This did not look good from the outset and on day three I have no reason to feel any better about it. As soon as I heard that the RAF was providing some logistical support to the French Op in Mali I smelled something in the air, and it wasn’t roses.
I knew through a friend of a friend that we were `looking` at the seige at the Algerian oil facility and that `advisers` avec go bags were awaiting the word to lend an advisery hand. Its what they do when asked and Algeria was expected to ask as they have done before. And France is no stranger to foreign expeditions, although Algeria is far more familiar to them than their more famous and further flung exploits, like this one.
The events in Mali may appear to be something of a diversion at the moment and there are some commentators saying that the current Algerian oil facility incident was in direct response to the French military intervention, but it seemed a little too well planned in such a short time for that to be likely, although it is possible. I was surprised that the Algerians did what they did so soon, but news is scant and it would be wrong to pontificate at this stage - just saying….
But it is in Mali that Islamic terrorism is opening up another front. I do hope that La Belle France has the resolve and the right stuff for this one.
I’m sure Captain Danjou is spinning in his grave. (Sans sa main, bien sûr.)
As with Benghazi I suspect the last place we will find the truth is our newspapers
Hasn’t Algeria had a particular virulent group of Islamists for some time?
Gentlemen, this will be the next front, I feel it in my water.