Mischief in Mali: My, How Quickly Things Change!

     O.K, I'm guilty and the charge is complacency.  All the links below were compiled last week when I started writing a little piece on the war in Mali. Work intervened and I put the post aside to finish later. After all, what difference does a few days make when writing about a conflict in a country most can't find on a globe, right? How wrong I was. When I switched off my computer, a dusty little nowhere was being looked after by an African Union Force whilst those in the west, it seemed, weighed their options. Experts said intervention before September was unlikely. Suddenly, it seems, French combat troops are on the ground, their jets are attacking targets while nearby, US drones are buzzing around menacingly, and UK transport planes laden with supplies will be touching down in Mali probably as I write this. How bad is the situation on the ground if events have escalated this quickly?

Different challenges in Central African Rep., Mali
http://www.timesunion.com/news/world/article/Different-challenges-in-Central-African-Rep-Mali-4166816.php#photo-3978020


UN Security Council Authorizes Military Mission in Mali
http://edition.cnn.com/2012/12/20/world/africa/u-n--mali/index.html

North Mali "Terrorist" Havens Threaten 
http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/07/14/us-africa-security-idUSBRE86D05W20120714

http://www.bostonglobe.com/opinion/editorials/2012/07/14/role-libya-leads-havoc-mali/ctEqyCGqpYJe9n4QzBQ2LJ/story.html

Mauritanian and Malian Forces Raid
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-13917344

African Union Chair to Meet Harper as Canada  Mulls Support For Mali
http://www.ottawacitizen.com/news/African+Union+chair+meet+Harper+Canada+mulls+support+Mali/7782205/story.html