English: Mali (orthographic projection) Português: Mali (projeção ortográfica) Español: Mali (proyección ortográfica) (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
I was very pleased to hear that someone finally got off there arse and starting doing something about the terrible mess that is Africa. But really, did anyone expect it to be France? Someone probably told the Malians the French were coming to help and they all fell about laughing…Then crying when they were told in wasn’t a joke. But in all seriousness this has been along time coming, for too long Islamist militants have been allowed to freely rampage about where ever like. I’ll never know why they have to go around North Africa imposing their crazy rules. It was proven in Libya that airstrikes and logistical support from the west could prove crucial in these conflicts. This type of support from western military can and should be employed in troubled regions where democracy is threatened, we have a new model for interventionism and we should employ it. If the West can use this model successfully in the right theaters we can promote and defend democracies without having to risk our own boots on the ground. This means less casualties for us and we can avoid been seen as hostile invaders, as happened in Iraq. Having said that Islamist will always try to paint any intervention from a Western nation as a new crusade and a new wave of colonialism. This doesn’t hold water with anyone rational so I tend to view this as something not to worry about. What would be concerning would be if we saw a wave of reprisal attacks on France. Thankfully President Hollande has already taken precautions to bolster security at home and hopefully minimize the risk of these reprisals. All in all, for once I’m congratulating and not ridiculing France, they have done a stand up job leading the way in this crisis.
Is everyone stupid? 
#1 by Sam Kriss on January 17, 2013 - 6:30 pm
a new colonialism is precisely what it is. it’s the french that are intervening because they’re the former colonial power. nothing’s changed.
#2 by anonymousopinions2013 on January 18, 2013 - 4:51 am
Yes there is still bonds between former imperial powers and their colonies which often leads to a higher degree of interest in their affairs. However a new colonialism would imply France has intervened in Mali for some ulterior motive other than that it is the right thing to do, protects democracy and prevents terrorists from acquiring a new failed state in which to work. I can’t see the French getting any colonial benefits from this action, this certainly isn’t another Iraq, theirs no oil or special resources that they could acquire by helping the ruling government. The world has moved on from colonialism.
#3 by Sam Kriss on January 20, 2013 - 2:28 pm
they’re propping up a government friendly to them and preventing the formation of a hostile state. mali has gold and uranium deposits that would be lost to france if the islamists took bamako. it’s neocolonialism