Article

2013-01-22 Africa North

US Agrees to help French fly troops to Mali

Archived material is restricted to Rantburg regulars and members. If you need access email fred.pruitt=at=gmail.com with your nick to be added to the members list. There is no charge to join Rantburg as a member.

Posted by Besoeker 2013-01-22 10:07|| E-Mail|| Front Page|| [11133 views ] Top

#1 Parachutes extra.

Posted by Muggsy Mussolini1226 2013-01-22 11:26|| 2013-01-22 11:26|| Front Page Top

#2 I hope they're subcontracting to Spirit

Posted by Nimble Spemble 2013-01-22 11:43|| 2013-01-22 11:43|| Front Page Top

#3 But do we agree to pull them out after shit goes south and they are under fire?

Posted by DarthVader 2013-01-22 15:16|| 2013-01-22 15:16|| Front Page Top

#4 As I understand it, regional militias like the French army (yeah, that's mean!) may be capable fighters but lack the airlift to go anywhere in force outside the home country. Hence the reliance on Uncle Sugar. Maybe someone who actually knows can comment.

And just to be clear, major props to the French for stepping up and trying to do something about the rotten nonsense going on in northern Africa.

Posted by SteveS 2013-01-22 15:33|| 2013-01-22 15:33|| Front Page Top

#5 SteveS, that pretty much describes all of Europe's fighting force.

Most of them are really good, they just can't get anywhere without the US Air Force. Hold over from the NATO/WARSAW Pact days. The US agreed to supply air transport/supply and the other countries beefed their military up on the ground as much as they could. Now it is kinda hurting them and they can't afford to buy extra aviation transportation.

Posted by DarthVader 2013-01-22 16:14|| 2013-01-22 16:14|| Front Page Top

#6 Once violent Jihad begins in NATO-EU, widout the Royal Navy the French Foreign Legion, Gendarmes, + Elites will have only the wily dastardly finicky Propellers of the FNS CV CHARLES DE GAULLE to save their collective Menshevik butts in case the Theo-Bolshevik Jihadis overrun the country or region like Rommel + 7th Panzer.

Posted by JosephMendiola 2013-01-22 18:58|| 2013-01-22 18:58|| Front Page Top

#7 Not to belittle the French effort, I have to wonder where is the mighty EADS ( Airbus military) A400M transport? according to the website (airbusmilitary.com) there are 179 on order. pre-production versions are flying.
if a real war developed, i fear airlift capabilities would be a huge shortfall; our C-17's can't do it all, the -141's are all gone ( or soon will be) and the C-5's are too few as well.

Posted by USN,Ret. 2013-01-22 22:53|| 2013-01-22 22:53|| Front Page Top

#8 As I understand it, regional militias like the French army (yeah, that's mean!) may be capable fighters but lack the airlift to go anywhere in force outside the home country.

Cheap bastards could always charter passenger aircraft. Basically, their stance is that Uncle will provide.

Posted by Zhang Fei 2013-01-22 23:32|| 2013-01-22 23:32|| Front Page Top

00:12 JosephMendiola
23:57 Silentbrick - Schlumberger Squishy Mud Division
23:47 JosephMendiola
23:46 JosephMendiola
23:32 Zhang Fei
22:53 USN,Ret.
22:11 SteveS
22:03 rjschwarz
22:01 USN,Ret.
22:00 USN,Ret.
21:57 badanov
21:55 tu3031
21:41 tu3031
21:31 Northern Cousin
21:25 Pappy
21:23 Pappy
21:23 KBK
21:22 Pappy
21:21 Northern Cousin
21:19 Pappy
21:08 JosephMendiola
21:03 gorb
21:02 gorb
20:57 Frank G
Merry-Go-Blog