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Joe Penney / Reuters
French military pass the the town of Konobougou on their way to Segou, Mali, on Jan. 17. European Union states will send more than 200 military personnel to train Mali government forces in the fight against Islamist rebels.
U.S. military support for French military operations in Mali will soon include an airlift — U.S. military planes will fly French personnel and equipment to the area.
A U.S. defense official told NBC News that the military is in the planning stages of an effort to transport the equivalent of about 30 C-17-sized planeloads of French troops and gear from France to Mali.
Most of the U.S. military planes will fly from the continental U.S. over to France for the mission, but least two Marine Corps KC-130 transport planes from a Navy base in Sigonella, Italy, are also likely to be called in to help. The U.S.-based planes are likely to be a mix of C-17s and C-5s, the U.S. defense official said.
The U.S. cargo planes may not land inside Mali, one U.S. official said, explaining that the U.S. is not interested in putting boots on the ground as the French fight Islamist militants in their former colony. The cargo planes would need support on the ground to unload, so the military is working out options, including landing the planes in Niger or Senegal.
The U.S. military is also awaiting orders to help the French military with re-fueling French planes.
Several U.S. military and defense officials have also told NBC News that a Marine Corps Fleet Anti-Terrorism Security Team remains ready to deploy to Mali to help with embassy security if necessary.
After tripling its number of troops to help stop Islamist fighters advancing on Mali's capital, the French president has pledged to stay in Mali until stability has returned. Meanwhile, A UK transport has arrived and thousands of African troops are on the way. ITV's Rohit Kachroo reports from Mali's capital
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This isn't the first time the US has helped France with logistical support in Africa. For all the tit-for-tat that has gone on between France and the US, both have helped each other. In 1978, US aircraft supported the French intervention in Zaire. The French co-opted the Beirut operation in 1983, and the French took part in the first Gulf War and Afghanistan. We supported what was essentially a French operation in Libya, so it shouldn't come as surprise we're helping them now.
I spent some time with the 2nd REP as a US exchange/liason NCO back in the 70's. I found them to be outstanding soldiers.
Yeah, it is the Libyans and others who were armed by the US-UK-French alliance to topple Khadaffi who have swelled the ranks of those the French are now fighting. LOL. Brilliant strategy these latest neo-nation building/ recolonization/ occupations.
@DOU44
FYI Qaddafi had modern weapons and it is rather those stockpiles which ended in the wild, moreover and from memory it was rather countries like Qatar which supplied some light-weapons. You are mixing things up, some Touareg groups (e.g. MLNA) who were mercenaries for Gaddafi took weapons with them on their way out, and these weapons then finished in the Mali islamists hands when they were once allies last year, the islamists then kicked them out. These terrorists aren't representative at all of the Libya rebels which were rather regional clans fighting for once a common cause.
Stomping on these Islamic militants immediately before they become entrenched is wise. It is a pity that these Islamic fools have destroyed much of their cultural heritage in Timbuktu - a restoration is never going to be quite the same thing. Let's hope that the French armed forces can cripple these scum PDQ and send them to their brief meeting with Allah.
Vietnam
US cargo planes "helping" in a former French colony: That is how the murderous US debacle in Vietnam started. Defund the Pentagon complex by 75%- now.
France went out of Indochina in 1954
US sent combat troops to Vietnam in 1965 (against France advice)
If you think there is any correlation between the two it would be just because of your ignorance.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Role_of_the_United_States_in_the_Vietnam_War
Close down 95 % of the Pentagon---the civilians and Generals make there living by sending American soliders to fight somebody's else's war
This country will do what is best for this countries interests and that of free people throughout the world. In this case, it is about stopping the spread of a religious philosophy held by AQ and Islamic terrorists conversion by force. They are forcing their fanatic will on a country to which many do not belong. Oil or no oil, we will get involved for the future of the free world. This is about stopping the extremists in their tracks and hopefully fulfilling their dream of an afterlife.
GOP Steve: Define "free people". That's funny. Patriot Act? Warrantless wiretaps and probing of US citizens' emails? Bills of Attainder under Bush and Obama clearly in violation of the Bill of Rights? Murderous US military invasions based on lies that generate huge gov't deficits and max corporate profits? 90% of the USA's "wealth" held by 1%. That's fascism GOP Steve and while the Dems are bad- very bad, the GOP is terrible.
If you want to protect the Islamic ways then you can go & fight with them then being stick here boy.
stevephoenix-4019717--- The United States is not free--a person has to carry a weapon to protect himself and his familey from the illegals---Mexico is clearly in charge of the United States--35,000,000 illegals and counting
Sure we should help the French just like they helped America and our allies with the Afgan and Irag commitment.
Or we could just let them solve their own problem.
Well Chuck, you obviously don't have a clue as to how much the French troops have fought in Afghanistan and have supported the American forces. French troops died there also.
I certainly hope the French understand they are there to kill insurgents and not to take control of the country. That's how Vietnam got started. If anyone is going to go after the insurgents, they should not be allowed to retreat or regroup. They should be surrounded and annihilated for good. If France announces they are leaving the US in charge, the US should leave before the French get a chance to put us in harm's way. Stay and fight until it's over or don't start it to begin with.
The French have been supporting several African nations without "taking over". The French no more want a repeat of Vietnam than we do. The French may even be a little smarter at this than we are. They fought in Chad throughout the 70's, Zaire, Liberia, Ivory Coast, etc., etc., etc..
The French have their detractors (just like we do), but whatever you may think about French politics, the French Foreign Legion is for real, and the French are not shy about using them. The French Foreign Legion is less prone to "political correctness" when engaging and they have a particular attitude towards fighting in the desert. There's a great axiom in the Army that goes "amateurs talk about tactics, rank amateurs talk about strategy, real professionals talk about logistics". The point being, the best thing we can do is help the French with air support and logistics. They'll take care of the rest.
RT, you are absolutely correct with your comments. Thanks