France intervenes in Mali

True Bachus. Thing is now we actually know what is happening....

nomerci--I agree to some extent. But to a large extent the sense that terrorism is rising is a result of two things:

1. Terrorism is being used as a catch-all phrase for rebels, dissidents, guerilla fighters, etc. Label your enemy a terrorist and you get a free reign to do all sorts of things to them.

2. 24 hour media results in a great exaggeration of their activities. 20 years ago Mali would not have made the 30 minute evening or late night news cycles in the West, and it would not have even been reported in the rest of the world (due to lack of journalistic infrastructure).

Blosted, it can't be done this way. Obviously. They are gaining ground, fast.Killing, oppressing and forcing people.

They have the money, the know how and a lot of power.

Think about it...what comes to mind?

@nomerci there are no specific way to fight terrorism, knowing that if they leave the field terrorists be, they would eventually spread terror and reign over the public.

Currently they are at least trying to leave this cancer at bay.

Great thinking France! What could possibly go wrong?

in what way does it affect France? They were the ones who were supporting all those dictators out in Africa. HOw come everyone forgot about Rwanda?

They would be more worried about losing their puppet rulers than anything else.

Regarding SOmalia try to find out about dumping waste in the seas near SOmalia.

That is exactly the problem as all neighboring countries are run by dictators or corrupt regimes who failed to make any progress whatsoever. France can do what they like but it is time that these countries decide for themselves what they want. What do they always ask the 'West' to step in ? It is not my problem.

Brit, yes, again I can only agree.

And here we have it again, ethics, or better said, the lack of.

It is a pathetic sham.

Your comment "Interests need to be reviewed and re- prioritized ,fast" sums it up.. Many of these groups are used as proxies by governments to further their own agendas.

Blosted, maybe so. But do you not agree that it is high time to start to make an effort in that direction?

If governments/countries continue to fight this cancer from the wrong end, shrug their shoulders at the perceived difficulty of taking the right kind of action, well, then I guess things will continue to go seriously down the drain.

@nomerci easier said than done.

Indeed brit. And because of that and many other countries ( maybe even Egypt? ) being in the claws of those groups, does that not warrant to put extra effort into getting rid of them?

Fighting those on the field is useless.They can and will be replaced,as we see on a daily basis. The people who are paying and organizing them, those are the ones that need to be eliminated.

Interests need to be reviewed and re- prioritized ,fast.

Not that straight forward.

Too many vested interests.

Look at what's going on in DR Congo. The U.N is there, yet rebels come in - kill, rape, pillage and then leave at will. :O(

Let them rest in peace, Somalia is a very dangerous place for operations , even for the most elite anti-terrorism groups.

So, these so called Islamists are causing trouble the world over and are financed externally.

Now, is it known who is financing them? And if so, why not go after those "people" ?

Two French commandos were killed and hostage murdered by captors after daring helicopter raid on Somali militants ends in disaster today :O(

Whenever there are any terrorist groups, they must be confronted.

Especially the ones like in Mali who are trying to impose their rules.

Basically its like what used to be in Afghanistan before the Soviet intervention.

And do not underestimate the harmful ability of terrorist cells.

After all you can make a Chemical weapon in your kitchen for 300Dollars that might kill and severely injure thousands.

Terrorism,its no joke.

Wt about Palestine issue? Israel is doing the same thing ( as Islamist rebels) from decades and none of these western countries did respond as they are doing with the other poor countries like Mali.

Terror has so many faces...its not only the bloodshed..in my point of view squeezing the poor for own political & economical interests is also a terror.

I thought François Hollande being a Far right socialist wont interfere in other countries problems like his incumbent Sarkozy.

Kk, it is the neighbouring countries letting these religious extremists cross the border into Mali that is the problem.

The word of colonization...they don't use it anymore. It's just PROXY!

Let these countries solve their own mess or with the help of the neighboring countries.

Brite - There has to be a fairness. Islamist rebels are not fighting local wars. They are a joint coalition with funding and support globally. Smaller countries need support from wherever they can get. Qatar must help saving smaller African countries like Somalia,Ethiopia and the likes from the savagery and brutality of the religious fanatics who are armed to the teeth by global forces.

Good move by France

am still confused about whom to call the "Axis of Evil"

Well the Islamic extremists have been killing the locals, oppressing them introducing sharia law that they don't want and destroying cultural icons. They are not inclusive for the population and want to impose their laws through violence and intimidation. So on that basis I would think intervention is necessary. The majority would welcoming it.

Surely , It is right that these nations try and sort out their own problems. Otherwise, they will become proxies for the bigger nations. - Oh , hold on! they already are :O(

Brite - You cannot expect the international community to keep quite and watch the rebels take over smaller nations one byn one. The governments of these countries are not equipped to handle such situations. The Islamist rebels get external support - financial and hardware to wage wars against their governments so it is only right for the governments of these countries to seek help from the more powerful nations.

I believe the countries like France,UK and Germany have a lot of responsibility in Africa with regards to saving the weaker countries from the religious rebels.

WHY ?

Malian military officials say the attack has stopped the offensive by Islamist rebels. The rebels, who control all of the north of the country, had pushed south this week, taking the town of Konna. Malian military officials say government troops have now taken back the town. This is a quick win already.

Mali is a different issue. French intervention was definately required.