British troops to join Mali mission

[alp227]

Source: The Guardian

Britain is prepared to take the risk of sending a "sizeable amount" of troops, to Mali and neighbouring West African countries as David Cameron offers strong support to France in its operation to drive Islamist militants from its former colony.

As news emerged that insurgents retreating from Timbuktu had set fire to a library containing thousands of priceless historic manuscripts, Downing Street said the prime minister told François Hollande on Sunday night Britain was "keen" to provide further military assistance to France.

Cameron despatched Sir Kim Darroch, his national security adviser, to Paris on Monday to discuss what help Britain could provide. Government sources said decisions on troop deployments were expected to be made in the coming days as France confirms its exact requirements. One source said that Britain could easily dispatch 200 troops if France requested such a number.

Read more: http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2013/jan/28/british-troops-mali-mission

[KamaAina]

1. Finally! Countries besides the U.S. taking the lead in military operations.

I guess Mali doesn't have any oil.

[Lithos]

3. Mali has several promising oil fields

Also Uranium.

However, not enough to justify an intervention.

L-

[ellisonz]

5. The analysis I've seen says what oil may be there is prohibitively expensive to extract.

Furthermore, the exploration that has been done hasn't found much. Correct me if I'm wrong.

[Lithos]

9. There are oil fields

You are right that they have not been previously deemed commercially viable. However there is interest and I think some of the newer surveys are suggesting there is some worth.

But back to the earlier point - definitely not the North Sea and definitely not worth the cost of escalation. Oil is not the motivation.

L-

[dipsydoodle]

2. All non combat roles.

Probably just as well - the French troops do at least speak French which is considered to important in Mali.

[loli phabay]

6. depends on the squaddies they send a lot of them speak french nowadays thanks to school

And the accessibility of france to the southern counties.

[Socal31]

4. Canadian troops have also been deployed, supposedly.

Only to protect their assets, but war can be a funny thing...

[Hulk]

7. Uh oh...

Not liking that one. The bigger this gets, the bigger it is going to increase. I see this as the goal of the al Qaeda. They achieved their goals on 9/11, by turning this country upside down and inside out on liberties. Now, they'll go after anyone else willing step inside their domain.

[daleo]

8. The litter patter of little feet

Heading off to a fresh quagmire.

Say so long to many tens of billions of dollars or euros, and who knows how many lives.