bookface:

This sounds very nice, your "military speak" adds to the flavour.

So, "Nigerian operatives have been crawling around the terrains of Mali"...and meanwhile, somewhere else, Islamist rebels kept advancing and gaining territory up to a point where the Malian government yelled for help and it took the french more than 3000 km away and a single night of airstrikes to halt the advancement? So what's the point to all the extensive "recce"?

simple. u have ur orders, and you simply follow. your orders r not to engage, it is strictly "recce". imagine the HQ denying your presence only ds morning, so what do u think wld happen if you entered action? ...absolute denial of your presence! the mission is strictly covert recce, under such situation, ur rule of engagement is stricter.

Example for u is the storming of ECOMOG HQ and abduction of Samuel Doe therein by Yommie Johnson and his group right in d palm of ECOMOG led by Nig and Ghana. It wa a major disgrace, but alongside the leadership change that came with it was a new ORBAT and Rule of Engagement. Thats because initial Rule of Engagement was lax, so the soldiers couldn't engage when they could have repelled the attack.

but the questions remains why did it take ecowas so long to respond ?
secondly ,is there a possiblity of this crisis spilling over into other ecowas countries?

Like seriously islamists everytime its terrorism...na wao islambad sha,.!!..

Dede1:

It does not seem you have read historical facts about the fights for independent nation.

Since you have read all the historical facts about fights for independence,in your opinion, you really believe that the Malian terrorists fall in the same category? Wow! Like i said earlier, na where your brain reach way you express. I guess bokoharam are fighting for the same independent nation, while bombing our churches? Btw, its those terrorist that trained your boko brothers. Mshew!

the defence intelligence agency has been operating covertly in mali over the last couple of months especially as regards credible reports that abubakar shekau and other boko haram topshots are over there and collaborating with the islamists..the main military teams haven't been deployed yet with the exception of the airforce technical team

Dede1:


I guess ignorance oozes from your post. If the reasons Boko Haram is fighting Nigerian government include carving out independent nation from Nigeria, I shall contribute to its coffer. You are entitled to your bloody opinions including nonsensical idiocy about certain “people who will like to impose Islamic faith and Shariah laws on the rest of the world”. What a drooling fool.

Obviously, i touched some nerves.

Talibans in Afghanistan, Al-Qaieda in Maghreb, Islamic Rebels in Mali, Boko Haram in Nigeria, Dede1 on Nairaland, all share the same dogma:- The diminishment of mankind to a pitiable, hapless form, The colonization of minds, The imposition of religious beliefs and The abolishment of free democratic laws to be replaced by Shariah laws.

They all operate under the banners of their disgust for western culture and civilization, which ironically they themselves happen to live by, afterall, Dede1 does have an access to internet and presumably, knows how to use it.

It is for them all, that machines such as Rafale fighter jets, Eurotyphoon and B2 spirits were made.

Dede1, this is for you:



and be rest assured that the frenchies will find your Malian brothers, can i get an Amen?

from what i have read so far ,it seems our defence intelligence unit is very good and can perform at the same level with other nations own.
now why have they not been able replicate the same at home here in nigeria against boko haram?

onatisi: but the questions remains why did it take ecowas so long to respond ?
secondly ,is there a possiblity of this crisis spilling over into other ecowas countries?

first question: answer is called LOGISTICS. u may want to find out why it took US almost a year to attack Afghanistan when it was a given right from Sept 11, 2011.

second question: YES. that's y they took the initiative and proceeded to secure UN mandate on it.

I WONDER WHAT NATURAL RESOURCES ARE IN MALI. THEY MUST HAVE OIL

@op
No one should be surprised at the French intervening in this conflict. The motivating canons are essentially political and economic-and, more for an erstwhile colony. The French are without doubt the most shepherding of all former colonial powers, and the action only became inevitable after a major landing platform became threatened with the capture of, Konna, by the insurgents.

An inventory of the political health of hitherto capable African countries- Nigeria, South Africa, etc.,- would return a deficit: a run of manipulated succession bids; a crisis of quality leadership; an abundance of pocket extremist groups- dictating death, the headlines and political discourse; the lingering food and energy shortages, etc.,. Any honest observer would readily admit that most states are hobbled and are only in delayed anarchy.

As for the passiveness and the absence of a well-articulated response from the African Union et al, regarding the insurgency, the answers stare you in the face.

homerac7:

first question: answer is called LOGISTICS. u may want to find out why it took US almost a year to attack Afghanistan when it was a given right from Sept 11, 2011.

second question: YES. that's y they took the initiative and proceeded to secure UN mandate on it.

US struck Afghanistan less than a month after 9-11 .

Kay-Dee:


US struck Afghanistan less than a month after 9-11 .

you are right sir. my error, sorry abt dt.

cogitoErgo: African leaders are slow to act because they are taking their time to think hard b4 they act!

African leaders actually agreed (don't know how ready they were) to a military intervention since early last year but the UNSC delayed the approval until last month when they approved but gave conditions about training Malian troops first.

How do you expect the military that is dominated by the terrorist like Nigeria to send troops to fight against terrorists? Didn’t hear when the president said it openly that the terrorists are in every arms of his government including the Armed Forces? Where Nigeria and other African countries deploy the military swiftly is when there is a peaceful demonstration against their useless laws. They are home lions who only show their strength on their poor and armless citizens.

Malian terrorists has been there since April 2012, planning, carrying out attacks in Mali and Northern Nigeria freely, while our politicians are busy looting and planning for the 2015 election, ignoring the threats posed by these terrorists in Mali. Waiting until they capture Mali fully and invade another country, it took Nigeria government only a telephone call to send troops to the Lagos streets , where it was not necessary but to send only 6oo promised troops they are waiting till all the West Africa is Islamized before acting. Nonsense country with hopeless rulers.

ECOWAS wanted their action to be in accordance with UN and international law. You need a western power or one of the 5 permanent members of the security council (britain,france,us,china,russia) to co-sign any invasion, deployment or military action for it to be legit.

Lol !! Did someone just say al-Qaeda should be left to fight for 'independence'?

obadiah777: I WONDER WHAT NATURAL RESOURCES ARE IN MALI. THEY MUST HAVE OIL

maybe so, but it still doesn't change the fact that Islamic terrorists are


[img]http://www.estrepublicain.fr/fr/images/5856F8FF-1856-4C2B-B014-6ABAC37727A4/LER_15/le-porte-parole-d-ansar-dine-photo-afp.jpg[/img]





[img]http://2.bp..com/-75R9eViuW4c/T8DjVeONzmI/AAAAAAAABdI/ddzDoOTtZAc/s1600/Ansar+Dine+flag+azawad.jpg[/img]



[img]http://www.rfi.fr/sites/filesrfi/dynimagecache/0/14/1436/1072/344/257/sites/images.rfi.fr/files/aef_image/abdoul-hakim_[/img]

homerac7:

simple. u have ur orders, and you simply follow. your orders r not to engage, it is strictly "recce". imagine the HQ denying your presence only ds morning, so what do u think wld happen if you entered action? ...absolute denial of your presence! the mission is strictly covert recce, under such situation, ur rule of engagement is stricter.

Example for u is the storming of ECOMOG HQ and abduction of Samuel Doe therein by Yommie Johnson and his group right in d palm of ECOMOG led by Nig and Ghana. It wa a major disgrace, but alongside the leadership change that came with it was a new ORBAT and Rule of Engagement. Thats because initial Rule of Engagement was lax, so the soldiers couldn't engage when they could have repelled the attack.

Correct. One lil correction though....the blame for Samuel Doe's capture falls squarely on the shoulder of the Ghanian contingent, not Nigeria. It was their screw-up.

Dede1: If the so-called Malian rebels are fighting for an independent nation out of Mali, the moronic jerks such as French and other Africans should stay away from the debacle. The people fighting for independence have every right to do so. I will always support the deconstruction of 1884 European partition of Africa.

Is that really the case?

bookface:

This sounds very nice, your "military speak" adds to the flavour.

So, "Nigerian operatives have been crawling around the terrains of Mali"...and meanwhile, somewhere else, Islamist rebels kept advancing and gaining territory up to a point where the Malian government yelled for help and it took the french more than 3000 km away and a single night of airstrikes to halt the advancement? So what's the point to all the extensive "recce"?

Recce is of extreme importance, as it provides our military the necessary intelligence needed to successfullyexecute any forthcoming op in country. I'm sure DIA and NIA operatives, along with Army Special Forces and the NAF must have obtained much intelligence on enemy locations, troop strength, assets, supply hubs/ducts, enemy CCIC (command, communication, information, and control) hubs, etc.

ocelot2006:


Recce is of extreme importance, as it provides our military the necessary intelligence needed to successfullyexecute any forthcoming op in country. I'm sure DIA and NIA operatives, along with Army Special Forces and the NAF must have obtained much intelligence on enemy locations, troop strength, assets, supply hubs/ducts, enemy CCIC (command, communication, information, and control) hubs, etc.

how com you guys know so much about military terminoligies and operations so much?

[size=16pt]WHY IS FRANCE POKING HER DIRTY NOSE IN THIS>>?? ? ?? ? [/size]


[size=16pt]THIS IS A TOUAREG RESISTANCE! THE ISLAMIC-ARAB PART CAME LATER, AND THEY ARE ALREADY BEING PUSHED OUT BY THE NON-ISLAMIC TOUAREG FACTIONS!

THE TOUAREG HAVE BEEN SUFFERING FOR YEARS IN THESE AREAS BY MALIS LACK OF DEVELOPMENT AND OPRESSIVE MEASURES! THEIR PASTURES HAVE BEEN BURNT DOWN AND THERE IS GENOCIDE AGAINST THEM NOT TO MENTION DROUGHT AND STARVATION!


I HOPE THE TOUAREG REBELS DEFEAT THEM!

THIS IS THE FIGHT OF THE NOMADS!

VIVA LA AMAZIGHEN!!!!!!!!!![/size]

Yewe2011:

maybe so, but it still doesn't change the fact that Islamic terrorists are

These are no islamist-arabs. They are Touareg leaders.

[size=16pt]YOU GUYZ PLEASE STOP CONFUSING ISLAMISTS WITH THE TOUAREG REBELS.

THE ISLAMIST GROUP IS CALLED ANSAR DINE AND THEY ARE THE ONES WEARING LONG BEARDS AND CARRYING BLACK FLAGS OF THE SHAHADAH AROUND AND HAVE LINKS TO AL-QAEDA!

THEY DONT WANT INDEPENDENCE. THEY WANT TO IMPOSE SHARIA'A LAW WITHIN INTACT MALI.


THE TOUAREG REBEL GROUP THAT WANTS INDEPENDENCE (NOT SHARIAA), IS CALLED THE National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA) {Main Rebel Faction}


BOTH FACTIONS ARE FIGHTING AGAINST EACH OTHER.

PLEASE LET US SUPPORT THE TOUAREG-NOMAD LED MNLA AGAINST ISLAMISTS, FOREIGNERS AND MALI.

The National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad is operated and funded by ECOWAS who outlined a plan for deploying troops to Mali in 2012.

[/size]

However, tensions between the two factions continued to rise, culminating in the Battle of Gao, in which the MNLA lost control of northern Mali's cities to Ansar Dine and Movement for Oneness and Jihad in West Africa. THe people of Gao are mostly Fula and Songhay and want SHariaa and intact Mali.

Two days later parts of the World Heritage Site of Timbuktu had started to be destroyed, amid condemnation by UNESCO, the OIC Mali and France. THis includes the tomb of Askia Muhammad, who practiced Traditional Religion , though was muslim outwardly and brought baout a cultural revival across Mali during the days of the SOnghai Empire.



MNLA SENIOR LEADER



note the absence of islamist symbols in the MNLA emblem and the use of ethnic Touareg symbols (THe TAkouba Swords)

excerpt from the destruction of the shrines of TImbuctoo:


A Mali separatist movement (MNLA) on Sunday said it was prepared to act against Islamic militants following the destruction of three sacred tombs in Timbuktu, and called on the United States and France "to help us kill them."

Islamic militants set fire to sacred tombs in Timbuktu.

Timbuktu Mayor Ousmane Halle said that Muslims on their way to Friday worship at the tombs were stopped and threatened by armed men from Ansar Dine, a militant group that seeks to impose strict Sharia law.


Ansar Dine has threatened to continue the destruction.

"It's very, very bad for the Azawad people and the whole world what Ansar Dine has done in Timbuktu. We condemn it completely," Moussa Ag Assarid, spokesman for the Tuareg rebels' National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad, or MNLA, said Sunday. The group promotes a separate state it calls Azawad.

"We are ready and preparing to right with these terrorist organizations," Assarid said. "We will move soon, and (are) taking our arms and vehicles and material, but we still need help."

The MNLA claims Islamist extremist groups including Ansar Dine, Boko Haram and al Qaeda have seized control of Timbuktu along with the towns of Gao and Kidal, and have killed top MNLA leaders there.

"We call on the USA, France and all other countries who want to stand against Ansar Dine, Boko Haram and al Qaeda who are now holding Timbuktu, Gao and Kidal to help us kill them and help the people in those cities," Assarid said.

cogitoErgo: African leaders are slow to act because they are taking their time to think hard b4 they act!

Yeah, more like they lack the confidence to go in without western support.

EFX001: NIGERIAN ARMY COVERT SPECIAL FORCES COMMANDOS ARE CURRENTLY IN MALI CARRYING OUT COVERT OPS AGAINST TERRORIST ELEMENTS. MY FREIENDS THIS WAS CONFIRMED YESTERDAY BY THE MALIAN GENERAL INCHARGE OF OPERATIONS. ITS A SECRET RAPID DEPLOYMENT. SHHHH! IGNORE THE MEDIA AND READ THROUGH THE LINES.

Post a link to the article stating this.

How do the west decide who they support? Until I can work that out, I will remain confused. Why fight against Al Qaeda in Mali but support Al Qaeda in Syria and Libya? Why do they support 'people' who fight for their 'rights' with guns in Syria but oppose those fighting for their 'rights' with guns in Mali? Okay I get it; Mali is a 'democracy' but wait, the west didnt support people fighting for their rights in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia which are absolute monarchies (read dictatorship). Okay I am confused again.

The west don't give a toss about democracy and will only protect their interests. That is why they are antagonistic towards comrade Chavez and Ahmedinijad who were democratically elected in free and fair elections in Venezuela and Iran but are bed fellows with oppressive dictators in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain.

Belgian news agencies are reporting Nigeria and Senegal took part in the operations.
See the link below, but it's written in Dutch.


http://www.standaard.be/artikel/detail.aspx?artikelid=DMF20130111_00429918

Blyss:

Post a link to the article stating this.

See link above if u can read dutch.

pappilo: How do the west decide who they support? Until I can work that out, I will remain confused. Why fight against Al Qaeda in Mali but support Al Qaeda in Syria and Libya? Why do they support 'people' who fight for their 'rights' with guns in Syria but oppose those fighting for their 'rights' with guns in Mali? Okay I get it; Mali is a 'democracy' but wait, the west didnt support people fighting for their rights in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia which are absolute monarchies (read dictatorship). Okay I am confused again.

The west don't give a toss about democracy and will only protect their interests. That is why they are antagonistic towards comrade Chavez and Ahmedinijad who were democratically elected in free and fair elections in Venezuela and Iran but are bed fellows with oppressive dictators in Saudi Arabia and Bahrain.

what the west thinks doesnt matter. do what you feel best.

@Pagan 9ja, if what you say is the case, then it's most unfortunate for those MNLA seeking freedom. Reminds me of the Nigerian situation where various groups remain tied in a country that seem destined to never work, even as the most favoured keep screaming "one Nigeria". Freedom you know can be so elusive, difficult to achieve!