Thanks to Navy Recognition for the heads up (again).
This is getting good. The French are methodically beefing up forces in this North African nation and the addition of Leclerc Main Battle Tanks points to an "enduring" presence. via Les Echos.fr...
The operation Serval gaining momentum, and it is not saying much. After three Tiger combat helicopters already in place, the armored infantry latest VBCI, coming to take the road on a building projection and command, France is in a position to send Leclerc tanks in Mali, it was learned from sources.At this stage, the plans provide for four Leclerc are projected, but the figure seems low for some specialists. Sign it anticipates their arrival on site, the Army has baffled the Mali a stock of spare parts, first aid, a "AIP" in military jargon (autonomy initial projection). This AIP was bound for Qatar where the second armored brigade must participate in a year in April.
The translation is through Google so it might not be spot on (probably isn't spot on) but it gives an idea.
This is a major undertaking.
This is more than is needed to simply hunt down a small band of terrorist.
The French are gearing up for war. Full scale, knock ya to your knees war in Africa.
Things to look for now? Iran. Do they fund terrorist elements in Africa to make the fight by the French much tougher? China. Do they stand by and do nothing while these African countries start to migrate to the French/European sphere of influence? The US. Do we stand by and do nothing while France/Europe engages our mutual enemies?
Solomon,
ReplyDeleteOut in the French Press this morning:
The Terrorists are better armed than expected with:
- "Dozens" of BRDM-2 and PT-76
- MRLS trucks
- And of course your load of heavy machine guns and recoiless guns wielded on pickup trucks
Still, the current helicopter and jet fleet should be enough to deal with those. Defense press/think tanks etc... start to thing this is a move from the French Army chief of staff in order to show the politics that every assests in the army is important... basically they want to avoid cuts.
My colleagues just published an article in English that may make more sense:
ReplyDeletehttp://www.armyrecognition.com/serval_operation_mali_french_army/french_army_could_send_4_main_battle_tanks_leclerc_to_support_military_operations_in_mali_2401131.html
Hey, why not send in Leclerc tanks. If the Germans balk at selling the Saudi's Leopard 2s, a good showing in Mali would give combat cred to the Leclerc.
ReplyDeleteStill, why send in a platoon of tanks rather than a whole company? I think the French are going to be whupping some AQIM ass.
The French do this all the time. They send 2,500 to 3,000 troops to Chad in the 80's and about the same to Rwanda in the 90's. There are many other smaller military operations France has undertaken all over Africa post WWII. I think they had the same number operating in Ivory Coast last decade but it might have been less. France feels some responsibility to it's former colonies and has been intervening in them for decades and maintains.
ReplyDeleteI'd have to research the exact numbers but I'm pretty sure France has bases in 8 different countries in Africa of which 5 are in West Africa and that 15,000 or so troops deployed in Africa is fairly normal. They have more troops in Reunion (part of France) off Madagascar than they do in Djibouti.
I can understand the operations in Mali being news but within the context of France's polices since 1945 it's business as usual. I'm not sure every armed conflict really should be called a war. Certainly killing people in an organized manner is war but these operations are what used to be called colonial or brushfire wars. A small war or conflict if you will.