Since taking control of Timbuktu earlier this year, the Islamists have destroyed seven of the 16 mausoleums listed as world heritage sites. Some date back to the 14th century.
There's no rush to finish them off, of course, since the sainted international community figures that 9 mausoleums--and oh, the people living there, of course--can last until late next year when they plan to send a few thousand ECOWAS troops north to reconquer the France-sized region from the Islamists.
Whatever. What are the odds I'd ever go see the mausoleums even if they aren't destroyed? I'm sure that expanses of sun-baked clay and sand will be as much of a tourist draw as old buildings. Perhaps the Islamists will put in a lap pool, instead. Or perhaps ferns.
UPDATE: The cavalry has been authorized to begin training to start the process of considering a plan to prepare for the pre-conditions that establish the parameters of a multi-national force that will then charge to the north when the weather permits:
Aiming to reclaim the northern stretches of Mali from extremists, the United Nations Security Council on Thursday approved the deployment of African-led forces to the West African nation for a year. ...
U.N. peacekeeping chief Herve Ladsous has said military operations are unlikely to begin until the fall, the Associated Press reported. A West African bloc of nations has already authorized 3,300 troops for the anticipated mission.
Prepare the RFP to buy the bugle in the new FY appropriations plan!
The French could have led an advance that would have scattered the jihadis to allow Tuaregs, ECOWAS, and Mali forces to garrison the major towns and begin the process of hunting foreign jihadis. But no. We get this.
Isn't multi-lateralism fun?
