaeda-linked terrorists in Africa today posted gruesome pictures of a man they said was a French commando killed in a failed operation to rescue a French intelligence agent overnight Friday.

The pictures, released via Twitter by the Somalia-based terror group al-Shabaab, show a white male in a dark blue shirt and camouflage pants surrounded by military gear and weapons. The shirt is covered in blood and the man appears to be dead. As a caption for one photo that shows the man's crucifix necklace, al-Shabaab tweeted, "A return of the crusades, but the cross could not save him from the sword."

http://news.yahoo.com/terrorists-taunt-france-failed-rescue-mission-173738584--abc-news-topstories.html

[LongBlade]

I hope that Frenchman went down fighting like Charles the Hammer.

[Mr. Bigglesworth]

The French have my moral support in this. Mali, Somalia, start eradicating extremist Islamists.

As for why France has become active, maybe its a distraction from the Euro financial situation?

[LongBlade]

As for why France has become active, maybe its a distraction from the Euro financial situation?

I think the French know more about it. Besides, the US is winding down from two hot wars and who-knows-how-many covert actions. I reality we could probably use a breather.

[Longdan]

Might want to dabble in your own financial affairs a bit.

[LongBlade]

Might want to dabble in your own financial affairs a bit.

There is that.

[Longdan]

A coup might be a good idea but the Pentagon is kinda witless about money too.

[GDS_Starfury]

sometimes you just shouldnt post.
type your post.  read it twice.  keep a brick next to your pc.
after reading it a few time think to yourself, would Star hit me with this brick if I hit the post key.
if the answer is yes tab out of the page and go check your myspace page.

[Longdan]

Your swaggering internet bravado is impressive but I will take a pass.
Why would I have a myspace page anyway?

[GDS_Starfury]

the internet truely needs a sarcasm font.