Simon. Since when has the US made AK47′s RPG 7′s and other assorted eastern block weaponry en-masse. Thats news to me and I am sure to the Americans as well.

There’s a deep level of blinkered cynicism operating within the Irish4Israel / Hasbara camp, where it events in other countries only operate as an excuse to plug the Likud line.

Tut tut.

This crisis in Mali/Azawad has been ongoing for a year now, but it has never received any attention from either the Irish media (thejournal.ie included) and bleeding hearts like you, voodoo. Mainstream media has only covered Timbuktu’s destruction by the Islamists.

I have yet to see an article that deals with the problems faced by Berbers/Tuaregs; this article on their conflict doesn’t even mention them!

Read, Israel is doing lots of nasty things, but what about France in Mali?

Blatantly clear that your Irish4Israel rentamob are only interested in this story on the most superficial level in furtherance of your own agenda.

Deeply cynical, as I say.

“superficial level” you would know more, voodoo? I am concerned for the Berber people and have been interested in the situation in Azawad since its independence.

Hard to judge you on past posts since thejournal.ie has shown little interest in Mali save for Timbuktu and France’s intervention, but with the few articles available on the subject I have never seen you reply.

David would you like to live under a Taliban type regime here in Ireland where religious law that is open to wildly different interpretation by what ever mullah happens to be sitting in judgement that day? To be told that music, TV , art and non religious education were evil and were to be banned. Were women are banned from any form of education and from even leaving the home without a male escort.

Jihaddists exploit every conflict in that region, but that doesn’t mean that every Syrian rebel supports Al Qaeda.

Islamic supremacists seem to be able to call on their followers just about every where, not just in islamic countries but also in Europe. This threat is real and France is taking it very seriously. – “Mali-based Islamists pledge attacks on French soil…..”France has attacked Islam. We will strike at the heart of France,” Abou Dardar, a leader of Movement for Oneness and Jihad in West Africa (MUJAO), one of the Mali-based groups with ties to al Qaeda, told the AFP news agency. Asked where attacks would take place, Dardar said: “Everywhere. In Bamako, in Africa and in Europe.”… ,” Scary times. – Rene

Mick,

That’s fear mongering. Do you watch fox often?

Fear mongering? How so? The evidence is there for all to see. Did not the Islamic fundamentalists in Afghanistan not impose these laws? Are the Islamic fundamentalists in Northwest Pakistan not even now imposing these laws on the civilian population. Did I not see a video released by the Terrorists in Mali cutting the hand off some man in last nights news? But no thats just fear mongering according to you.

Mick, you seem to forget who put these fundamentalists in power in Afghanistan in the first place when the US were cosying up to the them Mujahideen(now the Taliban). My point earlier is that these conditions were in fact created by the very people who are now fighting these so called terrorists. Syria is another topic, these so called rebels are made up of mercenary fighters from other countries, armed to the teeth by Saudi Arabia and Turkey(the admitt to arming them, DO SOME RESEARCH) just to back up my claim, here is one example, our very own Husam Najjair born in Ireland of an irish mother and a lybian father. He went to fight in the Lybian uprising. Now he is in Syria, fighting and also training new recruits. Go and see for yourself, even RTE broadcast this story as if he is some sort of hero. What business does this man have in Syria?! NONE! And he is like the vast majority of these so called rebels. Go and watch an excellent documentry by ITV’s John Pilger- war on democracy. About the Cia backed coups on South America. And now look at todays so called ‘Arab Spring’. Open your mind a bit, or else just keep beleiveing Sky News and Fox.

David as for the Taliban in Afghanistan they were set up by the Pakistani ISI. To whom the Americans rather foolishly trusted. The Americans also aided the Mujihadene under Commander Massood leader of the Northern Alliance whom the Taliban assassinated with the assistance of the ISI.
And why are foreign extremists now operating in Syria. Because the EU and the Americans not wanting to upset the Russians to much, delayed and delayed giving any form of aid to the Syrian rebels thus causing them to call out for help from any quarter they could get. If you are on the floor getting the shut kicked out of you and you ask for help from those powerfull enough to stop it but they ignore you. And the the Devil appears and says he will help would you take his help or just accept your kicking.

Simon. You will find that the weapons that came out of Libya came from Gaddafi’s arms dumps and not from the west. A little research before you make a fool of yourself. And many of those now fighting were originally mercenaries that fought on Gaddafi’s side and fled south into Mali when they started loosing.
And the fundamentalists that are now in Syria are there because the west did not move fast enough to assist the Syrian people when the uprising began.

And who armed Gadaffi?

France and Italy.

The Russians you will find gave Gaddafi most of his weaponry.

The NY times seem to think Us weapons ended up in the wrong hands.

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/12/06/world/africa/weapons-sent-to-libyan-rebels-with-us-approval-fell-into-islamist-hands.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

Everyone in Libya is safe and sound now that’s the main thing. I’m sure Mali, Syria are just weeks away from a happy future as well. Its a good job that sending weapons to war zones ends conflicts quickly…..other wise it wouldn’t make sense.

No what the article actually says is Qutari weapons ended up in the wrong hands. No where does it say US weapons.

With US approval – Just read the headline. They also buy all their weapons from the US

So do other nations just watch as Islamists take over Mali and enforce strict Sharia Law? Also, the story said 750 troops, it’s not an awful lot to have on the ground.

I don’t think Mali has much oil. F€&k those extremists, I’m glad to see France going it alone (almost) and doing the right thing instead of just doing what the US wants. And if in the meantime they can sell some planes and do some business then why not? If its a choice of France doing this or doing nothing then I know which I prefer!

If it was the UK or US taking this action the commentariat would be awash with lefties complaining about them imposing their colonial will and screams of “Conspiracy!”, “Oil!”, “Interference!”. But when it’s France it’s suddenly alright.

Well I raise a quizzical eyebrow. That’s all. An eyebrow.

Errr… France were asked for assistance by the government of Mali.

France has been doing this for decades…long before the US made it ‘fashionable’

Africa’s 3rd biggest gold depoists and plenty of uranium. France have no problem backing islamists in Libya or Syria.

Regardless, Mattoid.

Isn’t it something Damocles that colonial powers hold on to resource rich areas?
Funny how you didn’t mind defending one vigorously last week…

Mark, My comment is about the way the level of critique varies dependent on which colonial power it is. What is your comment about?

@Damocles, Your talking cr*p, there is no oil in Mali. Your imagination is running away with you.

There are oil resources in Mali. But there’s little exploitation of them as yet. However as the price rises it will become more economic to exploit them.

Reuters from 2011: http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/10/26/mali-algeria-oil-idAFL5E7LQ3DA20111026

So we better watch out, the French will be heading for Cork next :-o What the French are doing in Mali has nothing to do with securing oil resources

@Damocles
I’m well aware that France, like Britain, Spain, Portugal, the Netherlands etc. has a colonial past, but I think there’s a huge difference between colonialism (and all that goes with it) and giving assistance at the request of a democratically elected government in their hour of need, albeit that of a former colony.

Ok Damocles – just read your other posts and saw the point you were making :-/

JJ, Now who’s talking crap? To get at Irish oil resources all France needs to do is mention to government leaders jobs in the EU after they leave power, they don’t even need to follow through on those jobs.

Mattoid, Well no one expects the French to mention securing resources straight off the bat.

Ok Damocles, You stick to your guns, personally I’d say you seen mention of the UAE oil at the bottom of the article and got confused :)

Mattoid, Thank you for reading thoroughly and keeping an open mind. If only more people would follow your example.

“personally I’d say you seen mention of the UAE oil at the bottom of the article and got confused :)”

Then you’d be wrong.

When the Falklands popped up on the radar the other week we could hardly move for people going “Oh well it’s not about the people, it’s the British, they hate people, it’s about the oil.” when in fact, protection of the British people does actually feature quite highly to the British government. However when the French start playing about abroad their interest in profit barely gets a mention. Look at the opinion polls on the Guardian about this yesterday for instance. In fact this whole “Oh it’s the French, it must be okay” discussion was going on elsewhere on the internet yesterday.

There is no proven oil resources in Mali, There maybe limited oil exploration going on, but to say it’s scandalous and about securing oil resources is nonsense. I’m not gonna bother repeating myself anymore, no point, believe what ever makes you happy :)

What about the plight of the Tuaregs, Damocles?

What about them?

To repeat: My comment is about the way the level of critique varies dependent on which colonial power it is.

Not sure what you have against the French, Damocles.Yes, they have been historically very interventionist in Francophone Africa, but would rather have the Islamists run amok in the region and the Tuaregs and other Malians suffer at their hands?

“Not sure what you have against the French”

My issue is with the liberal commentariat.

Damocles, it is ok. We aren’t talking about the Falkland Islands. When you show little regard for the Tuaregs it begs the question why we should take anything you say on Mali seriously. Yes leftists and bleeding hearts are hypocrites when they actively select which conflict suits their personal narrative and ego, but highjacking an article on Mali to exonerate the UK’s foreign policy by bashing the French is not what I call productive and engaging criticism.

I’m not exonerating the British, who haven’t done anything wrong, or bashing the French, who haven’t yet done anything wrong.

I’m criticising the left wing commentariat.

Damocles, the sane voice in an insane world.

This apparently is ok, but the US military adventurism is complained about on every other article — this is exactly the same thing. “Freedom” “Democracy”.

Why must we continue to advocate messing with the internal affairs of other countries?

Remember: “The road to disaster is paved with good intentions”

Thanks Michael, I’m glad someone finally gets it.

I agree. There has not been any uproar from the media when French planes bombed civilian neighbourhoods yesterday leading to civilian casualties. Yet, when Syrian planes bombed civilian neighbourhoods leading to civilian casualties there was constant uproar from all Western media sources.
Why was that?
You still think we dont have a media run by corporations with an agenda?

@BLowe
The difference is that Assad has deliberately targeted civilians and killed them in large numbers whereas France is targeting armed fighters and has unfortunately also killed a small number (11 is being reported) of civilians in the process.

Of course nobody wants to see any innocent civilians being killed at all, but to try to compare France’s actions with Assad’s actions shows where your blinkered agenda lies.