Washington, DC — Mali, only recently seen as a model African democracy, has crashed onto the stage of world attention, bringing formidable challenges for the international community. Whether to follow France’s bold lead with direct troop intervention; whether to provide intelligence, military or logistical aid; how to support Algeria’s diplomatic efforts – all are questions being debated by leaders at the United Nations, the African Union, the European Union and in capitals around the world.
In the United States, this discussion is happening against the backdrop of winding down the American engagement in Iraq, the planed withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2014, the deaths of the U.S. Ambassador to Libya and three others by Al Qaeda on September 11, 2012, and domestic debate about a proposed trimming of the Defense Department’s budget. There is a widespread sense that America’s appetite for the “war on terror” has decreased considerably.
It is understandable that the administration and the U.S. Congress are reluctant to become entangled in a small west African country with a population of 15.8 million. The prospect of bombs, drones and boots on the ground – at a cost of millions, perhaps billions of dollars – is not something Americans want to consider. Attention is on the Inauguration and the prospects for President Barack Obama’s second term, and how to lift the country out of its economic doldrums.
Avoiding conflict in Mali may seem the preferable option – but is it a realistic or intelligent one? United States officials say they share France’s goals in Mali but have ruled out sending troops. Others, fearing that any U.S. action could lead to a protracted engagement, argue for total non-engagement: no military support for Mali and no intelligence or logistical assistance for France.
This position might be plausible if the enemy were not Al Qaeda. Al Qaeda does not negotiate. It respects no rules of engagement. While debate on military intervention was underway at the U.N. Security Council, Islamic extremists were moving from the north of Mali to the central area – cutting off hands and killing and destroying communities and cultures. The political situation in northern and central Mali is highly confused, but there is no question that Al Qaeda is playing a significant role.
Mali was heading towards becoming ungovernable. The Malian army, despite counter-terrorism training, was getting trounced, and even the French are struggling against a well-armed, determined opponent. The humanitarian situation is serious and spilling into neighboring countries, with hundreds of thousands of people affected. The UN refugee agency predicts that that an additional 700,000 could be displaced internally or become refugees in the region, as the conflict continues.
In this situation, the United States has no choice but to support France’s military intervention. U.S. hostages in the remote Algerian gas field raid have already paid a price. It is in the U.S. national interest to support France as an ally, but also to re-stabilize Mali. It is necessary to prevent the establishment of a national base for terrorism that threatens the region, Europe and the United States itself. Since 9/11, there has been a bipartisan American concensus to pursue Al Quaeda where ever it exists. This is not the time to abandon that policy.
Bernadette Paolo is President and CEO of the Africa Society. Vivian Lowery Derryck is President and CEO of the Bridges Institute
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ECOWAS needs to feature more prominently in lasting solution for Mali. Some former Heads of State like Obasanjo and Alpha Konari could also provide leadership
Mali was alraedy a done deal with a resolution that was provided by both ecowas and the united Nations!!.This deal was how ever scuppered by Frances imperilaist colonialist actions. This no differnt to Libya Syria where gun action and this new world body of war mongers the NATO ORG. this club of war mongers are in pursuit of hegmony with the USA nas the front leader with the most formidable army when fighting conventional wars". Today in Mali there was a need for rebellion by those who felt marginalised, they are not a threat to you nor me. Bfeore I give you sterner facts lets look at that th west has been DEMONISING (SHARIA) everyb westertn paper along with followerers of wesetern propoganda that does know individual research does no questionaring just assumptions and theories. Theories is the eduv cational mass of western education nothingh based on fact or reality.SHARIA is part and parcel fo ISLAM its a guide to moral behaviour its much the same as the TEN COMMANDMENTS but as didi the ten commandments covers the life that one should lead if one is on the right path if not there would be penalties. Penalties that still gives one the right to freedom it odes not marginalise but embraces; when a person is accused ofr being a thief he is lectured punished which would ostensibly be a certain ammount of lashes!!!!!. WOW!!!!!!!!!ACCORDING TO THE WEST this person has to then go to mosque and becoem totally emersed in soul searching!!!!! now we will llok at the same misbehaviour from western points of views dependening on who you can steal to your hearts content and the government will participate with bail outs from the tax payers and you do not expect punnishment expet another bail out; from an ISLAMIC turpoint should you not have learned from the very lesson then its time you lost your hand this might e reduce any determined thieft to stop he is still afree man and his task is even gretaer than before in his elf awareness and the teachings of ISLAM. What we see in western communities this youth man would be if poor wherew as ISLAM
" Mali was alraedy a done deal with a resolution that was provided by both Ecowasthe African Union and the United Nations!!.This deal was how ever scuppered by Frances imperilaist colonialist war mongering actions!!. Thisis no differnt to Libya, Syria where gun action takes precedence which is the code of this new world body of war mongers' The NATO ORG'. This club of war mongers are in pursuit of hegmony resources with the USA as the head honcho' with the most formidable army when fighting conventional wars". Today in Mali there was a need for rebellion by those who felt marginalised, they are not a threat to you nor me. Before I give you sterner facts lets look at that which the west has been DEMONISING ,(SHARIA) every westertn paper along with followerers of wesetern propoganda that does no individual research, does no questioning, just assumptions and theories. Theories is the educational mass of western education' nothing based on fact or reality.SHARIA is part and parcel fo ISLAM its a guide to moral behaviour its much the same as the TEN COMMANDMENTS but as did the ten commandments covers the life that one should lead if one is on the right path if not there would be penalties. Penalties that still gives one the right to freedom it odes not marginalise but embraces; when a person is accused of being a thief he is lectured punished which would ostensibly be a certain ammount of lashes!!!!!. WOW!!!!!!!!!ACCORDING TO THE WEST'.. however this person has to then go to mosque and become totally emersed in soul searching!!!!! now we will look at the same misbehaviour from western points of views dependening on who you are ; you can steal to your hearts content and the government will participate with bail outs from the tax payers and you do not expect punnishment'; expet another bail out; 'from an ISLAMIC turpoint should you not have learned from the very lesson then its time you lost your hand this might e reduce any determined thief from further practices. On the upside he is still afree man and his task is even greater than before in his self awareness and the teachings of ISLAM". What we see in western communities the youth, man would be sent to prison if poor; where as ISLAM if lashes and and penalty of losses does not deter you from corrupting ideals then the elders will intimate depper discusccions. Whilst parrellellwith the west the sentence will be long should he not learn for a pice of bread he would lose his freedom for ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!! This is a very torturus arduous journey many are mewntally broken thier man hod stolen soem youths never see the light they enever knew what it meant to be a child or the learnings of being a righteouss man. WHen we speak about things we do not know we must alwasy think first. It is very easy for us to lie or exaggerate when we do not want people to know the truth.MALI is a predominmantly MUSLIM nation as is most of AFRICA. ISLAM is practiced and honoured in many differnt ways but one thing is for sure Honour Righetousness Nobility Integrity are pillars of ISLAM 2. the largest component is the worship and praising of "THE SOLE CREATOR THE ONE ALLMIGHTY GOD" IT IS DEVOTION THAT IS SOUGHT AFTER"; in AFRICA today there are some a very small ammount whom are what they call SALAFIST these are they who are being inspired trained armed by the west in SYRIA these are also the same ones who shot murdered BLACK USLIMS AT THE BEHEST OF TEH CIA USA NATO IN ORDER TO PROVE THAT THEY WERE KILLING ARABS!!!!> WE WONT PURSUE THAT ARGUMENT WHAT I WILL SAY IT IS CONFUSING THAT THEY WANT TO BOMB ABD TAKE LIVES AND DISPALCE , MILLIONS OF LIVES???? WE ONLY SEE THIS IN AFRICA??????THE THREAT AS THEY SPEAK IS ONLY TO A VERY SMALL PART OF THE SAHEL DESERT WHERE THESE FOOLS EXIST; THEY ARE BEING ARMED BY THE WEST SO IS THE WEST TRYING TO HEDGE ITS BETS TWO WAYS OR IS IT GREED THAT IS COMPELLING THE W EST TO BOMB MAIM AND DESTROY THE LIVES OF AFRICAN PEOPLE??????? THERE IS NO ESTERNAL THREAT FROM AFRICA TO EUROEP NOW OR OR THE IMMEDIATE FUTURE. AFRICA IS BOUND TO A AFRICAN RENASCIENCE THAT EMPOWERS THE LIVES OF THE MANY THEY ARE BOUND BY EDUCATION WHICH HAS BEEN ALWAYS PART OF AFRICAN TRADITIONS AS THEY ARE THE FOUNDERS OF THE ARTS THEY RECEIVE NO CREDIT FOR. AS WE SEE IN MALI WITH THE DESTRUCTIOMN OF THESE TOMBS THESE HAS BEEN BEEN THERE SINCE TIME MEMORIAL THE UNIVERSITY OF TIMBUKTU WAS ONE OF AFRICAS GREATEST SECRETS NOT ONLY WAS IT BURNED BY HTESE SAME SLAFIST; THESE ARE THEY AFTRE THE DEATH OF THE PROPHET MUHAMAD PEACE BE UPON HIM'. DECIDED THAT BOOKS WERE NO GOOD SO THEY BUIRNED UNIVERSITIES NEGLECTING THE SCHOLLARS OF AFRICA WHO BY VIRTUE OF SHHER STERENGTH SENT OVER ONE MILLION BOOKS SCROLLS ARTILCES OF SCIENCE AND EVERY CONCEIVEABLE DICIPLN TO EUROPE, WHERE THIER BROTHERSTHE BLACK MOORS WERE IN SPAIN PORTUGAL PARTS OF FRANCE BELGIUM ETC . ALOT OF THE ARCHITECTURE WAS BUILT BY THE BLACK MOORS DURING THIER PERIOD IN EUROPE". THE INTELLGENCE OF THE AFRICAN IS MUCH MORE RESLLIENT THAN ONE THINKS. THE EMBRACING OF SLAFITISM IS NOT EMBARCED BY ALL MUSLIMS IN AFRICA WHICH THERE ARE HUNDREDS OF MILLIONS!!!!!!!!!!. THE WEST NEEDS TO KNOW THIS; WHAT AFRICA IS DRIVEN BY AT THIS TIME IN HISTORY TO WIT WE SEE THAT NATO IS DEFINITELY AGINST THE EDUCATION OF AFRICA!!! NATO WANTS US TO BECOME KILLERS LIKE THEMSELVES WHERE THAT GOES WRONG IS THAT THERE ARE TOO MANY MUSLIMS AND THEY OPPSSE TOO MUCH FIGHTING. THEY SEE THIS AS BEING BARBARIC AND DISINGENUOUS', AFRICANS ARE MOSTLY SCHOLLARS AND THINKERS CONTARAY TO WHAT YOU THINK !!!!!!!!!THESE PEOPLE WANT TO LEARN THEY WANT TO REBUILD THE MANY YEARS OF DESTRUCTION THAT HAS BEEN HEAPED UPON AN AFRICAN CONTINENT BY THE WEST".. THE WEST MUSTY COME TO TERMS THAT WHAT THEY ARE CLAIMING IS A PHENOMENAM IS MOSTY CERTAINLY NOT"!!! THIS SI YOUR MAKING AND YOU WANT TO DRAW US INTO SOMETHING THAT WE WANT TO SQUASH BEFORE IT BECOMES MALIGNANT IN AFRICA. THERE IS A SURPRISE IN ALL OF THAT THERE WONT BE SYMPATHY FOR THOSE IF THEY WERE ALLOWED TO CONTINUE THE PEOPEL WOPULD FOIL THEM REMEMBER THAT IMPERIL;AISM WAS FOILED BY AFRICANS THEY WERE NOT ALLOWED TO PROSPER; SO WHAT MAKES YOU THINK THAT AFRICANS IS GOING TO SUBMIT TO SOMETHING THEY TRULY BELIVE IN BUT SEES THAT IT IS BEING MANIPULATED MIS REPRESENTED AND ABUSED JUST AS THEY DID INTHE DESTRUCTION OF TIMBUKTU AND JUST AS YOU DID WITH THE SAME ALLAINCE THAT PUT US IN SLAVERY IN THE 1500s. THIS IS A COLD REMINDER OF HOW HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF AND THER EIS NOTHING HIDDEND FROM WIZE AN PRUDENT"!!!!!!!!FRANCE MUST BY IT SHEER FOLLY COMPLETE ITS MISSIOS THEN DISENGAGE FROM MALIAN TERRITORY!!! AFRICANS WILL NTO ALLOW FOR THE FURTHER COLONIALISATION OF ANY PART OF AFRICA BY FRANCE NATO AFRI COM. THERE IS NO BLACK BOGEY MAN THAT IS IN THE MIND OF SPECIAL FORCES IN NATO WHO NEEDS TO SURVIVE BY STARTING WARS CONFLICTS ; " I WARNED AFRICA TWO YEARS AGO THAT WITH THE DEPLOYMENT OF USA TROOPS ,THE ONLY THING YOU WOULD SEE IS MORE CONFLICTS AND THE CALL FOR WARS. IF YOU SEE A CERTAIN PATTERN YOU WILL SE THAT DISEASES IN UGANDA STEPPED UP NEW DISEASES THESE ARE ALL PARTS OF THIER TRIALS WITH NEW DRUGS. THIS NATO ALLAINCE CAN NOT BE TRUSTED THEY ARE WORLD HEGEMONIST THAT WORKS FOR THE MULTI NATIONALS THAT BUILD THE WEAPONS MAKE THE DRUGS AND REQUIRE THE RESOURCES. SHOULD WE NOT AS A SOLIDARITY AND BLOCK STAND UP TO REDRESS THIS NEW FORM OF STEALTH AND COLONIALSIM, WE WILL BE THIER SERVANTS AND NOT THIER EQUALS "!!!!!!.WHEN YOU HAVE BASES THEN YOU BECOME THIER SUBUORDINATES THIER INFERIORS DO YOU GET ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!