By John Ballard
About seven years ago France very sensibly withdrew support for the US adventure in Iraq triggering a wave of Francophobia across the country. A Congressional cafeteria began selling Freedom Fries instead of French Fries and the phrase cheese eating surrender monkeys gained currency. War mongers loved it and salivated in a Pavlovian response at the sight of Old Glory. My guess is that many Americans still think badly of anything French (if they think at all -- most don't) and are deluded into imagining that war in Afghanistan is mysteriously defeating a global Al Qaeda franchise system.
France, meantime, is taking a different approach to attacking Al Qaeda A recent French-Mauritanian attack on an AQIM (AQ in the Maghreb) camp in Mali July 22 impresses me far more than anything I have seen reported from Afghaniatan. This snip from Kal, a young blogger I have followed for several years, makes an interesting read. His blog, The Moor Next Door, carries the same name as his original site, now gone.
The French reportedly provided logistical and technical support while the Mauritanians did the heavy-lifting. An Algerian source told this blogger that France�s association with the raid will only create the perception that �France attacked an African camp and killed Muslims. They will make more enemies for themselves this way. They put African efforts in danger if they associate themselves too publicly with these kinds of things because it can make [us] look like stooges, like the French are really the ones fighting these terrorists when it is us.� Initially, the Mauritanians claimed full credit for the attack. Later, the French chimed in and announced their supporting participation.
This approach strikes me as far more rational than what the US is doing in Afghanistan. It's for sure one helluva lot cheaper in terms of lives and money. Many details and observations at the link.
Kal, as he now wants to be called, is very smart. Anyone who wants to keep track of events in The Maghreb and Sahel is advised to follow his blog, links and analysis.
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