Mali Islamists Vow To Strike ‘At Heart’ Of France

[Purveyor]

Source: Agence France-Presse

Islamist forces based in northern Mali vowed Monday to avenge France’s fierce military offensive against them on French soil.

“France has attacked Islam. We will strike at the heart of France,” said a leader of the Movement for Oneness and Jihad in West Africa (MUJAO), an offshoot of Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM).

Asked where they would strike, Abou Dardar told AFP by telephone: “Everywhere. In Bamako, in Africa and in Europe.”

Authorities in France were already on high alert over fears of a backlash on home soil by Islamist extremists.

Read more: http://www.rawstory.com/rs/2013/01/14/mali-islamists-vow-to-strike-at-heart-of-france/

[ellisonz]

1. France has not "attacked Islam."

France has in conjunction with the international community and the sovereign democratically elected government acted to thwart a small minority of militants who would impose a heretical brand of Islam that endorses a myriad of atrocities which is widely denounced by a vast majority of Muslims in the world, including the foremost scholars and high priests of Islam.

[Arctic Dave]

3. Is that your thoughts on Syria too?

Wasn't the government in Mali a result of a military coup?

[ellisonz]

5. Most people in Syria think Assad is a butcher and a heretic.

Mali's government is a Transitional government from a democratically elected one - the military coup was abandoned after President Amadou Toumani Touré resigned and the military coup leaders restored the Constitution. International efforts to preserve democratic integrity in Mali have been successful.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Next_Malian_presidential_election
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2012_Malian_coup_d%27%C3%A9tat

How can Mali hold the scheduled election legitimately if the north does not wish for Mali to be a nation or a democracy?

This military action is unanimously backed by the UN Security Council and is going to be followed by a peacekeeping force of African nations in conjunction with the Malian Army.

[Arctic Dave]

8. Most people say that about the poele who trying to overthrow the government.

Or is Al Quada a good guy now?

As for Mali, it would appear that the North wants nothing to do with the South and are taking the matters into their hands.

Strange how everyone wants to keep the Tuereqsin a country they don't want to be in. Kind of like the PKK and Turkey.

[Ash_F]

9. Mali has been a Democracy to the Tuareg in the way the US has been a Democracy to Native Amercans

Keep reading and get a grip.

[Ash_F]

4. residents of the North have had no say in government for decades.

The Northern ethnic groups have no presence in the central government but I guess that doesn't have anything to do with the fact the rebels are mostly all from the North.

There is more to Mali than what the TV says.

Start here.

http://thinkafricapress.com/mali/causes-uprising-northern-mali-tuareg

[ellisonz]

6. Which is why a minority of extremists should be allowed to terrorize the population...

...and invade the south while attempting to overthrow the government?

Military action is happening for precisely that reason.

Maybe they should follow the path of peace and put down arms and negotiate.

[Ash_F]

7. It would be great if France would facilitate that.

But they are just going to crush the rebellion while first world citizens remain ignorant, don't be naive.

[dipsydoodle]

2. Mali crisis: Who's who?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-17582909

The original issue here was the Touregs wanting independence of the north which the Malian government had long refused. Since then its become more complicated. Even our media here in the UK refer to western involvement as being to "protect economic interests there"

[dixiegrrrrl]

10. Seems like most of Africa is in play now.

A pattern is pretty obvious.

The U.S. is sending troops to 35 African nations under the guise of fighting Al Qaeda and related terrorists.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/10022189885


And the Middle East problems expand:
we now have Turkey getting involved with the Syria mess.
Link here is to Google news which lists many headlines since Oct. of Turkey/syria clashes
http://www.google.com/search?client=ubuntu&channel=fs&q=Turkey+Syria&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8

all in all, a pattern of staking out territory is speeding up.
Weapons makers must be delirious with joy.




and India is going "nyah nyah nyah" at Pakistan..
India's Army Chief Warns Pakistan of Retaliation
http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/india-army-chief-warns-pakistan-retaliation-18208682