EU foreign ministers officially launch mission to train military in Mali
Rather braver than our government which is suffering from Afghan quagmiritis (not necessarily a bad thing given the attitudes of the Canadian public and media). But Scott Taylor, with whom I usually disagree, makes some good points in dissecting its, er, position:
Baird inconsistent on Mali
Lots more on Mali. As for Afghanistan:
Aussies Plan to Stay in Afghanistan Post-2014, Canadian Forces Not
Mark Collins, a prolific Ottawa blogger, is a Research Fellow at the Canadian Defence & Foreign Affairs Institute
Germans doing their bit:
“German Cabinet adopts plan to send 330 soldiers to Mali in support of French, African efforts
Chancellor Angela Merkel’s Cabinet has approved a plan to send up to 330 German military personnel to Mali to help train the country’s soldiers and provide logistical support.
The plan passed Tuesday, which still needs Parliament’s approval, does not authorize any German participation in combat operations.
Up to 180 soldiers will be part of the European Union’s task force of about 500 that is being sent from nations across the 27-nation bloc to help train the Malian army.
Its goal is to make that army good enough to patrol the whole country, including its huge northern region, where French and African troops are fighting to unseat Islamist rebels.
The decision allows for up to 150 Germans to take part in ongoing aerial transport and refueling operations.”
http://www.foxnews.com/world/2013/02/19/german-cabinet-adopts-plan-to-send-330-soldiers-to-mali-in-support-french/
Mark Collins
Plus the Brits and Irish together:
‘British and Irish troops to set up infantry training team in Mali
Joint operation will be the first time soldiers from the two countries have worked together since Ireland won independence
British and Irish troops will be involved in a joint operation for the first time since Ireland won independence after bloody uprisings and civil war…
The MoD stressed that Britain would not provide troops in a combat role or as force protection for the military assistance missions. That role, it said, would be carried out by French and Czech troops. Britain would provide 40 personnel to the European Union Training Mission, including three civilians under the Preventing Sexual Violence Initiative set up by the Foreign Office to provide “human rights and gender awareness training”, the MoD said.
As well as an infantry training team, Britain would also deploy mortar and artillery training teams. Hammond said: “This mission is a further demonstration of our commitment to tackle violent extremism and the threat that it poses to our national interests.”
Under existing plans, up to 330 British troops are to be deployed to Mali and neighbouring countries. Two RAF C17 transport aircraft have also been were deployed to help supply French troops and equipment to Mali. One has recently been used at Ghana’s request to deliver around 120 Ghanaian engineering troops into the country to support African-led training.
A British Sentinel aircraft has been providing intelligence and surveillance and the US has been providing unseen intelligence-gathering assets, according to US media reports. The Guardian has reported that a small number of British special forces soldiers were on the ground in Mali.
Six Irish soldiers and 21 British will be deployed in Mali to set up an infantry training team led by troops from the 1st Battalion Royal Irish Regiment, the Ministry of Defence announced on Monday.’
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2013/feb/18/british-irish-troops-mali
Mark Collins