Should Cameron Send Our Troops To Train Mali Soldiers?

[pdq1]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-21195371

The Americans tried it and look what it led to.

[pdq1]

This is his intention a few days ago


///Mr Cameron will give the green light to sending around 20 soldiers – including members of the SAS – to join a 500-strong force to train Malian troops.///

[DangerUXD]

No, we should not get involved at all, let the Frogs do it. I wouldn't even do what we are doing now, just lease the planes to them if they need the hardware don't send any people at all.

[SlackAlice]

No, this is an unnecessary escalation. Leave it to France.

[Gromit]

Africa is a big country a long way away. If we ignore it, it will go away. What time os Countdown on?

[pdq1]

What happens when one of our trainers gets killed? Do we send in reinforcements? Mission creep is surely on the cards. Reminds you of the early days in Afghanistan where we could achieve our goal without a shot being fired. Famous last quote by a member of the Labour government.

Where is psychic Meg. 10,000 British troops return from Mali in 2025.

[THEMOTLEY1]

No way.

[AB Editor]

I'd prefer direct involvement if we're going to do it. Training would be given to soldiers you're fighting with as a matter of course, surely?

This stuff has been going on in Mali for a long time (it's been reported for the last 16 months on and off) - I'm not sure why help wasn't sent in the beginning in terms of "training" etc...

[Gromit]

The choice isn't really should we get involved or not, the choice is what do we want the outcome to be?

Do we want al qaeda to control North Africa and the southern Meditteranean? If yes, we do not get involved. If No, then we have to do something about it.

[emmie]

no he shouldn't.

[anotheoldgit]

No why should we, we spend enough money now helping out all and sundry, while at the same time cutting back every penny we spend on our own people.

[ichkeria]

What was happening in Mali before was a separatist insurrection which has developed into something else. Training indigenous troops is preferable to actually fighting

[ichkeria]

And if we are helping it's because rightly or wrongly it's been deemed in our national interest.

[albaqwerty]

I thought he said Britain wouldn't be sending troops to Mali in any shape or form.
Britain would help out with planes etc and that was it.

[pdq1]

It was reported tonight the MALI army is worse and cause more attrocities than the insurgents they are trying to fight. An expert said they should be allowed to sort it out themselves and let their own people decide. It seems we are just muddying the waters. Problem is it will take us 10 years to decide as once an initial decision has been made to send in troops no one is prepared to admit to the mistake.

[bazwillrun]

"It was reported tonight the MALI army is worse and cause more attrocities than the insurgents they are trying to fight."

african, well trained, disciplined,and army arent words you could apply to any of them out there without adding most definitely arent.

Armies , insurgents, rebels etc whatever, theyre all cut from the same cloth out there.