Mali, A Critical Crisis - Crisis 3

The New York Times: Reports the following from Mali, " French Defense Ministry said on Monday that a town in central Mali had fallen to Islamist insurgents from the north,.. ". 

Lets Get Real:

Thus folks the French say that their military plan is working in Mali, and now it seems that the Islamic terrorists are making progress in the North of the Country, the Western action by the rebels has been slowed in the view of the French, it would be nice to have some reporting from the other side but these terrorists kill reporters with ease, they do NOT understand importance of getting their message across, even the Taliban have gotten the fact that they need good PR or at least reporting that shows their side.  One can see a 3am call to the White House and 10 Downing Street, the message will be simple, the French are in trouble, if they fail Europe could come under new terrorist attacks, and of course so could the US.   The last thing the Oval wants in in last term is for a major terrorist attack to occur on its watch, then nothing would matter, the Oval would have been seen to lie to the US voter that the War on Terror was coming to end, LBJ had the liberal Great Society but this was not enough after the disaster that was Vietnam, thus the Oval should be careful that it does not become another LBJ, politics and history has a way of playing the card you should have, sooner or later, lets see if the Oval understands that fact. 

Obama and the Gun Lobby

Telegraph: Reports that President Obama has stated that he " ..may fail to outlaw high-power assault weapons..president warned that it may be blocked by Congress. ".

Lets Get Real:

The point of Presidential leadership is to take a major political risk, LBJ kept civil rights on the Hill in till it was passed, even knowing that the Republicans would benefit in the long term, the article notes that Conservative Democrats are not going to support major gun reform as they would be finished back home, that was the argument that LBJ faced, but he knew how to get Congress to pass things that hurt, Obama is not that popular with Democrats, never mind Republicans, he thinks if he argues the case he can win people over, so far a majority of Americans still do not support ObamaCare, wait in till their taxes go up to pay for it, on this issue the Oval has to go 100% for gun control, only the military, police and sport men/women should have guns, and those that ranch.    There is no reason for the average man or woman on main street to have a gun, its a matter of public health, less people shot, less time Doctors have to deal with the issue, the same goes for the crime rate.   The liberals in the Democratic Party should force the Oval to 100% for massive and complete gun control, it will not be easy, it will be hard, and it will cost, but its the right thing to do, time for the Oval to lead. 

France in Mali - Crisis 2

Guardian: Reports that Islamic terrorists in Mali have stated the following on the French action, " France has opened gates of hell, say rebels  ".

Lets Get Real: 

The French might find that the US and UK will give non combat support but will halt at actual troops, the French have burned their bridges with blog after their actions leading up to the Iraq War, the French would not allow the UN to pass a UN Resolution that would have made the Iraq War legal in the eyes of many, yes folks payback is harsh.   This matter is Mali is a French colonial problem, after Algeria and Vietnam one would think that the French would have learned that they do not WINS wars without the UK and US backing them up, and you don not get that kind of favours if if you knife a ally in the back at the UN.   As to the threat of Islamic terrorists to Mali, well if they get close to the Capital then the West will have to take action, it can not have another Afghanistan at the time of the Taliban and their allies.   Thus the UK and US should wait, be ready to send in Special Forces, troops ready on the air planes to go, but and this is the important but, we the US and UK should not clear up the mess of the French and their colonial past. Payback is harsh folks. 

The UK and Mali - Crisis

BBC News: Reports that the UK Government has stated that it is concerned about the crisis is Mali and is supporting the French in a limited manner. 

Lets Get Real:

This is how it starts folks, lets cut to the bare bones here folks, the French at some time are going to ask for more military help from the US and the UK, well we should say SORRY but no, we have finished the Iraq in 2009 and the UK is leaving Afghanistan in 2014 or faster by the sounds of things, the UK and the US should not help France on this matter as it is a past French colonial problem, can you see  France coming to help the UK should there be another War in the Falklands, HELL NO, let the French ego deal with this problem, if the US and UK have to help lets send in Special Forces.   The US and UK Defence Establishment after Iraq and Afghanistan needs a rest, not another Civil War, this can wait folks, if the French really mess things up then we might have to run to their rescue again, but lets wait, this is a another War that the West needs like a hole in the head. 

UK in Mali - WHY?

Telegraph: Reports on the role of the UK in Mali, " Britain is to provide military aircraft to transport foreign troops to Mali amid a new push against Islamist forces in the country. ".

Lets Get Real:

Folks I thought the Coalition Government had stated that before the UK got involved in another War that the House of Commons would debate the topic.    Thus this is the first that this blog has head that RAF planes will be used as transport planes, that makes the UK and the planes a target.   Thus far this blog has not heard that there will be a debate in the House, let hope Mali does not turn out to be another Vietnam, Iraq or Afghanistan, finishing one war but then getting dragged by the French in to another conflict, this blog is far from happy about these developments.    

The French in Mali - Terror War

Guardian: Reports on the French military in Mali, Africa, " ..hundreds of French troops and aircraft had been involved in fighting at three locations in the centre of Mali, including against an Islamist command centre. ".

Lets Get Real: 

It can be argued that the French are using the wrong strategy, the fighting like is more suited to Special Forces, and in this case it would be better if the French asked the US and the UK who after Iraq and Afghanistan now a thing about fighting Islamic terrorists.   After the French Vietnam failure one would think that the French Government would be very wary of taking on another force on its home ground.    Thus lets see how long before the French ask for NATO help, it would not be the first time the French have needed to be saved, WW1, WW2, but after Iraq lets make sure that the French pay, if it needs UK and US Special Forces lets make it clear to the French that they own us big time, the French never get that point folks, without the UK and US they would be singing God Save the Kaiser or Hitler. 

France faces Terrorist THREAT - Terror

BBC News: Reports that President Hollande has increased security around French public building after military operations in Africa lead to French military deaths in attempt to thwart Islamic threats in the region. 

Lets Get Real: 

Lets recall what the failure of the military mission to rescue the US hostages in Iran did to the Carter Presidency, it lead to its demise in 1980, also after a military failure in Somalia early in the Clinton Presidency this made Clinton less than ready to take military action in Bosnia, thus these deaths could have the following effect on the the new French Government, it could be afraid to take risks, or on the other hand it could learn the lesson that President Obama learned, you can not afford for your Western liberal view of the world to effect your actions in national security, thus Obama has increased the drone strikes of the Bush Era, and has increased its scope.   The drone strikes has come under critical attack from the left in the US and from Europe, lets see how the French react, will they run away, not new for the French or stand with the US and UK in taking down the terrorist threat from Islamic terrorists.