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| Africa North |
| France Says Military Goal is 'Total Reconquest of Mali' |
| 2013-01-21 |
| [An Nahar] French Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said Sunday the end goal of La Belle France's military action in Mali was to retake control of the whole country from Islamist gunnies who have seized the north. "The goal is the total reconquest of Mali. We will not leave any pockets" of resistance, Le Drian said on La Belle France 5 television. "The goal is to ensure that AFISMA, the African force, can take the baton from our own intervention," he said. Asked if French forces could move as far north as Timbuktu, Le Drian indicated that it was up to African forces to get there first. "If necessary, the African forces can appeal for support from French forces when they arrive in Timbuktu," he said. Le Drian also said Malian forces had not yet been able to retake the town of Diabaly, seized nearly a week ago by Islamists and then heavily bombed by French planes. "At this moment the city of Diabaly has not yet been retaken by Malian forces," he said, adding, the situation there should improve "in the hours to come". "The Malian army with the support of French ground forces are approaching Diabaly," the minister said. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #5 Just drop leaflets to join the free Syrian army and hand out food! |
| Posted by: Maggie Flomong2662 2013-01-21 21:09 |
| #4 Political Goal: Get obama to commit US troops for the Mali win - using very restrictive ROEs of course. |
| Posted by: Hellfish 2013-01-21 18:47 |
| #3 Another North African training ground for the Foreign Legion. |
| Posted by: Spot 2013-01-21 18:11 |
| #2 How many'd they use the last time? |
| Posted by: Fred 2013-01-21 13:43 |
| #1 Then they better be ready with more than 2,500 troops. |
| Posted by: Nimble Spemble 2013-01-21 11:22 |