In recent news
regarding tensions between France and Islamic terrorist groups in Mali,
conflict arose following a French air maneuver over a portion of West Africa
causing a heavily armed convoy of Islamic militants to storm a Malian army
base. Malian forces, not yet fully developed to combat such an advance, took
heavy damage before fleeing into the African “bush.” France swiftly responded
to this terrorist attack by deploying air ships with heavy machine guns and
explosive ordinances to fend off the conflict on the ground. The battle at the
Mali Army base between French, Malian, and Islamic militants was intense and
resulted in nothing short of devastation. Fortunately, for the Malian military,
France was able to fend off the advance by the Islamic combatants. The January
20th, 2013 Time World article stated that “France won Round 1 of its new war in
Africa.” Although France’s response was effective, it was not nearly as surgical
as military tacticians could have hoped for. It remains ever so clear to the
French that the Islamic faction is prepared and willing to “fight back.”
The article describes a typical scenario between two allied nations,
one advantaged, France, and one disadvantaged, Mali. Malian forces are
currently week and not completely developed to the point of warding off the
intruding Islamic freedom fighters. France, with a much more seasoned military,
is assisting the Malian military long enough for the Malian forces to regain
and develop strength, training, and numbers. The Time World article states, “France
deserves the world’s thanks for stepping in when and where no one else, the
U.S. included, would.” Mali is important to the Islamic terror groups as well
as France and the rest of the western world due to its geographic location. If
Mali were to collapse and become conquered by the Islamic forces, it would
cause an increase in terrorist activity throughout most of Africa.
Nathaniel Funkhouser
January 25, 2013
1:27 pm
No comments:
Post a Comment