This is coolbert:
As originally reported by the DEBKAfile:
January 28, 2013 Briefs:
"Fleeing Islamists burn priceless Timbuktu library
"
"As French-led Malian troops captured the airport of the world heritage town of Timbuktu Monday, fleeing Islamists set fire to the Baba Ahmed Institution and its priceless ancient manuscripts"
The actions of the savage, the barbarian, the callous and unfeeling conqueror. Destroying those manuscripts and archives, the scholarship as accumulated from medieval times, the very essence of civilization and learning put to the torch, arson of a horrific nature.
Ancient manuscripts as might have been found at the University of Timbuktu in the medieval period. Students from all parts of Saharan Africa being able to avail themselves of a level of scholarship at least equal [?] to the learning as would have been found during the same period at Oxford, Cambridge, the Sorbonne, Bologna, Salamanca.
"The University of Timbuktu was a medieval university in Mali, West Africa . . . During its zenith, the university at Timbuktu had an average attendance of around 25,000 students within a city of around 100,000 people."
The retreating jihadists behaving in the manner of the Mongol at Baghdad [1258], the German at Leuven [1914]. The library in a purposeful manner during a time of war a target for arson, manuscripts and archives totally destroyed, lost forever. That form of destruction a very ancient tradition most regrettable!
That damage however, does not seem to be as bad as might be expected. Precautions evidently taken in advance, the danger realized far in advance and measures taken to protect the manuscripts and archives. SOME items lost, but the bulk saved! So it seems.
"Timbuktu Locals Saved Some of City’s Ancient Manuscripts from Islamists"
"the center’s collection of about 40,000 ancient manuscripts, some of the 300,000 or so historic documents stashed in libraries in Timbuktu and the villages around it, mostly as family heirlooms.
Realizing that the documents might be prime targets for pillaging or vindictive attacks from Islamic extremists, staff left behind just a small portion of them, perhaps out of haste, but also to conceal the fact that the center had been deliberately emptied"
To what extent these jihadi in Mali are Salafist I am not sure. And to what extent there was religious motivation for the torching of the archives and manuscripts I also cannot say. This was more than anything else a perverse petulance and nothing more? ONLY the perpetrators know for sure.
coolbert.
Showing posts with label Mali. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mali. Show all posts
Monday, February 4, 2013
Friday, January 25, 2013
Gao.
This is coolbert:
Is everyone following the events as they transpire in Mali?
From France 24 we have the latest dope on the Mali situation.
That combined force of French and Mali central government troops now on the offensive, moving toward Gao, the stronghold of the rebels.
France has not only dipped the toe in the water but has now plunged in deep.
"Malian and French troops push towards Gao"
"The Malian army backed up by French troops on Friday moved into the town of Hombori, in their farthest push east towards the Islamist stronghold of Gao. Meanwhile, Islamist fighters blew up a bridge near the border with Niger."
"Mali’s military and French forces have pushed toward the Islamic extremist stronghold in the city of Gao, in their farthest push east since launching an operation two weeks ago to retake land controlled by the rebels, residents and a security official said Friday."
First air power, then helicopter gunships, now armored units and what is next. The French have made their decision to destroy the rebels and are on the road literally to doing so.
These ground units are the French Foreign Legion in action [FFL]? That has not been made evident.
The rebels well armed and trained and prepared, much to the surprise of everyone. Seems a lot of stuff captured and put into use after the fall of Ghaddafi and his Libya regime. NOT merely the technical type of adversary you have seen in Somalia for instance. That technical a pick up truck normally with a heavy machine gun mounted to the cargo bed of the truck. These various Islamic fighters even having BM-21 multiple-rocket-launchers at their disposal.
"An unnamed Elysee Palace official quoted by AFP said on Sunday that French armed forces had been surprised by the fighting quality and the equipment of the militants they were up against."
"At the start, we thought they would be just a load of guys with guns driving about in their pick-ups, but the reality is that they are well-trained, well-equipped, and well-armed,"
"From Libya they have got hold of a lot of up-to-date, sophisticated equipment which is much more robust and effective than we could have imagined."
The adversary, the rebels, in the main consisting of:
* "The National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA) and Islamist Ansar Dine" Tuareg tribesmen often referred to as the Blue Men of the desert. One of those last groups on the planet that still carry a sword as a part of their everyday dress!!
* "the Movement for Unity and Jihad in West Africa (Mujao)."Islamic fundamentalists [African Taliban].
* A smattering of combat experienced foreign fighters reputedly associated with Al Qaeda.
* Ansar Dine. [best translated as helpers of the Islamic way]
* "the Signed-in-Blood Battalion".
French strategy will have to include a plan to prevent the various rebel factions from concerted and focused action. Divide and conquer!!
Persons, those pundits that follow such things, are also asking what is the French exit strategy! Well, ask them, these things are neither easy or make for a situation that allows for a quick and easy conclusion. Those dynamic circumstances requiring constant appraisal and change as needed by the authorities in Paris.
coolbert.
Is everyone following the events as they transpire in Mali?
From France 24 we have the latest dope on the Mali situation.
That combined force of French and Mali central government troops now on the offensive, moving toward Gao, the stronghold of the rebels.
France has not only dipped the toe in the water but has now plunged in deep.
"Malian and French troops push towards Gao"
"The Malian army backed up by French troops on Friday moved into the town of Hombori, in their farthest push east towards the Islamist stronghold of Gao. Meanwhile, Islamist fighters blew up a bridge near the border with Niger."
"Mali’s military and French forces have pushed toward the Islamic extremist stronghold in the city of Gao, in their farthest push east since launching an operation two weeks ago to retake land controlled by the rebels, residents and a security official said Friday."
First air power, then helicopter gunships, now armored units and what is next. The French have made their decision to destroy the rebels and are on the road literally to doing so.
These ground units are the French Foreign Legion in action [FFL]? That has not been made evident.
The rebels well armed and trained and prepared, much to the surprise of everyone. Seems a lot of stuff captured and put into use after the fall of Ghaddafi and his Libya regime. NOT merely the technical type of adversary you have seen in Somalia for instance. That technical a pick up truck normally with a heavy machine gun mounted to the cargo bed of the truck. These various Islamic fighters even having BM-21 multiple-rocket-launchers at their disposal.
"An unnamed Elysee Palace official quoted by AFP said on Sunday that French armed forces had been surprised by the fighting quality and the equipment of the militants they were up against."
"At the start, we thought they would be just a load of guys with guns driving about in their pick-ups, but the reality is that they are well-trained, well-equipped, and well-armed,"
"From Libya they have got hold of a lot of up-to-date, sophisticated equipment which is much more robust and effective than we could have imagined."
The adversary, the rebels, in the main consisting of:
* "The National Movement for the Liberation of Azawad (MNLA) and Islamist Ansar Dine" Tuareg tribesmen often referred to as the Blue Men of the desert. One of those last groups on the planet that still carry a sword as a part of their everyday dress!!
* "the Movement for Unity and Jihad in West Africa (Mujao)."Islamic fundamentalists [African Taliban].
* A smattering of combat experienced foreign fighters reputedly associated with Al Qaeda.
* Ansar Dine. [best translated as helpers of the Islamic way]
* "the Signed-in-Blood Battalion".
French strategy will have to include a plan to prevent the various rebel factions from concerted and focused action. Divide and conquer!!
Persons, those pundits that follow such things, are also asking what is the French exit strategy! Well, ask them, these things are neither easy or make for a situation that allows for a quick and easy conclusion. Those dynamic circumstances requiring constant appraisal and change as needed by the authorities in Paris.
coolbert.
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