I suspect that this might rumble on for a couple of days yet. Leap Frogs defo on their way, no doubt we will mirror.

After that its how far do we go into Mali... I expect this will see some kind of small RRF sent into back the cheese eaters up.

 

Mission creep

 

I saw this too.

We just can't keep our noses out can we. "Great" Britain to the rescue. Give me strength.

 

And when will some fed up Mali soldiers start shooting our boys?

dl

 

Can't we start war with France instead?

 

It beggars belief really, I can only assume it is, as you suggest, some misguided notion that we are still a major player on the world stage.

 

What should we do then?

 

Take an educated guess!

We know you will be doubtless supporting the government's stance, there are few things more predictable than that when it comes to these sort of topics!

 

Why should we do anything at all? Three months ago most people couldn't even put a pin on Mali on a map of the world. Most still can't. What's the agenda? Apart from keeping a European nation sweet in case we need help elsewhere like the Falklands. I just don't buy into the need to be seen on the world stage in a military capacity. Let it go.

 

I wonder when the Malian refugees will arrive claiming asylum.

 

It’s easy to be critical and pretend to be all-knowing about issues like this. The problem the government has it doesn't have the luxury of standing on the side-lines carping and sneering; they actually have to make the tough choices.
I’m pretty sure the that the VERY LAST thing any government would want right now is to get drawn into another messy and unpredictable overseas adventure, and of course they’re not short of critics reminding them of all the likely issues. These armchair ‘opinionardo’s will have the luxury of disappearing, changing subject, amnesia, and generally being clever before, during and after the fact.
Therefore it’s worth considering logically WHY they are getting drawn in; it does kind of make you wonder?
It can surely only be because of the consequences of doing nothing are at least as dangerous and unpredictable as the consequences getting involved proactively.
The French (one of closest Allies) have done a pretty damn fine job so far, and should be applauded for their bravery in taking action to prevent Mali falling into the hands of the extremists.
I like everyone else am concerned that the French/UK can very easily and quickly win the war and lose the peace and end up embroiled; I shudder to think of our troops having to deal with another insurgency, IED’s and seemingly unwinnable conflict.
I hope like everyone else that our role remains that of support and training, and that the Africans themselves can take over the security and governance of Mali.

 

After the gas plant ****-up, i'm sure the Government are keen to have a presence in the country causing the problem. But the French are quite capable of handling this. And if they're not, then's the time for France's allies to be called in. We have so many things as a nation that we could better spend this money on than having a brownie point earning presence in Mali, in my opinion.

 

I'm guessing that they believe that this is more about self-interest than it is about winning 'brownie points'

 

I'd skew it on the side of brownie points but yes, as you say, a bit of both.