Watch as it Develops - The Staged War Against Islamists in Northern Mali

Customs authorities in Volos, Greece discovered in a cargo ship originated from Turkey, hidden illegal ammunition and weapons, according to the official papers it was supposed to transport cement only. Destination Libya, according to reliable sources weapons are for the new Libyan army, but according to some others could be for Islamists fighting in Mali, more clarification/announcement is supposed to come from Greek Foreign Ministry and port/custom authorities during the day or tomorrow. According to EU law/restrictions ships carrying weapons for countries like Libya, Iran, Syria are forbidden to pass through Greece.
[link to translate.google.gr]

Also today on MSM, Yemen seized a a shipment of weapons labelled as plastic household items originated from Turkey, the 2nd in a month.
[link to www.dailystar.com.lb]

Last Edited by insertfunnyusername on 01/25/2013 01:15 PM

Tanks...

Interesting, you think they have tanks?

French does and no French BLT’s/bride layer tanks either that I know of on the continent. Their tanks weigh in just under 9 tons. They will not be crossing that river now. I expected this, thought they would have done it a few days ago but guess they waited till last minute.

WOW IFUN - Huge find. There is absolutely no legitimate reason to be sending weapons to Libya. The Libyan Army isn't even issuing contracts for arms - there have been contracts for uniforms & training...

The uniform contract was really big deal on Libyan tweep forums - but the issue in Libya is disarming..

There are reports of French armored vehicles headed north toward GAO -

South of Mopti, a R**ters reporter saw a large column of French armored vehicles and supply trucks rolling northeast along the main road in the direction of Gao.

Source - r**ters

Sorry Chrit, thought you meant that the islamists have tanks and was surprised.
Yeah French have and keep transporting more of them there. Islamists hit quite a target as it seems.

I agree Darby, can't see how more weapons can help the Libyan situation and this is an under the carpet deal with shady recipients. Didn't know about the uniform contracts, thanks.

Turkey ties with AQ groups are nothing new for those itk, i'm just surprised that they don't try to hide these ties at all anymore lately, they even asked Yemen to host a training camp for 'Syrian rebels' a month back.

In another suppressed from MSM story this week Turkey has unleashed some jihadi groups on Syrian Kurds in the strategic city Sere Kaniye, they even have tanks and support of artillery fire, more than 100 dead in just 5-7 days.

Cites r**ters:
[link to thestar.com.my]

Turkey Reinforces 'Hands Off' Policy on Mali

The Turkish foreign ministry has criticized the ongoing French operation in Mali. The public criticism comes as Turkey is increasingly seeing West Africa as a region of interest economically and diplomatically.

Ankara has been increasing voicing concerns regarding the intervention by French forces against an Islamic insurgency in Mali.
[link to www.voanews.com]

Last Edited by insertfunnyusername on 01/25/2013 07:05 PM

Kind of odd in that Turkey fully supports sending rebels from the same group (Libya) into Syria and are ready to send their own troops in also (with NATO backing of course)

They're either protecting their jihadi 'investment' or playing the typical 'moral' guy for much needed Arab sympathy while dealing with the west as usual. Only NATO country condemning the intervention though.

Qatar supported overthrow of Gaddafi (may have been behind it) and they support MUJWA & Ansar Dine in Mali (Islamists) - Looks Like Turkey & Qatar are again marching in lock step...

Qatar Leaks: The Business of Foreign Affairs | Al Akhbar English [link to english.al-akhbar.com]

Is Qatar fuelling the crisis in north Mali? [link to f24.my]

Wow thanks for this Darby, been waiting for the Syrian leaks, completely forgot them.

The weird story with Turkey in this, is that they supported the UNSC resolution for Mali, they probably don't like that France took the decision to intervene without UN/NATO support coz at the same time allies are holding them back from invading Syria for some time now, although they're close to go in from what i learn. Relations with France are shaky the last couple of years because of Armenian genocide recognition and surprise, France 2-3 weeks ago submitted a a new draft bill for genocide denial criminalization that was rejected last year. This is a big issue for Turkey, they've even recalled their ambassador to France and freezed all ties last year.

Arab/Muslim sympathy is always on the cards too regarding statements, after spat with Israel their investments and contracts in Arab/muslim countries have skyrocketed like 10 times over. Africa is a new influence region for them, they're everywhere in Somalia/Libya mess and probably more will follow.

Last Edited by insertfunnyusername on 01/25/2013 08:14 PM

Mali?

PUM PUM PUM

That's 10 years of US DOD COIN funding -

New uniforms - check
New weapons - check
New truck - check
ammo - not in the budget...

Turkey always seems to play both sides... or is it that it shows one face in public & does something else behind the scenes?

Only a few years back they weren't even given rifles, it was a machete instead.
Don't laugh, that is what the North American Rebels will be doing when revolution comes here, only in battle rather than practice.

Last Edited by MHz on 01/25/2013 08:45 PM

They do what NATO tells them, otherwise they would have retaliated when some Sailors were killed in a terrorist act that just happened to be the same night the IDF was boarding a ship from Turkey that was hauling civilians to Gaza. Either that or they just have no balls.

Both actually. Their official statements and press mean nothing, for example despite the rhetoric against Israel, trade between 2 countries is still growing every year after Mavi Marmara (the definition of the term false flag)

Always play both sides too and are used so many times because of NATO/Islam combination but lately they're start to act on their own too on some things and bringing displeasure to the alliance with some of their actions.

Heard that Obama is displeased with Erdogan regarding the handling of the Libya mess, they're more involved in this than the MSM would want you to think but they get a leeway because it's a critical time for the alliance, they don't want to stop trade with Iran despite lots of warnings, they're trying to break up Iraq in alliance with Iraqi-Kurds (who would have thought this right?) against temporary US wishes and their decline to give access to US during 2003 Iraq invasion when the transport ships and warships were almost in Alexandretta is still not forgotten. They're trying to save the day with the Syrian situation, but now they're restless and trying too hard. Not to mention lots of other things and problematic relations with all of her neighbors, just sharing a few.

U.S. clears legal hurdles to Mali aid, but internal policy debate continues

The Obama administration has resolved its legal questions about supporting French military operations in Mali, but an internal debate is ongoing over whether more assistance is in U.S. policy interests.

The United States quickly responded to French requests for troop transport airlift and additional intelligence. But a two-week-old French call for U.S. refueling planes for French aircraft striking targets in Mali remains pending, U.S. and French officials said.

“What we’ve been working through is not viewing Mali as a one-off but rather as part of a continuum of counterterrorism efforts and decisions that we’re making to address the situation in northern Africa” over the medium and long term, a U.S. official said.

[link to www.washingtonpost.com]

The African Union Peace and Security Council says more troops are needed for the African military force being deployed in Mali. The AU security council Friday called on African countries to deploy the soldiers quickly
[link to www.voanews.com]

Mali expert says Tuareg people key to beating insurgents
[link to www.stripes.com]

From my twitter buddy in Bamako -

@Babtwittter: RT @RFIAfrique #Mali : les combats continuent à Gao après la prise de l'aéroport par l'armée française, selon le min français de la Défense

RFI Africa - Fighting continues in GAO after the French army takes the airport, according to the French Ministry of Defense

GAO is where the coke heads are based; I presume they'll put up quite a fight.

Morning Darby.

Mali: Paris confirms the capture of the airport area and the bridge of Gao

PARIS - The French Defence Minister, Jean-Yves Le Drian, confirmed Saturday that French forces seized the airport area and the bridge of Gao in northeastern Mali, although his entourage said As fighting continued in the area.

Mr Le Drian added in a statement that 3,700 French soldiers are today involved in the operation which Serval 2500 on Malian territory. His entourage said the fighting continued to Gao where tensions remain high

Jihadist terrorists have not disarmed, said the entourage of Mr. Le Drian.

In French -
[link to www.romandie.com]

English Translation -
[link to translate.google.com]

IFUN posted this yesterday (day before yesterday?) but a DC Think-tank Middle East expert just posted an article about the capture of a Ansar Dine leader in Mauritania...

I asked him the captured guy was - but I don't expect a response.

Basically, high level Arab leaders who tweet in English will respond if you tweet them a question but the junior who-gives-a-rats-ass fellow at Israeli-sponsored Institute on Lobbying Congress can't be bothered...GEEZ

RANT OFF

War in Mali: a leader of the Islamist Ansar Dine arrested by the Mauritanian army

Ahmadou Abdallah Ag, leader of the Malian armed Islamist Ansar Dine for 48 hours Mauritanian heard by investigators after his arrest in the country, a security source told Xinhua.

[link to translate.google.com]

This kid was black, so the Malian Army didn't kill him...

Child Soldier's Tale Illustrates Mali's Dirty War

[link to abcn.ws]

Worth remembering that many of Islamist fighters who are dying in Mali are child soldiers who were sold by their desperately poor facilities to the Jihadis (thanks Qatar)

Not only is the Emir of Qatar fat, he's also not a nice guy...

I tweeted several experts asking who Ag Abdallah was. No response from the American experts - but I got this from Anita Hunt...

Anita Hunt (lissnup) (@lissnup)
1/26/13, 8:37 AM
@Mdarbyreid Not heard of him before; the news came via Xinhua, tied to an Aziz puff piece. Not too impressive :) I added a who's who update

This lady knows half of Mauritanian (literally) - And she knows all the Tuareg groups. If she's never heard of him...he wasn't that important...

Here's another link 2 her who's who update (copied from page 13 of thread)

[link to lissnup.wordpress.com]

Notice how many Ansar Dine leaders he discusses (but this guy wasn't on list)

I think the lady is right. Maybe they're trying to make this bigger than it really is. In the end of this article mentions an arrest of regular gunman, no name though.


On Monday, security forces there arrested an Ansar al-Din gunman while he was trying to cross the border, L'Authentique reported.
[link to www.magharebia.com]

MUJWA Ready to release French Hostages

Islamist group has proposed Saturday to "negotiate the release" of a French hostage in Mali, while the French and Malian soldiers are close to major cities in the north, bastions jihadists. French and Malian soldiers, after having taken three localities in central and west Friday began the reconquest of North occupied by Islamist groups for more than nine months, heading for the cities of Timbuktu and Gao.

It is this pressure that the Movement for the uniqueness and jihad in Africa West (Mujao), present in Gao, announced Saturday ready to negotiate the release of a French held. "The Mujao is willing to negotiate the release of the hostage Gilberto," said Walid Abu Sarhaoui, Mujao spokesman, referring to the French Gilberto Rodriguez Leal, taken in November 2012 in western Mali.

[link to translate.google.com]