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Africa North
US Agrees to help French fly troops to Mali
2013-01-22
That didn't take long.
Posted by:Besoeker

#8  As I understand it, regional militias like the French army (yeah, that's mean!) may be capable fighters but lack the airlift to go anywhere in force outside the home country.

Cheap bastards could always charter passenger aircraft. Basically, their stance is that Uncle will provide.
Posted by: Zhang Fei   2013-01-22 23:32  

#7  Not to belittle the French effort, I have to wonder where is the mighty EADS ( Airbus military) A400M transport? according to the website (airbusmilitary.com) there are 179 on order. pre-production versions are flying.
if a real war developed, i fear airlift capabilities would be a huge shortfall; our C-17's can't do it all, the -141's are all gone ( or soon will be) and the C-5's are too few as well.
Posted by: USN,Ret.   2013-01-22 22:53  

#6  Once violent Jihad begins in NATO-EU, widout the Royal Navy the French Foreign Legion, Gendarmes, + Elites will have only the wily dastardly finicky Propellers of the FNS CV CHARLES DE GAULLE to save their collective Menshevik butts in case the Theo-Bolshevik Jihadis overrun the country or region like Rommel + 7th Panzer.
Posted by: JosephMendiola   2013-01-22 18:58  

#5  SteveS, that pretty much describes all of Europe's fighting force.

Most of them are really good, they just can't get anywhere without the US Air Force. Hold over from the NATO/WARSAW Pact days. The US agreed to supply air transport/supply and the other countries beefed their military up on the ground as much as they could. Now it is kinda hurting them and they can't afford to buy extra aviation transportation.
Posted by: DarthVader   2013-01-22 16:14  

#4  As I understand it, regional militias like the French army (yeah, that's mean!) may be capable fighters but lack the airlift to go anywhere in force outside the home country. Hence the reliance on Uncle Sugar. Maybe someone who actually knows can comment.

And just to be clear, major props to the French for stepping up and trying to do something about the rotten nonsense going on in northern Africa.
Posted by: SteveS   2013-01-22 15:33  

#3  But do we agree to pull them out after shit goes south and they are under fire?
Posted by: DarthVader   2013-01-22 15:16  

#2  I hope they're subcontracting to Spirit
Posted by: Nimble Spemble   2013-01-22 11:43  

#1  Parachutes extra.
Posted by: Muggsy Mussolini1226   2013-01-22 11:26  

00:00