The plans for the show-down in northern Mali are hotting up with an expansion of troops from 3200 to 5500 (see Plans for bigger military force in Mali | News24).
The 15-nation Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas)
and representatives from South Africa, Mauritania, Morocco, Libya, Algeria
are planning the military campaign in N Mali. To be frank, I couldn't imagine an approach more disposed to maximising bloodshed and confusion than this. Trying to recapture half of a large country by committee strikes me as properly misguided. How many of the 5500 will know what they are doing? How will the comms operate? How many of these guys have worked alongside each other before? How many of them will go home in a box?
Unhappy chapter this for Mali. I would stay well away right now.
Last edited by Richard Washington; 10 Nov 2012 at 16:47.
|