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Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsUS Expands military aid to France in Mali.
Here we go again. Like clockwork. One in five to six children and seniors living in poverty in this country, admonitions about not being able to afford Social Security, yet we *always* have the money for another optional war.
Have we had enough yet, America?
US Expands miiltary aid to France in Mali.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/national-security/us-expands-aid-to-french-mission-in-mali/2013/01/26/3d56bb5c-6821-11e2-83c7-38d5fac94235_story.html
By Ernesto Londoño, Washington Post
The United States is significantly expanding its assistance to a French assault on Islamist militants in Mali by offering aerial refueling and planes to transport soldiers from other African nations, the Pentagon announced Saturday night.
The gesture comes amid a debate within the Obama administration about how deeply it should engage in the French effort to prevent Islamists from wresting control of the West African nation. French requests for more robust support from Washington raised a legal dilemma because U.S. law forbids foreign assistance funds to leaders that came to power through a coup. Malis military leaders, including some trained by U.S. troops, seized power last year by force.
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The French requested this support, and we believe it was important to move ahead, a senior defense official said Saturday night, speaking on the condition of anonymity to discuss policy deliberations. The U.S. has the most advanced refueling technology in the world, and we wanted to provide this support.
The United States has concluded that the expanded assistance is legally sound because of Frances notification to the United Nations Security Council that its mission in Mali is being offered at the request of the African countrys government, which is fighting terrorist elements, Pentagon spokesman Lt. Col. James Gregory said in a statement.
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TwilightGardener
(46,416 posts)the coup against the Mali government. If it stops at airlift and intelligence, I'm OK with it. If it's boots on the ground, then no. Also no on drone strikes, for now.
Arctic Dave
(13,812 posts)It is supposed to be for "professionalism" but amazingly enough a lot of them tend to become war criminals.
School of the Americas is a fine example.
daleo
(21,317 posts)It was the same during the Cold War. The west talked about democracy and supported coups and dictators.
Tierra_y_Libertad
(50,414 posts)ProSense
(116,464 posts)...excited everyone was when France elected a Socialist?
Please rec to show your support for the people of France, England and Greece in
http://www.democraticunderground.com/1002653179
The realities of governing.