The jihadis are closer to cutting off Mopti than I thought. And while the French bombed al Qaeda forces in Diabaly, I see no reports that the French attacked with ground forces as stories yesterday indicated.
As I noted, the French plan to commit 2,500 troops to the fight. I think that is a tad light, especially since it doesn't look like Nigeria is capable of meeting its commitments to fill out the 3,300-strong ECOWAS force that in theory is to lead the drive north and since Mali's army seems completely unready for any military action.
French commitment to fight this war seems shaky given this astounding comment:
Admiral Edouard Guillaud said that light armored vehicles would be used if it proved necessary, adding that some such vehicles had arrived from the Ivory Coast.
"This is aimed at helping the Malian forces, which are still fighting," Guillaud told a news conference on the French intervention.
Defense Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said that 1,700 French troops were involved in the operations, 800 of them on the ground.
French warplanes and helicopters had carried out 50 sorties since operations began on Friday after Islamist rebels in the northeast seized the central city of Konna, Guillaud said.
I figured 3,000 ground troops alone are needed.
The silly part is that the French admiral said that the French would use light armored vehicles, if needed, as if Paris is trying to finely calibrate the force needed to win. I find that stupid. If you are at war, you use whatever tools you need to smash that enemy. Start killing jihadis and keep killing them until you can't find them. And yes, use light armor if you have to.
Oh, and 50 sorties since Friday is about 12 per day, assuming today isn't counted. Like I said, not exactly shock and awe from the air.
The jihadis still have the opportunity to knock the Mali army around despite French air power. With 600 French ground troops, the jihadis will face opponents that can stop the jihadis. So far, I assume the French are mostly in Bamako, with smaller contingents in Mopti and Segou, facing the jihadis at Konna and Diabaly, respectively.
