Mali Archive
Mali: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly
Posted by jimheck in Mali, Politics, Uncategorized on March 4, 2013
by Conor Godfrey This is my last blog before turning the reins back over to Jim, so I thought I would sign out with the state of play in Mali, a country near and dear to my heart. 4,000 French troops, along with several hundred Chadians, and smaller contingents from Benin, Burkina Faso, Nigeria, and [...]
First Time…
Posted by jimheck in Mali, Politics, Uncategorized on February 11, 2013
By Conor Godfrey. Two days ago the first Malian in history blew himself up in an attempt to kill others. Americans have become so inured to suicide bombings that this fact may seem tragic but inconsequential. Most Malians, however, have yet to recover. This simply does, or did, not happen in the land of Sundiata [...]
Should the Past Burn Away?
The Mali war has reignited an old debate: should precious artifacts always be returned to the motherland, or should they be kept in safety by the greater, more stable powers of the world? Yesterday France returned to Nigeria in an elaborate ceremonial handover several confiscations of ancient Nok Arts, prized terra cotta sculptures of Nigerian [...]
Frighteningly Wonderful in Mali
France’s liberation of Timbuktu and defeat of Malian Islamic revolutionaries is right on schedule and demonstrates perfectly the American/French axis routing world terrorism. Sunday’s Meet the Press roundtable was in contrast the perfect example of how fooled and even bamboozled old guard American media personalities still are. Andrea Mitchell excepted, the remaining two old men [...]
Death Knell for al-Qaeda
The death knell of the al-Qaeda of Osama bid Laden is gonging in Mali. France is bombing al-Qaeda into oblivion. This is likely the last time you’ll ever hear of the al-Qaeda that blew up the Twin Towers. The battle today is fierce. There is absolutely no question that this is Afghanistan 2003 in Mali. [...]
Surprise in the Sahel
By Conor Godfrey On the morning of March 22nd Malians woke up to discover that 20 years of stability and progress had been, temporarily at least, hijacked by a group of mutineers turned putschists led by a Captain Amadou Sanogo. This was a punch in the stomach with no warning. When I was evacuated from [...]