Should France Get Involved In This Conflict?

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2260891/French-troops-prepare-help-government-Mali-fight-rebels-linked-al-Qaeda.html

If they are still spoiling for a fight, perhaps they should have not have withdraw their troops from Afghanistan?

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2235900/Last-French-soldiers-leaves-Afghanistan-country-fulfils-bid-withdraw-troops-faster-other.html

[TWR]

Regards Afghanistan, enough lives has been unnecessary lost in this country, let them sort themselves out, it will start again when all the troops are out.

[Baldric]

If you read the link TWR, that's exactly what France have done, last November!

[DTCwordfan]

Bear in mind, France has a deep relationship with its colonies and here's a government that is being encroached on by the Taliban.

They are not going to stand back and let them be overrun.

[DTCwordfan]

that should read ex-colonies.....

[LazyGun]

I would imagine that Frances eagerness to help Mali stems from the fact that Mali was once a part of french sudan, frances african colony, whose official language is french....

They would be offering troops and support regardless of their involvement in Afghanistan..

[pdq1]

Cameron is at this moment feeling a rush of blood to his head and thinking why aren't our troops out their fighting the Islamists with France. What holds him back? The violent opposition not to get involved in more squirmishes which seem imposssible to extricate from. So he talks from the sidelines backing France to the hilt and wonders why the US has not got more involved. As soon as they do he will be getting our troops ready at the double.

[DTCwordfan]

pdq - The States has announced that they are prepared to back France with logistical support, so not quite true.

[DTCwordfan]

(wit Radio 4 this morning.....)

[anotheoldgit]

DTcrosswordfan

Perhaps then we should also get involved in the conflict between India and Pakistan?

Trouble there though, which side would we support?

[DTCwordfan]

Irrelevant, AOG.

This is France we are talking about.

[DTCwordfan]

On that basis of British wussy retreats, well then let's cede the Falklands then.

[anotheoldgit]

What about Syria, seems the West hasn't enough troops to get involved in all militant Islamic troubles.

[DTCwordfan]

Could leave that one to the Ruskies - with risks of course.....

[anotheoldgit]

DTcrosswordfan

The Falklands are British territory, not an EX-Colony.

[jno]

France has more ties with Mali, another country in the "francophonie" zone, than Britain does with Afghanistan. Whether they have a better chance of success I don't know.

[DTCwordfan]

Not much different in terms of the relationship that Mali and France enjoy....ever been there, AOG, Bakamo that is?

[anotheoldgit]

DTcrosswordfan

Don't you mean Bamako?

[DTCwordfan]

I do, just a typo.

[DTCwordfan]

Oh, The Reverend Spooner, all is forgiven.......

[anotheoldgit]

DTcrosswordfan

Perhaps you should consider using this as your Avatar?

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/33/William_Archibald_Spooner_Vanity_Fair_1898-04-21.jpg