Death in the UK - Afghanistan Theatre

MOD: Reports that UK Soldier has died in the UK of wounds sustained in Afghanistan, the Soldier was from the " 1st Battalion The Duke of Lancaster’s Regiment ".    Thus since 2001 the UK has lost 440 of its Armed Forces Personnel in Afghanistan, of that total it has lost 397 in combat/hostile action, while 43 have died due to illness, accidents or other incidents. 

The Fog of War - Mali Crisis Update 4

The New York Times: Reports the following from Mali, " ..A column of militants had pushed to within about 50 miles of one of Mali’s largest cities, forcing France to evacuate its citizens.. ". 

Lets Get Real: 

In other words folks the French are in trouble, the Government forces of Mali can not follow through after the French air strikes, the French Government is speaking through two sides of its mouth, one saying things are going great, while the other is saying this is going to be hard.   The French have to get over their EGO, its a French thing, and ask for help from the US and the UK, we have spent the past decade fighting terrorists groups, in that process the UK and US have learned some hard lessons, with many of our Soldiers paying with their lives, thus the UK and the US should be better able to deal with this terrorist threat, if France sees this a threat to its previous colonial interest then it will have suck its gut in and ask for HELP.    One questions if the French have the backbone to ask for help this early, they might think it worth while to loss some brave soldiers before asking for help, typical French pride.  I feel sorry for the French Soldiers. 

France ALONE - Mali Crisis Update 3

Telegraph: Reports on the political position of France and President Hollande, " ..for the moment, at least – Mr Hollande is very much alone in his campaign to bring a halt to al-Qaeda’s relentless advance. ..Mr Hollande’s military adventure is set to run for some time to come. ".

Lets Get Real:

The question that has to be asked is how long France places pressure on the UK to to a Libya, the Libyan operation lead by NATO but its face was the UK and France, while the Oval hide behind its desk, SORRY, lead, also the UK might need to borrow the French Navy should the Falklands come under attack again, in other words folk the UK might get dragged in one way or another, but there should be a price, if we place our grounds troops in Mali the French have to agree to support the UK taking back powers from the EU, and many other issues.   The French have to learn that an ally can not be stabbed in the back as with Iraq and there is no payback, if we have to save the French again it will cost, and it will hurt, the Germans wont be happy but then this blog does not see them placing ground troops in Mali.    War is hell folks, but political payback is worse, a lot worse. 

The Fog of War - Mali Crisis Update 2

BBC News: Reports that the French have denied a report from the Mali Government that the Central town of Konna had been retaken by the Mali Government forces. 

Lets Get Real: 

If the France and the Mali Governments can not agree on the press line how are they doing on the military front, it seems that the Mali Government forces from the article can not follow through, in other words the like South Vietnam, Iraq and Afghanistan the Central Government needs outside help, the French are it, its their colonial backyard, will Paris send in more ground troops as to follow through the successful French air strikes, how long and it will come folks before the US and the UK are asked for Special Forces,  if they are need it should be a limited force of the UK's SAS and the US Delta Forces, its a lot of sand folks, the size of Spain under the control of the Al Qaeda linked terrorists.   The French should be allowed to sink or swim on their own for a time, just a limited time, if nothing else to show them that when an ally calls for help you do not get on your high horse, because you might need that ally in the future, and they might not be that keen to help.  One is sure that the Oval is leading from behind again, that is his character!  Mali could get very bloody soon folks, lets hope the UK and the US do not bleed for French colonial history. 

Mali Crisis - Update

Guardian: Reports that President Hollande of France has stated the following on how long France will stay in Mali, " ..only end its intervention in Mali when political stability and an election process have been restored to the chaotic west African country and Islamist groups have been wiped out,.. ". 

Lets Get Real:

This does bring memories of the UK and the US in Iraq and Afghanistan folks, and what did it get us, no US military presence in Iraq after 2011, and the UK was forced out of Iraq for a second time, the first being in the 1920s.  Thus the UK and US should give very limited support to the French, the French it seems have found their inner backbone, lets see how long it lasts, the French are not that great when fighting without UK and US support, the campaign Mali does have echoes of Afghanistan, just more sand, and you never know who the enemy is, this is a French colonial problem, its their area of influence, how long before the need US and UK support in the ground in the air, let the Oval and Downing Street offer drones etc, but NO GROUND TROOPS, in any shape, this a French made problem, let them solve it, Iraq has a price folks, lets hope Paris understands that fact.