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French Forces Advance in Mali
The Wall Street Journal ^ | January 26, 2013 | DREW HINSHAW

Posted on 01/26/2013 7:42:16 PM PST by MinorityRepublican

KONNA, Mali—French special forces edged up to the largest city in Mali's north, entering the airport outside Gao and setting the stage for a battle for a city al Qaeda-backed militants have fortified since April.

French and Malian troops on Saturday took control of the airport, as well as the bridge over the Niger River that leads into town, France's Defense Ministry said.

A small number of the French forces, said one French spokesman, is leading an attempt to reclaim the 800-year-old city of 90,000, seized last year by al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb and the insurgency's local allies.

(Excerpt) Read more at online.wsj.com ...


TOPICS: News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: allyfrance; alqaeda; france; mali

1 posted on 01/26/2013 7:42:22 PM PST by MinorityRepublican
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To: MinorityRepublican

I would urge the French Defense Minister not to discuss troop strengths, movements, or strategies with the press since they function largely as military spotters for the islamists.


2 posted on 01/26/2013 7:48:58 PM PST by SpaceBar
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To: MinorityRepublican

Wonder what their ROEs are?

I bet nothing like the insane ROEs of the Americans in Afghanistan...


3 posted on 01/26/2013 7:48:58 PM PST by 2banana (My common ground with terrorists - they want to die for islam and we want to kill them)
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To: MinorityRepublican

I pray that God will be with the French forces to protect them and help them push the Muslims out


4 posted on 01/26/2013 7:50:44 PM PST by YukonGreen
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To: SpaceBar

For sure do not ask Obama for any advice or tell him anything. He is a blabber mouth and has proven this with Israel’s prime minister.


5 posted on 01/26/2013 7:52:37 PM PST by YukonGreen
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To: MinorityRepublican

This is pretty much the first time that France has fought a war on the right side for a long time. It’s especially unexpected with a far leftist in charge of the country. And after they fought on the wrong side against Kaddafi, which is what led to this takeover by al Qaeda in the first place.

Yes, indeed, I’m cheering them on.


6 posted on 01/26/2013 7:54:03 PM PST by Cicero (Marcus Tullius)
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To: MinorityRepublican

“French forces advance..” I guess there’s a first for everything.


7 posted on 01/26/2013 7:54:21 PM PST by mkmensinger
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To: 2banana
Wonder what their ROEs are?

Maybe something like - "Pas de presse et Pas de prisonniers"..."No press and no prisoners."

8 posted on 01/26/2013 8:35:50 PM PST by Tainan (Cogito, ergo conservatus sum -- "The Taliban is inside the building")
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To: mkmensinger

You know it’s the end of the world when……. The French are winning!!

It is now officially time to go to your dooms day bunkers.


9 posted on 01/26/2013 8:43:02 PM PST by Rage cat
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To: Rage cat

The French have been out of the fray for a while now—they are leading from the front while we lead from behind—who would have thunk it! Nature hates a vacuum—we leave and the French step up. Good to see people cheering them on—The war will be over in a few weeks I predict. The enemy has lost the support of the people—The French should make sure they keep the support of the folks.


10 posted on 01/26/2013 11:33:55 PM PST by Forward the Light Brigade (Into the Jaws of H*ll)
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To: MinorityRepublican

“French forces advance” is something not heat of since Napoleon....


11 posted on 01/27/2013 6:15:46 AM PST by SeminoleCounty (GOP = Greenlighting Obama's Programs)
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