Africa

Cameron targets terrorist ‘haven’ in Mali

"The Prime Minister said that Britain is now engaged in 'generational struggle' against al-Qaeda affiliates like the group behind last week’s Algerian hostage crisis, whose leadership is based in Mali. The National Security Council will today discuss boosting British assistance to the French intervention in Mali, he told MPs. Islamic militants who are threatening the government there raise the risk of 'a new terrorist haven developing on Europe’s doorstep,' Mr Cameron said. Mr Cameron also said that ministers could 'look again' at defence cuts and spend more on counter-terrorism capabilities and Special Forces like the SAS and SBS." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingCameron targets terrorist ‘haven’ in Mali

Michael Scheuer: In Mali, the interventionist establishment already is lying about “unintended consequences”

"When the relentless, war-causing interventionists in those places decided to remove Gadhafi in favor of a 'democratic revolution' that did not exist in Libya, or in Egypt, Yemen, Tunisia, Pakistan, Syria or anywhere else in the Arab world, they ushered in everything that has happened since, and if they knew anything about history, the region, and the Islamist movement they would have known it. How could these genius Western interventionists know that they were deliberately opening Pandora’s Islamist Box? A few facts that should have been obvious to anyone with a bit of commonsense make a claim of 'unintended consequences' preposterous in the extreme." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingMichael Scheuer: In Mali, the interventionist establishment already is lying about “unintended consequences”

An Ally Out of Control

"The U.S. previously had correctly warned that Western attacks on the Islamist enclave in Mali could inflame Islamic militants worldwide and lead to blowback terrorist attacks in the West. Yet now, in a replay of the war in Libya, with France forcing its hand, the U.S. has been forced to back its ally’s aggressive action and even provide help. Northern Mali was taken over by battle-hardened Islamists, who brought in heavy weapons from Gaddafi’s formidable stockpiles in Libya after the West’s overthrow of him. The U.S. foolishly had trained Malian units led by generals who were Tuareg, an ethnic group that been rebelling against the Malian government for a half century." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingAn Ally Out of Control

French military seeks ‘total reconquest of Mali’

"French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said Sunday the end goal of France’s military action in Mali was to retake control of the whole country from Islamist militants 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 France 5 television. 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." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingFrench military seeks ‘total reconquest of Mali’

France Formally Requests US Military Aid for Mali Invasion

"According to Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman Gen. Martin Dempsey, the French government has formally asked the United States for military aid for its invasion of Mali, saying that the aid will conclude planning, logistics and air support, but not combat troops. France invaded on Saturday, and initially said they believed they would turn Mali into a 'terror-free' democracy within a matter of weeks. Since then they have expressed surprise at the strength of rebel fighters, however." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingFrance Formally Requests US Military Aid for Mali Invasion

Westerners Kidnapped in North Africa — but Is France the Real Target?

"Tightened security measures sent hundreds of armed soldiers patrolling Metros, train stations, airports and tourist sites across France, while officials instructed the French people to be wary of the increased risk of attack at home — and abroad. News reports indicated Islamist radicals had kidnapped numerous French, European, and American workers from an oil installation in eastern Algeria. Somalia’s al-Shabab militia also announced it would execute a French spy. Those developments came after warnings by a jihadi leader in Mali on Monday that by attacking Islamist forces in Africa, 'François Hollande opened the gates of hell for all French people.'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingWesterners Kidnapped in North Africa — but Is France the Real Target?

Honi Soit Qui ‘Mali’ Pense

"The United States, incapable of allowing a military intervention to pass by without jumping on board, dutifully followed France in the Libya debacle, blowback from which was responsible for the re-igniting of the Touareg rebellion in Mali. What do the Touaregs have that is causing such stirring in France's colonial loins? France is dependent on nuclear power for 75 percent of its energy needs. The larger African region controlled by the Touareg, including particular in Niger, contains tons and tons of that substance that brings back memories of the Bush administration's Iraq lies: uranium." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingHoni Soit Qui ‘Mali’ Pense

France adopts words of war by vowing to ‘destroy terrorists’

"With its talk of 'destroying' enemies and confronting 'jihadi terrorists', France has adopted a language of war for its intervention in Mali that few expected from Socialist President Francois Hollande. As French warplanes carry out airstrikes and French troops clash with Islamist rebels in the West African country, Hollande and his ministers seem to have taken a page from former US president George W. Bush’s playbook on war-time communications. French media reported that ministers have been banned from using the words 'Islamist fighters' in statements on the conflict and must always refer to rebels as 'terrorists'." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingFrance adopts words of war by vowing to ‘destroy terrorists’

Panetta: US Has ‘Responsibility’ to Support French Offensive in Mali

"The White House and Pentagon have a 'responsibility' to provide support to French forces looking to push out al Qaeda-linked militants out of northern Mali and ensure the terror group does not gain a foothold in western Africa, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said today. Panetta commended French forces to taking action in Mali, noting the Pentagon and White House were 'engaged in discussions' with Paris over what kind of support may be needed. Over the weekend, France began military airstrikes in Mali, targeting rebel training camps and other targets. Some French troops are already on the ground and more are being deployed to the area." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingPanetta: US Has ‘Responsibility’ to Support French Offensive in Mali

Tunisia: financial offshore centre

"The desire to continue the $3 billion Bahraini project in Tunisia has been renewed by the Bahrain investment bank Gulf Finance House (GFH). The project will be Tunisia’s first financial offshore centre and construction is poised to begin this month with bids already issued. The billion dollar project is set to have four business clusters including investment banking and advisory centre, a corporate centre, a Takaful/insurance hub and the region’s first international financial exchange. There will also be a variety of residential and leisure facilities including a marina, a residential complex and an 18-hole championship golf course." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingTunisia: financial offshore centre