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Joe Penney / Reuters
French soldiers drive a military vehicle at a Malian air base in Bamako Tuesday. Some 50 French armored vehicles arrived in Mali late Monday from their military base in Ivory Coast.
A leading Republican called Tuesday for President Barack Obama to support France’s military intervention against the “cancer” of al-Qaida-linked militants in North Africa.
Rep. Ed Royce, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said in a statement that he welcomed France’s decision to send troops and warplanes “to combat this serious security threat” in Mali.
“The vast area of northern Mali gives these al Qaeda-linked militants space to operate, and the weapons flowing out of Libya makes them deadly. This cancer could not go unaddressed,” he said in the statement.
"This isn't avant garde for the French. They have shown leadership in working with Ivory Coast and other African governments to improve security. Paris understands the high stakes,” he added. "I expect the Obama Administration to honor appropriate requests for intelligence and logistics support from France.”
Royce stressed that “we should have our ally's back" when dealing with the “shared threat.”
France has sent about 500 troops to Mali and is sending about 1,000 more along with armored vehicles.
They are taking on at least three Islamic militant groups, including al-Qaida in the Islamic Magreb, U.S. national security officials told NBC News Monday, speaking on condition of anonymity.
The sources added that they were being helped by U.S. military and intelligence operations and that the U.S. would also provide transport and refueling capability for the operation. U.S. drones and spy satellites were also being used.
Panetta: No U.S. 'boots on ground'
Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said Tuesday at a press conference in Portugal that "there is no consideration of putting any American boots on the ground at this time" in Mali, The Associated Press reported.
He added that al-Qaida affiliates in Mali did not currently pose a threat to the United States but stressed "ultimately that remains their objective."
On Monday, State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland told reporters that “we share the French goal of denying terrorists a safe haven.”
In a statement released by the U.K.’s Foreign Office, political directors of the G8 group of leading nations said they had discussed the situation in Mali at a meeting in London Tuesday and “expressed grave concern.”
“They noted that it is essential to halt the offensive by terrorist groups towards southern Mali, to prevent the collapse of the Malian state, and to accelerate the implementation of UN Security Council resolutions in all their dimensions: political, security and humanitarian,” the statement said.
Related stories:
French to send 1,000 more troops to Mali; US playing supporting role
Why French are taking on Mali extremists
Video: Mali Islamist rebels seize town despite French fighting
Leave a Comment:
Oh yeah! Let's spend money now in Africa! Oh wait, it's a war effort so of course Republicans have NO problem funding that!
seeking
Now, to be fair, he didn't say anything about funding it.
Why should we back them ????
If we do I hope we use a condom. Besides all the French do is wine, cry then cut and run. Their former colony , so let them fight their own fight.
Denying Islamic militants a foothold in any country, including struggling states in North Africa, is wise foreign policy. Better to crush this thing now before they become entrenched. If the French government are prepared to do the heavy lifting in what was one of their former colonies, the Western power should give the French all the help they need. The French have NOT asked for American boots on the ground.
I think we should back France's move.
But let's fight a smart war. Blast our way in and kill anything that doesn't get out of our way. Pound them into submission.
Screw all that Billion dollar hearts and minds crap.
Don't put a dollar into their government, infrastructure or military.
No roads, no schools, no military trainers.
Keep the troops pushing forward. No Check points, convoys, bases, outposts or securing of territory.
Just blast the crap out of the bad guys. Push them all the way back to Egypt.
In and out in 6-8 weeks and let France handle the cleanup.
Does the population there speak French?
It's time to send 2 or 3 aircraft carriers to the coast off of Mauritania.
Bombs are free. Didn't you know that?
Someone needs to tell this war monger that we are already assisting France. Its about time someone else led. We have sacrificed enough of our best young people. It took Ed Royce 7 years to get through College while he dodged the Vietnam War. Leading from behind works for me and I am sure it works for a lot of military families.
Just because they haven't asked doesn't mean that there won't be members of Congress demanding that we intervene, just to show that we're still the biggest dog in the yard.
Jebus,
We're still in Chad, for @!$%#'s sake. We've got a military operation ongoing in Central Africa already. And now they want to move it to Mali? Or just "reinforce" in an area that currently doesn't have enforcement?
Would they make up their damn minds already?
All of you libs that decry the use of military to fight terrorist in their backyards will be the first to place blame when one of those cells of terrorist successfully attacks the United States.
All I hear is republicans saying stop spending. But Its ok to spend on another war. Make up your minds!
Because France has been so helpful during the last two wars.
France is cutting and running in the Afgan fight, so why should we have to help them on a different front? Yes, pukebags, explain how this is going to be paid for. Until then, STFU
"A leading Republican called Tuesday for President Barack Obama to support France’s military intervention against the “cancer” of al-Qaida-linked militants in North Africa."
We have our own problems with radical Muslims here at home:
Egyptian Press Confirms Washington Infiltrated By Islamists
http://news.investors.com/ibd-editorials-perspective/010913-640022-infiltration-by-muslim-brotherhood-worse-than-thought.htm#ixzz2Hxad148L
McGusto --- Did we just hear you volunteering to personally go over to Mali and Clean Their Clocks?
Welcome and We Support You.
" We're not going to raise the budget ceiling without spening cuts"!
(Unless it's a war where sons of the 90% get killed, and we can make money.)
Stupid monkey.
The United States has the world's largest arsenal of active nuclear weapons. We also have a huge stockpile of warheads that have been moth balled. I say its time to turn parts of the desert to glass and end the problem permanently. The Jihadists can glow so their 37 virgins can find them.
A pro-French Republican? I thought we were not allowed to socialize with them? Remember FREEDOM FRIES?
Let the French prove to the world they can fight and win!!! Viva la France!!! (US stay out of it!)
Got a hot flash for you, Ozzie; "one of those terrorist cells" successfully attached the United States on 9/11/2001. And guess where they came from.
Our staunch Persian Gulf ally, Saudi Arabia.
Just in case anyone doesn't know, the group that France is fighting in Mali is the same group that NATO and the US armed and supported in Libya.
Just in case, you know, the nice man on TV just happens to leave out that vital little fact.
Wait, what? A Republican that likes France? Is that legal? Has he taken his TEA?
#1.17 - dirp ~ The number of virgins/wives awarded to men upon achieving Paradise is 72, according to various hadith literature that compliments the Qur'anic texts.
"“The vast area of northern Mali gives these al Qaeda-linked militants space to operate, and the weapons flowing out of Libya makes them deadly."
We have to admit that Rep. Ed Royce, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee knows about Mali, al Qaeda and Libya.
What more one should expect from a Republican?
Of course, it is too much expect that a Republican will know that fountainheads of the major Islamic extremist hating and killing machines are their paymasters, House of Saud, oil companies and their lobbyists!!!
It amazes me that the Liberals had no problem when our Presiden,t without consent of Congress, went into Libya with planes and firepower to help, and yet here they are wanting to refuse to help an ally. May I remind all of you young Liberals of Viet Nam and that it was the Democrats who were the war mongers and kept us in that war for 10 years. May I also remind you of the over 50,000 young men who died in that war, some of which were my friends. Pray tell do you even know what that war was all about? I doubt it. Liberals epitomize the word twofaced.
Sure! The republicans can get the money from grandmas social security and her medicare...
GOP never saw a war that they didn't like...
@JERSY GIRL 1
Actually I think it is mostly the conservatives here (those against our president for whatever action he takes) who are against helping our ally. In fact, many here "hate" France for not believing in the fullcrap of Dubya's WMD. Do please accept the fact that Republicans are the warmongers among us.
Even though U.S. combat units were deployed in 1965, the Vietnam conflict started in 1955 running until 1975. While before 1965 the U.S. wasn't directly involved in the fight, we nevertheless were involved in indirect fighting against Communist takeover of the region. Remember Communist expansion was the main horror at the time (as it remains for many in our country, even while living in different times).
Hey GOP? You Listening? Let's fund the homeless here in the US first.
Barack has spent 4 years arming and training the troops in Mali.
Not the Republicans.
At the first sign of conflict those troops switched sides.
Instead of arming the bad guys (democrat move) let's kill them and disarm them.
yeah, its not like reagan armed the mujahadeen in afghanistan. lol.
or was reagan a democrat? :)
Reagan was a Dem at one point. He certainly would not be accepted in the current TPGOP.
well, granted he might not qualify as a republican now (lol), but the point is that it isn't a democratic policy to arm the local soldiers that appear to be on our side, its been a continuing policy by both parties.
sometimes it works out, sometimes it doesn't. that is the danger of subcontracting out warfare to others...
Pfffft
Reagan would've armed Al Queda directly, with money funneled from cartels in South America.
Oh wait, he did.
I thought Mr. O said, during his campaigning, that Al Queda was destroyed -- hmmmmm yet another lie. Well maybe ole Eric "fast and furious" can funnel guns over to Mali for the French, he's good at that.
Dotties girl, well one thing I know for sure because he proclaimed it numerous times is that he in fact did kill OBL.
Janstince, at least Reagan got money for the weapons he was running alls this administration got was our people killed.
When one thinks of Ronald Reagan, Iran-Contra comes to mind.
Funny, when I think of Ronald Reagon "Tear down this wall!" comes to mind.
Reagan is dead now, so you know he will be voting Democrat from here on out.
So that's why the libs love Obamacare so much they can kill off millions with inadequate care and create a larger voting block. Conservatives have met their match with htis administration I'm afraid.
Problems inside the US are not the problems of Republicans.
Instead of talking about war on those whom oil rich rulers of House of Saud, Qatar, Kuwait, UAE and other Sunni Arab League point out, you are asking too much from Republicans.
They are worried about Syrian refugees and you are pointing out about the homless in the US!
Bush, Sr went to super market to understand the conditions in the US in the fag end of his term after worrying more Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, UAE and other paying pals all along his term.
Yeah right!! So the French can quit (like always) and we get stuck doing the dirty work? French people hate Americans anyway.... and they smell really bad.
"they smell really bad."
That's not what your mother said.
It must be that stinky cheese they make.
Yeah, like you have ever left CONUS and smelled one. Have you even been out of your own state?
If it really is Al-Qaida in Mali, let's go take some heads.
Send the NRA
Feel free. The French Foreign Legion is still in operation.
As far as the U.S. goes, I have no problem supplying them with any logistical or intelligence support (which we are already doing, by the way) that we have to offer but it's time to let someone else do the heavy lifting for a while.
Yeah they have a lot guys who never grew out of playing "army" as a kid. Now they can play for real.
Any volunteers? Thought not.
Hartwig. we have been arming and training them for 4 years. That is more than logistics.
We already have troops in that country.
lets be precise..at most we have trainers in mali. "troops" implies combat units, as used by most people.
we have, no doubt, at least one american member of the military in many, many countries, but that hardly counts as "troops" there, at least in popular usage.
Thats what we said in 1961 in Vietnam, the last time we bailed out the French. And we called them "advisers" at that time.
Wait a minute!
We have more serious business in Syria and Iran than Mali.
"Defense Secretary Leon Panetta said Tuesday at a press conference in Portugal that "there is no consideration of putting any American boots on the ground at this time" in Mali"
Panetta is busy removing American boots from Afghanistan and he wants to put them on the ground in Syria.
Already, Obama has made a good start by putting American boots in Turkey.
As Iran is about get dangerous WMDs, Iran may be the right place to put American boots in Syria!
Sanctions on Iran are not working. Oil prices have only jumped from $40 in 2009 to now more than $110.
If oil prices don't jump soon, then Iran may be a better option than Syria to put American boots on the ground!!!!!!!!
DeJay,
The United States didn't bailed out the French in Vietnam. The French finally realized they couldn't hold on to their colonies in Indochina.
And, by the way, the French exited Vietnam in 1954...
The US government is already providing logistical support and intelligence support in the form of drones and refueling aircraft and advisers on the ground.
ADVISORS ON THE GROUND.
We've been there for 4 years. training them.
I didn't here about that in the debates.
i'm sure we have tiny numbers of special forces/advisers/trainers in a lot of countries that you don't hear about. do you want the pentagon to check with you every time they send someone somewhere in the world? lol.
Gotta love a dumb Republican. He's making a statement about something that is already a fact as if it hasn't happened yet and the President needs to do something about it. Must not read the news much to get a sense of what's going on in the world around him.
LOL...It's nice that he pulled his head out of the sand long enough to take stock of his surroundings.
Their must be a reason the GOP kept this guy off the Intelligence Committee and Armed Services Committees, you know, where they actually discuss things like what is happening in foreign lands by our spy agencies and military.
As Bugs Bunny would say, "What a maroon."
Based on the GOP's record I'm amazed they didn't insist he be on the Intelligence and Armed Services Committees. After all, look at the GOP members on the Science Committee.
Rep. Ed Royce seems to be confused about who gives the orders.
Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
I know Obama acts like the King but other people have roles to play too.
Commander in Chief > Chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee
So no one else is allowed to have an opinion.
Obama doesn't need any opinions or advice?
The Chairman would be derelict if he didn't have something to say about it.
When France didn't back our play in Iraq, the Republicans had a hissy fit. Anyone remember Freedom Fries?
I guess we should back them as much as they backed us..... :)
no, we should back the french in this case because it is in our best interest to do so.
we shouldn't penalize them because they were smarter than us about iraq. :)
Actually, after thinking about it, that's a good point.
The French were not part of the NATO military alliance when Pres. GW Bush had Sec. Powell go to the UN and spread the lies needed for their private little war.
I wonder how much Dick Cheney made on that war.
How much was "made" by Vietnam and by whom?
"A leading Republican called Tuesday for President Barack Obama to support France’s military intervention against the “cancer” of al-Qaida-linked militants in North Africa."
So now if we do something to help France, it will be a Republican idea, something they forced Obama to do? Is that the idea?
Hypocrisy.
No - if we do send someone, then the Republicans will start whining about us sending troops to another country in another undeclared war. For the Republicans, its win-win.
Last I heard, the French have not asked for us to send troops. We're helping with intelligence data and logistics. Let's leave it at that and see how things go. No need to jump in head first...
First, I'd invite Congressman Royce or any of his constituents to find Mali on a map.
Second, doesn't this beg the question...once upon a time wouldn't the GOP have been more apt to tell the French to go f*** themselves?
Dien Bien Phu?
It is refreshing to see France "stand up for something"----of course we should support them!!-----even the 'Brits' are--=-doesn't that tell us something?
The "Gross Odd People" (GOP), and the "Really Not Competent"{RNC) want to spend money in Africa! Really? The Teabegger Congress want to cut spending! Really? So let us join the French in Africa! The GOP/Teabeggers want to destroy Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid. They want to spend money in Africa! Really? The Teabegger Congress want to destroy our nations credit rating! They have no problem spending money in Africa! Really? President "Brainless Bush" had his huge tax cuts for the very rich passed. He also cut revenue to run our Government to the most dangerous levels in US History. President "Brainless Bush" put his "Bush Wars" on a credit card, and never set a budget for his "Special Wars." Then President "Brainless Bush" put an unpaid for drug plan on another credit card. Again! The he never correctly set a budget to pay for this. Again! The Teabegger Congress has no funds to help our fellow citizens that had their lives destroyed by Super Storm Sandy! They have money to send to Africa. Really? "Richie Rich Ryan" and his "Teabegger Hoodlum's On The Hill" voted in 2011 to destroy Social Security. They have no problem sending money to Africa! Really? Hey! Hey! Ho! Ho! The Party of NO has got to go!!
Get a clue. We have been providing them with logistical support and intelligence for years. Your rant is meaningless. Dumb liberal.
You win. No one on earth could be as stupid as you. Typical Progressive.
Obama could not find France on a map.
lol, right. how many hours did you spend thinking of that "clever" post? :)
Fubarak - yet he's ten times smarter than you and 100 times smarter than all the Republican candidates put together. Pretty sad for the GOP, right?
fubarak Can you find France on a map? fu
Fubarak, get a life. Get over it...Obama won the election and is President. Grow up! And Obama is hundreds of times smarter than you are, take a look at where you are in life and where Obama is....case closed!!
Can you find France on the map, name 3 Cities in France, heck name one...
SeekingSanity; not as sad as that you probably believe what you posted.
FU Barak,
I think Obama is trash but, come on.... Even most American elementary school kids could find France on a map....... and our educational system is pathetic these days. Feel free to bash Obama on his poor policies but have some sense.......
Seeking Sanity,
Keep seeking there sport, that was feeble and pathetic. Hero worship should never replace common sense and actual intellectual thought. I know FUBarak probably hit some button there for you but, lets not get ridiculous.
Back to topic. Yes to logistics and intelligence, No to boots on the ground and no money. These insurgents are finally up against a 1st world military, lets see how the French do.
57 States?
How much time did it take you to think up and post your stupid post Vermont? No wonder Killington voted to secede from your lousy state. Thank God for hurricane Irene.
NO we don't! We don't have to do sh*t! France has all the solders they need.
Let thousands of them get killed fighting a war with religious, ignorant, nut job, people that they will be fighting the next 20 years if not longer.
Let them spend billions and billions of dollars that they can not afford to fund a war the people of Africa should be fighting themselves.
We have spent enough of our tax dollars helping people who would stick a knife in our backs without hesitation.
When we can't pay our bills now, why should we support France? Let the French people pull the money out of their butts for awhile and see how they like it.
Sounds like Vietnam?
Ed Royce is a republican, N Orange County chickenhawk war-mongering draft-dodging clown.
He dodged Vietnam with a deferment, and never served. Yet he consistently promotes and votes for every single war he possibly can.
Look up his record and history. Do your research, people.
These chickenhawks love to spend YOUR money and send YOUR kids to die.
Sure, let's go to Mali, royce, you chicken@!$%#
we'll be right behind YOU and your children!
Your welfare check is safe come down brutha.
skibum - I have probably paid more in taxes in the last 20 years than an illiterate clown like you will earn in your worthless miserable lifetime.
Be sure and let us know when YOU enlist to go stand a post in Mali, "brutha"
Obama should at least send over some Corpseman.
you should at least post something intelligent.
Fubarak, do you have anything intelligent or noteworthy to say? What a waste of a brain.
I am sure the French have their own medics. Maybe we can send a hospital ship if the need is great enough but for now, Intel only.
Wonder what social programs Royce will want cut to offset the cost of this new war?
France has more than enough soldiers to fight this war, if need be down the line then we can provide some "assistance" but no boots on the ground. It's time for other countries to step up and take the lead in hunting down and killing terrorists besides the US all the time. Ed Royce did not fight in Vietnam when he was called and is now calling for the US to get involved, it's easy to be sipping cocktails and eating 3 inch steaks in high end restaurants while our troops are bogged down in Hell fighting and dying.
As I said earlier, France has a very modern military and plenty of soldiers so let them get their feet wet and fight those savages themselves. If they need help then definitely at that time we must support them because we are all in this fight.
And Biden was there or was he partying up on campus?
Steven100 is very correct! We have our brave military individuals coming home from the Two "Bush Wars." They are coming home with very real medical difficulties, and their mental health issues is of real concern. Our nation is not going to spend money we do not have in Africa. Our nation is not getting involved in another foreign civil war. If the French want to go to war so badly? Then let them! Maybe "Romulian Romney" would like to join the French in Africa? He speaks French, and he hid in France during the Vietnam War. Oh! That is right! The "Teabegger Speculator" is a draft dodger! It is time America to take care of our fellow citizens, healing our brave veterans, and rebuild our nation structurally. Put Americans back to work building roads, bridges, dams, new energy grids, green energy, and updating our educational system. No more wars America! No more Civil Wars America! Our citizens are not going to be the "Military Pawns" of other nations, and showing us no respect in return. Enough!
good luck trying to get obama to go against his cult brothers
We would, but we can't fly over French airspace.
The U.S. should be crushing the AlQaeda terrorists wherever they are found.
Why? We have spent numerous amounts of money and lives fighting them and still they prevail. We are not winning anything. Americans are to nonchalant about fighting conflicts/wars.
Either make Rep. Ed Royce pay for it entirely out of his pocket, or better yet, send HIS ass over there to personally take care of it by himself. Or he can take others like McCain, McConnell, Cantor, Boehner, Ayotte, and the spineless Graham as long as they promise to not let them come back.
LBJ, McNamara in Vietnam? McCain was remember?
House of Representative members DON'T dictate foreign policy, thanks Congressman Ed Royce, now go back to whatever it is you do on your little committee. Next......
BTW - Leave foreign policy decisions to President Obama.
back the French??? anybody remember Vietnam?? they pulled out trying to fight people who used sticks and stones..what are they going to do against a heavily armed army?? this will/could be Obama's Vietnam...stay out please...
FYI the Viet were supplied weapons by the US and China against their war with Japan. The french went out of Indochina, a logical decolonization trend, and nobody asked the US to go there a good ten years later. Your ignorance seems complete.
Dien Bien Phu? Logical decolonization?