I read somewhere the other day that the French President hoped to end this campaign in Mali in a few months, but it looks like the Islamsists aren’t going to give up. In this instance the Islamists have for the first time fought the Malian army from within the city of Gao as opposed to skirmishes on the outskirts of the city. This can’t be a good sign anyone in Gao and spells what looks like a protracted campaign in Mali by the French:

YAHOO NEWS – Black-robed Islamic extremists armed with AK-47 automatic rifles invaded Gao in wooden boats Sunday to launch a surprise attack on the most populous city in northern Mali, two weeks after French and Malian troops ousted the jihadists.

Gunfire echoed for hours across the city of mud-walled buildings. The combat started at about 2 p.m. in downtown Gao and the fighting was continuing as night fell. Later the sound of gunfire was replaced by the clattering of French military helicopters overhead.

The attack in Gao shows the Islamic fighters, many of them well-armed and with combat experience, are determined and daring and it foreshadows a protracted campaign by France and other nations to restore government control in this vast Saharan nation in northwest Africa.

The Islamic radicals fought against the Malian army throughout the afternoon and were seen roaming the narrow streets blanketed in sand and on rooftops in the center of Gao, which had a population of 90,000 before the conflict caused thousands to flee.

Families hid in their homes. One family handed plastic cups of water through the locked iron gate to others hiding on their patio. Piles of onions lay unattended where market women fled when the Islamists arrived. There were no signs of civilian casualties.

The fighting appeared to center near the police headquarters, where Malian soldiers with rocket propelled grenades traded fire with the combatants believed to be from the Movement for Oneness and Jihad in West Africa, or MUJAO. The only sound in the city was gunfire and the bleating of goats. Soldiers were positioned at every corner in the neighborhood.

Ever since French forces took Gao on Jan. 26, the Islamic rebels had clashed with security forces on the city’s outskirts. This was the first time they succeeded in entering the strategic city.

The Islamic fighters used pirogues, large wooden dugouts with motors, and other boats to cross the Niger River and penetrate Gao, according to French Gen. Bernard Barrera, who cited Malian officials.

The Islamic radicals had already tried to spread violence into Gao. On Saturday night, a suicide bomber detonated himself at a checkpoint at the entrance to the city, killing himself and wounded one Malian soldier. An earlier suicide bomber on a motorcycle also blew himself up at the same security spot on Friday, killing only himself.

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13 comments
mikeinidaho
mikeinidaho

This is Afghanistan all over again. This time the French will be mired in the middle of it instead of the British and the Americans. This is the Crusades all over again as Islamo-fascists war with the West for control of North Africa, Afghanistan, Iran, Iraq and will spread to all of the Middle East.

"Arab Spring" my Aunt Fannie! This is a war for Western Civilization by the new Caliphate.

notsofastthere
notsofastthere

Congress can confidently put their feet up on the desk, while approving money, guns, and planes to the Middle East MB as well as approve Marxists appointments to our own government. All they need to keep telling themselves is - it doesn't affect us and can't happen here:)

Conniption Fitz
Conniption Fitz

It's hard to tell if there are any 'good guys' in the Libyan, Syrian, Pakistan (yep, there's a bombing/shooting, etc. per day there), Afghanistan conflicts. Maybe it's a little bit easier in Mali...but who is fighting who even there is not all that clear.

Islamist vs Islamist conflict and killing is (tragically) just plain normal every day life in Sharia hell-holes. And their motives are more devilish, political, greedy, self-aggrandizing, destructive than anything moral, legal, creative, benevolent or altruistic.

For the US to get involved, except where our people are being threatened, captured or slaughtered, is futile.

Karzai the supreme poobah of Afghanistan, whoever is the head sheikh of Pakistan, and even our pretend faux unconstitutional fraudulently-elected America-hating, racist 'POTUS' have all declared their loyalty to Islam is their first priority.

911Infidel
911Infidel

This is not moderate or immoderate Islam or radical Islam or any other Islam. This is what Islam has been commanding its believers to do for the last 1400 years. And after 600 million murders, the west is still ignorant of the supremacist philosophy of the genocidal non-prophet and his sock-puppet god.

This is what the Religion of Pieces commands:

"Fight those who believe not in Allah nor the Last Day, nor hold that forbidden which hath been forbidden by Allah and His Messenger, nor acknowledge the Religion of Truth, from among the People of the Book, until they pay the Jizyah with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued." - Koran 9:29

"Surely Allah has bought of the believers their persons and their property for this, that they shall have the garden; they fight in Allah's way, so they slay and are slain" - Koran 9:111

"But when the forbidden months are past, then fight and slay the Pagans wherever ye find them, an seize them, beleaguer them, and lie in wait for them in every stratagem (of war); but if they repent, and establish regular prayers and practise regular charity, then open the way for them: for God is Oft-forgiving, Most Merciful." - Koran 9:5

"...Allah's Apostle said, I have been ordered to fight the people till they say 'None has the right to be worshipped but Allah.." - Bukhari 9.92.388

They love death more than we love life. They been saying that since the conquest of Persia in the 7th century. I say give them what they want...early and often. There's plenty of room in hell for them.

chatterbox365
chatterbox365

Most of us saw this coming. I hope the French hit them very hard, but they should plan on being in that area for a very long time.

Death is no laughing matter, but I couldn't help chuckling about the suicide bomber who was only able to blow himself up. Thank God that was a fail.

Conniption Fitz
Conniption Fitz

While the French are in Mali, the Islamist are encroaching and burning cars, etc. back home in France. And France does not have a healthy economy...

Ray
Ray

I'll tell you what they need to do, get some of the mohammedans, kill them, bury them with pig carcasses, and let one of them go tell the other mohammedans what is waiting for them if they do not surrender. For more information how it worked in the Phllippines in the early 1900's go here: http://www.jonchristianryter.com/Two_Cents/2cworth.081206.html

Conniption Fitz
Conniption Fitz

The only sword that really overcomes the evil of Mohammendanism (the spirit of Assyria, Babylon, etc.) is the Sword of the Lord (Isaiah 31:8-9)

Ray
Ray

That is true, and if God is for us, who can be against us, but with the spread of the false politico/religion across the globe, that is headed by a false prophet, and beheads those who convert away from it, perhaps God's will is that Jesus' return is immanent.

Joe
Joe

Send John Brennan over there

Maybe he can help the Islamists get it over with

(oops - did I spill the beans?)

Sober_Thinking
Sober_Thinking

Time to get serious and hit 'em harder I guess... the Muslims will retreat when they're beat. Time to turn up the heat.

57thunderbird
57thunderbird

The French will be stuck there for many years.Islam,the culture of death.