12-Jan-13 WV-France sends army and air force into Mali

[John]

12-Jan-13 World View -- Acting unilaterally, France sends army and air force into Mali

U.S. will withdraw from Afghanistan earlier than expected


** 12-Jan-13 World View -- Acting unilaterally, Frances sends army and air force into Mali
** http://www.generationaldynamics.com/cgi ... 12#e130112



Contents:
France's president Hollande announces military action in Mali
United States remains 'deeply concerned' about Mali situation
U.S. will withdraw from Afghanistan earlier than expected
Britain faces decision whether to remain in the European Union


Keys:
Generational Dynamics, Mali, France, François Hollande,
Ansar Dine, Konna, Afghanistan, Hamid Karzai, Taliban,
Pashtuns, Pakistan, Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan, TTP, Said Jawad,
Britain, European Union, David Cameron, Working Time Directive

[OLD1953]

Afghanistan as a state is totally dysfunctional. They'll last as long as NATO or the US props them up, then they'll fall to whoever. Part of this is very probably simply being weary of the Pakistan mess, there's no resolution for that one either, as witness the bitter article by Khan yesterday.

I suppose it would have been "possible" to declare Iraq and Afghanistan as US protectorates, but the reaction from the Arab states and the EU wouldn't bear thinking about. Not to mention Russia and China. And would we really want that mess on a permanent basis?

Britain could change their own laws to forbid benefits to anyone who wasn't a resident for at least five years. This is just pushing it off to the EU.

I'm not sure where to put this, so here:
http://www.wral.com/nc-opposition-build ... /11955458/

For heavy material to travel 40 miles without being put into a river with no dam or locks between it and where it's going would be incredible. If the VA govt had any sense they'd just require that tailings be placed in the mined out area embedded in concrete, and let someone explain how the concrete can get out from the same underground where the uranium has been for lo these many millenia, walk to Kerr lake and then magically dissolve the concrete away, leaving tailings in the lake. But somehow our Greens can manage that kind of reasoning without cracking a smile.