Mali Exposes Flaws in West's Security Plans

The Wall Street Journal ^ | January 23, 2013 | By ADAM ENTOUS and JULIAN E. BARNES in Washington and DREW HINSHAW in Bamako, Mali

[MinorityRepublican]

France's attack on Islamic extremists in Mali this month is exposing major strains in the Western world's security strategy.

As the French assault gained steam in West Africa, France sought help from its allies—only to find that the U.S. and other North Atlantic Treaty Organization states either weren't ready or couldn't offer much. Canada and the U.K. quickly ponied up three cargo planes, two of which broke down en route.

By far the biggest breakdown, however, played out between the U.S. and France, as Washington sent what Paris saw as mixed messages about U.S. levels of commitment to taking on an al Qaeda affiliate in Mali before and after the French attack began.

[MinorityRepublican]

[MinorityRepublican]

[Don W]

So it appears that the two Brit c-17’s failed, leaving only the Canadian and American flights to supply a French operation.

Where have we seen this before?

[MinorityRepublican]

Shows you that Europeans are incapable of projecting power. Not even sure if the British are actually able to defend the Falklands from an Argentine invasion this time. A lot has changed in the past 30 years.