Looks like containment seems to be d word banded about instead re-taken Northern Mali. Does that mean both France and other African countries and I mean 'ECOWAS' nations, are only intrested in preserving d integrity of Southern Malin. Looks like Northern Mali is a forgone conclusion. That will be bad as the Northerners if left intact and alone would continue to mount incessant attack on d south until they over-run them. Is France prepared to go d long haul to chase d rebels out of Mali althogether or is her operations just limited to maintaining d integrity of Southern Mali.

Perharps Southern and Northern Mali should be divivded just like Southern and Northern Sudan since both areas of dis vast country are inhabited by different grioups. The Southerners being negroid in nature and d northerners being Tuaregs. There is no point fighting if both groups can reach an amicable compromise.