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Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, Syria, Iran....Mali Next?
December 31, 2012 - 12:02am
Canada Weighs Options for Mali Mission
http://metronews.ca/news/canada/491962/canada-weighs-options-for-mali-mi...
"The Harper government is examining whether to dispatch Canadian troops to help train an African force whose purpose would be to take back a vast swath of Mali from an off-shoot of al-Qaeda..."
Mali's Tuareg Rebellion: What Next?
http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/opinion/2012/03/20123208133276463.html
"...It is conceivable that further attacks on the highly vulnerable, nomadic civilian population may bring the rebels to submission, as has been the case in previous Tuareg rebellions. It is also conceivable that the Malian government's undercover militias, ethnic hatred campaigns, military in civilian clothing acting in mobs shouting 'death to the Tuaregs' and internet propaganda might succeed in opening up cleavages within the complex political, ethnic and social mix that comprises the totality of the Azawad population..."
So, even as Canadians profess to support Idle No More and Indigenous sovereignty here at home, will they simultaneously permit their government and oppoition to once again send CF support to North Africa to participate in crushing the Tuareg?
Parliament Must Debate Any Military Mission in Mali
http://www.thestar.com/opinion/editorials/article/1308968-parliament-mus...
"...Before dispatching troops into a maelstrom that could become a full-blown war, the government should come clean about its intentions, and more specifically about how they fit into a larger credible international plan to restore democracy and stability."
media preliminaries begin preparatory to participation in next imperialist venture in N Africa...
UK to Aid France in Mali Intervention
http://rt.com/news/britain-france-mali-intervention-878/
"Britain has announced it will provide France with logistical support during its Mali intervention as French forces stepped up airstrikes against Islamist militants..."
Mali's Tuareg-Uranium Conspiracy
http://www.globalresearch.ca/mali-s-tuareg-uranium-conspiracy/30118
"...Put simply, this is about uranium to be found in the Tuareg areas of Mali, Niger and Libya. The next step will be UN/ECOWAS/NATO peacekeepers, military intervention and killing of thousands of Tuareg."
The Geopolitial Reordering of Africa - by Tony Cartalucci
http://www.globalresearch.ca/geopolitical-reordering-and-dirty-tricks-us...
"NATO funding, arming, while simultaneously fighting AQ from Mali to Syria.."
France Launches War in Northern Mali
http://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2013/01/14/mali-j14.html
"Ansar Dine spokesman Sanda Ould Boudmana told Al Jazeera, 'the terrorist French military bombed Konna. The hospitals are now filled with the injured - women, children and the elderly are the main victims. It's impossible to know how many have been killed, but the number is huge. Only 5 of those killed were our fighters. The rest are innocent civilians killed by the indiscriminate bombing of the French air forces.' Mali will be the Afghanistan of the region and France's downfall.."
France Launches Airstrikes in Northern Mali to Ease Intervention
http://rt.com/news/france-bombs-mali-intervention-954/
"French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius has assured that Islamists on Mali have already been 'stopped' - and 'taking care' of terrorist groups in the country is 'a question of weeks.' He also informed that the assault on Islamist compounds on Sunday has become possible as Algeria finally opened its aerospace to French Air Force operations despite previously opposing French interferene into Mali's affairs."
Ottawa Contribuing to Fight in Mali By Training Niger Forces
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/ottawa-contributing-to-figh...
"The Canadian government, which is normally quick to trmpet overseas military efforts, was surprisingly silent on its West African training plan in recent days, failing to mention thsi during a week of debate over whether Ottawa should contribute a military mission to Mali..."
Canada to Help Mali's Military - by David Pugliese
http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/Forces+provide+logistical+support+agai...
Mali's president Dioncounda Traore used Twitter on Sunday to announce that Canada, the United States and Britain have agreed to provode logistical support to the Malian and French military forces fighting the rebels..."
of course the ndp opposition will vigorously oppose this latest imperialist intervention by Canada?
these are the people formally requesting the military assistance:
http://www.ecowas.int/
http://news.ecowas.int/presseshow.php?nb=006&lang=en&annee=2013
The ECOWAS Commission deplores that despite the efforts made to find political solutions to the separatist crisis in Mali, the situation has seriously deteriorated over the past days with the attack perpetrated by rebel groups on Government positions, which resulted in the capture of Konna, when the ECOWAS Mediation invited the parties to a dialogue on 10th January 2013.
In these grave circumstances, the ECOWAS Commission reiterates the Community’s commitment to support the Government and People of Mali to preserve Mali’s territorial integrity and combat terrorism.
The Commission welcomes UN Security Council Press Release of 10th January 2013 authorising immediate intervention in Mali to stabilise the situation. The Commission thanks the French Government for its initiatives to support Mali.
http://news.ecowas.int/presseshow.php?nb=005&lang=en&annee=2013
The ECOWAS Authority expresses deep concern over the deteriorating situation in Mali, particularly the on-going attempt by terrorist occupation forces to capture Konna and progress southwards to positions held by the Malian Armed Forces.
Authority welcomes the UN Security Council Declaration of 10th January 2013 condemning the terrorist incursions and calling for rapid deployment of the African-led International Support Mission in Mali (AFISMA), in line with Security Council Resolution 2085.
Authority thanks the Security Council Members and the French Government for their expeditious reaction aimed to stabilize the military situation in Mali.
Surprisingly, ECOWAS diplomats find no space to mention NDPP's crucial role ...
Yes, for the situation that western internventionism directly caused--supported by some oblivious or malignant Babble posters defending imperialism, (oh, excuse me, "freedom" and humanitarian intervention").
Owen Jones, The Independent
Sunday 13 January 2013
http://www.independent.co.uk/voices/comment/the-war-in-libya-was-seen-as...
Glenn Greenwald, guardian.co.uk, Monday 14 January 2013 13.45 GMT
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2013/jan/14/mali-france-bombing-...
a good rhetorical tactic -- ignore the question:
Q.: Why are West African governments at the forefront in raising alarm about Mali?
Military Intervention in Mali: Special Operations to Recolonize Africa
http://www.4thmedia.org/2013/01/14/military-intervention-in-mali-special...
"The military operation in Mali launched on January 11, is another example of special activities aimed at recolonization of the AFrican continent. It is an orderly and consistent capture of new African territories by Western powers..."
Hmm. That's the first time I've seen "The Question" so avoiding it was hardly difficult.
The answer is simple that neighboring regimes, whether for ill or good reasons, don't like the unstable situation.
Rather, you are avoiding the cause of the ugly situation, ongoing western intervention and its persistant supporters of imperial intervention such as yourself.
Certainly France bears responsibility.The legacy of colonialism likely continues along many avenues even though Mali gained independence more than half a century ago.
But much more important, and more immediately material, France's current bombing is a direct result of its recent actions in consort with other interventionist nations against Libya and Syria. Essentially they are fighting fires they recently started with more fire (See post #9).
There is also considerable responsibility in Canada for these endless interventionist slaughterfests and their (supposedly) unforeseen consequences. All the major Canadian Parties have blood on their hands.
Canadian mining companies are heavily involved so of course we have to send our share of the muscle to keep the resources flowing out of the country. Of course we just send thousands of "trainers" not troops.
Canadian mining companies are making a name for themselves all over the globe. I don't think it does much for the image of Canadians in general.
http://mg.co.za/article/2012-03-30-uranium-a-minefield-for-malians/
CTV reporting 'Canada to send C-17 aircraft to support French troops in Mali
Read more: http://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/canada-to-send-c-17-aircraft-to-support-french-troops-in-mali-1.1113448#ixzz2I0AnrLEB
Can we get a rush order on those F-35s?
The report I heard said they were supplying heavy lift support. Us peace loving Canadians are flying in the French troops and their supplies. Ain't cooperative imperialism in this century a joy to behold.
I forgot this can't be imperialism because the President of France is a social democrat.
Some Canadian soldiers from Petawawa Ontario have been mentoring soldiers in Mali as long ago as in or around December 2011.
Well, I'm sure that we have learned from all our other military interventions and THIS TIME FOR SURE we are on the side of the good guys and there will be no blowback.
Well, I'm sure that we have learned from all our other military interventions and THIS TIME FOR SURE we are on the side of the good guys and there will be no blowback.
Just remember the Al Qaeda in Mali are evil, evil, evil and the Al Qaeda in Syria are freedom fighters.
And besides we have to defend Barrick Gold's juicy goldmine in Mali...
http://mali.virtualyp.com/barrick_gold-176126.html
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-01-08/barrick-says-nathaniel-rothschi...
and democracy of course...
Baird Envoys to Press For Restoration of Democracy in Mali
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/baird-to-press-for-restoration...
"Canada has convened envoys from countries involved in the developing war in Mali as it presses the African nation to restore democracy.."
Iran Regrets Mali Civilian Deaths in French Intervention
http://www.presstv.com/detail/2013/01/15/283725/iran-rues-mali-civilian-...
"The Islamic Republic of Iran regrets the killing of innocent human beings and the homelessness of thousands of people..."
France Launches First Ground Attack on Mali
http://www.presstv.com/detail/2013/01/16/283808/france-launches-ground-a...
"French troops have launched the first ground attack against rebel forces in Mali.."
CPA: Stop The War on Mali!
http://www.acp-cpa.ca/en/Stop-the-war-on-Mali.html
"The Tuareg people of Northern Mali have been waging a campaign for independence for decades, which has been a thorn in the side of both the Malian government and to those who wish to exploit the natural resources of the area. The real reason for NATO's involvement is to secure strategic, resource rich areas of Africa for the West..."
France's Hollande Presses PM for More Canadian Help in Mali
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/frances-hollande-presses-pm...
"With Ottawa providing more than $100 million in aid per year before the March coup, some see Canada as one of the few countries with some pull with Mali. 'It's the French, Americans and Canadians more than anyone else, one Western diplomat said.."
Hands Off Mali!
http://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2013/01/15/pers-j15.html
"The World Socialist Web Site denounces France's war in Mali as an act of imperialist piracy. After mass bombings of cities in northern Mali, that killed and wounded hundreds of civilians, French tank columns crossed into Mali yesterday from Ivory Coast..."
Burn, Burn - Africa's Afghanistan - by Pepe Escobar
http://www.atimes.com/atimes/Global_Economy/OA19Dj02.html
"Anyone who thinks 'bomb al-Qaeda' is all there is to Mali must be living in Oz. To start with, using hardcore Islamists to suffocate an indigenous independence movement comes straight from the historic CIA/Pentagon playbook. Moreover, Mali is crucial to AFRICOM and to the Pentagon's overall MENA (Middle-East-Northern-Africa) outlook.
Mali overflows with gold, uranium, bauxite, iron, manganese, tin and copper. And - Pipelineistan beckons and there's plenty of unexplored oil in northern Mali.
As early as February, 2008, Vice Admiral Robert T Moeller was saying that AFRICOM's mission was to protect 'the free flow of natural resources from Africa to the global market,' yes he did make the crucial connection to China, pronounced guilty of 'challenging US interests'..."
Canada to Transport African Troops to Mali for Fight Against Extremists, France Says - by David Pugliese
http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/Canada+transport+African+troops+Mali+f...
"...Mali had been considered stable until earlier this year when tribesmen seeking an independent country combined forces with Islamic militants to take control of the northern half of the country..."
By Design: French Mali Invasion Spills into Algeria - by Tony Cartalucci
http://www.globalresearch.ca/by-design-french-mali-invasion-spills-into-...
"Exactly as predicted, the ongoing French 'intervention' in the North African nation of Mali has spilled into Algeria - the next most likely objective of Western geopolitical interests in the region since the successful destabilization of Libya in 2011.."