“France’s defence minister departs for Washington on Sunday hoping to convince officials to keep U.S. soldiers in West Africa, where French authorities are under pressure after years of trying to bolster local forces against Islamic extremists.”
Here we see France’s full recognition of the deadly threat of “Islamic extremists” in West Africa. On Jihad Watch, we call them what they are: jihadis, whose actions are fully backed by Islamic texts that they are all too proud to tout. French leaders, with their globalist policies, have failed to protect their own citizens, even while “the French government has claimed that fighting jihadism in the region is essential in the global struggle against terrorism.” The situation in West Africa is grave:
There is a danger from the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria in the region, and ISIS claims the terror groups in the area of Mali, Niger and Burkino Faso constitute a “province” of the caliphate. “There’s a variety of terrorist organizations that are operating in the area that have declared allegiance to ISIS and al-Qaida.
However, “President Donald Trump insists the U.S. must focus on containing Russia and China, with Africa seen as less of a direct threat — and one that should be left to France and the European Union.”
These days, “Macron has shifted right and begun talking tough on immigration, especially on the perceived abuses of France’s generous social welfare system,” but for the wrong reasons. It’s all political, as he desperately seeks to keep his opponent Marine Le Pen at bay.
Nearly 124,000 people requested asylum in France last year, a record number and an increase of 23 percent from the previous year. The requests came mainly from Afghanistan, Syria, Sudan and France’s former African colonies, but also from Albania and Georgia, two countries that France says respect human rights.
“Macron Sends Defence Chief to U.S. to Beg Trump to Keep Troops in Africa,” AFP, January 26, 2020:
(AFP) — France’s defence minister departs for Washington on Sunday hoping to convince officials to keep U.S. soldiers in West Africa, where French authorities are under pressure after years of trying to bolster local forces against Islamic extremists.
Florence Parly’s visit comes just days after her tour of the Sahel region, a vast arid expanse where states have little more than nominal control, allowing jihadist fighters to flourish.
Paris and its allies consider the region increasingly critical for ensuring Europe’s security against jihadist threats and for stemming an unchecked flow of migrants across the Mediterranean.
The United States has been a key ally for France’s 4,500-member Barkhane operation, providing intelligence and surveillance via drones as well as in-flight refuelling and logistical transport, at a cost of $45 million a year.
“The American commitment to the region is essential because they provide critical capabilities, some of which cannot be replaced,” an official in the French presidency told AFP this week.
But President Donald Trump insists the U.S. must focus on containing Russia and China, with Africa seen as less of a direct threat — and one that should be left to France and the European Union.
American military chiefs have confirmed they are considering a drawdown of troops from Africa.
“I want to make sure, as we look at counterterrorism, that I first and foremost am addressing threats to the homeland,” U.S. Defense Secretary Mark Esper told journalists this week.
General Mark Milley, chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, has said a decision on the deployment of 7,000 U.S. special forces in Africa, particularly those in the Sahel, could come by early March.
“The question that we are working with the French on is the level of effort we are supporting the French with,” he said. “Is it too much? Too little? About right?”
Risky withdrawal
President Emmanuel Macron admitted a U.S. pullout would be “very bad news,” after a summit with France’s five Sahel partners earlier this month — not least because EU nations have shown little enthusiasm to join the fight.
France first deployed forces in 2012 to counter Islamic insurgency that had assailed much Mali’s north.
Since then the operation has been expanded to Mauritania, Burkina Faso, Niger and Chad, tasked with building up a homegrown G5 Sahel force capable of fighting the jihadists on its own.
Prominent U.S. lawmakers such as Republican Lindsey Graham have urged Trump to uphold the Africa missions, warning of the risk of increased terror attacks in the Sahel and beyond…..
barbaracvm1 says
Macron needs to send French troops and put them under US command. It would help if every freedom loving country helped to fight the terrorists.
Macron you start by not allowing the Muslims in France to terrorize French citizens.
owensgate says
So…The cheese eating “surrender monkeys” want us to do their “wet work” for them. What happened to the French “Foreign Legion”?
rooare says
This seems to be common practice in the west, run all over the world fighting Islamists while at the same time welcoming them into our nations with open arms, a dissonance to be sure.
gravenimage says
Grimly true, rooare.
mortimer says
There are so many Muslims in the French army, they may not be reliable in fighting jihadists.
Lavéritétriomphera says
?
So … As usual big kids are so naive that they cannot learn from the opinions and experiences of others https://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/en/french-foreign-policy/security-disarmament-and-non-proliferation/terrorism-france-s-international-action/article/france-s-action-in-the-sahel.
Lavéritétriomphera says
My comment is for owensgate who would do better to read a history book.
gravenimage says
Unfortunately, Lavéritétriomphera, a lot of these are Muslim countries whose commitment to opposing Jihad is pretty questionable.
Rueben_Singh says
Every EU country should send troops. They need to put their balls on the line.
FYI says
Meanwhile French firefighters are fighting with French police:a sad and appaling situation as all they are looking for is improved pay and pension guarantees.
macron cannot even control the streets of Paris.
gravenimage says
Yes–very depressing. And now French firefighters are made up as Batman villain the Joker–any idea what *that* is all about?
Peter WF says
Macron clearly prefers to use OPM (other people’s money).
gravenimage says
France: Macron sends his defense minister to beg Trump to keep troops in Africa to counter jihadis
………………..
I’m not even sure what to say about this one–I *hate* Jihad terror against Christians and animists in Africa, but Africa is also pretty much a bottomless pit of Muslim savagery. I’m not sure how much we can accomplish there. Also, much of the violence is Muslim-on-Muslim, where both sides would be apt to hate us as ‘filthy Infidels’–even the people we are protecting.
Spiro says
Tell the French if your so worried send your own troops After all your country had mouths the US and now you want help. We’re good enough to do your dirty work BS
Emilie Green says
The French, like the British – they’re always there when they need us/US.
roberta says
I think we/the USA backed France in Vietnam. I think it would be a mistake to back them again.
Getting in bed with the French soon becomes a suicide pact.
Lavéritétriomphera says
@roberta,
Indochina war was a colonial war and effectively France had no intention, as in the case of Algeria in 1962, to recapture Vietnam. In the case in point, it is not a question of colonial war, we are talking about the fight against organized crime and terrorism.
John says
Trump should say” FUCK MACRON the Chump “
Lavéritétriomphera says
You do not know your president well. As far as l know Donald Trump is not the one to say: “FUCK MACRON the Chump”!
Norger says
I don’t understand why the French are worried about Africa at this point. From a demographic standpoint, France is lost anyway. I won’t say conquered without a shot, but conquered nonetheless, by a combination of violent jihad, “stealth” jihad and demographics. Anything France does in Africa is too little, too late IMO.
gravenimage says
France is about 8% Muslim. This is a shocking figure, but still not cause to cede France to the Mohammedans.
Alain says
12% Muslim looking at recent figures. The highest in Europe. Ca pu la merde.
James Lincoln says
The Pew Research Center puts the percent muslim in France – as of 2016 – to be 8.8%.
https://www.pewforum.org/2017/11/29/europes-growing-muslim-population/
Norger says
@Graven
I hope you are right, but ~ 10% is the tipping point.
gravenimage says
Yes–this is alarming, Norger. But I do not think that we should cede France or any other part of the West to Muslims.
Yah Derhey says
macaroni!
what a noodle.
Thomas Richard says
We bailed France out in two World Wars…..let them eat cake……
Ginny says
I’ve seen videos of thousands on the streets in French cities protesting against Macron. Candlelight marches, singing French songs. Nothing about that in the news here in Germany. Guess they don’t want to inspire more Pegidas.
R Russell says
Macron wants the US troops to be decimated so there are fewer of them to protect the US. He also wants any retaliation to be against the US and not France.
We can see through him.
Patriotliz says
Too late for that. Macron is losing the battle against his tyrannical rule in his own country which is falling apart…firefighters protesting against Macron and Macron’s police attacking them.
https://twitter.com/ohboywhatashot/status/1222237313293357056?s=20
jca reid says
Macron wanting others to spill their blood to bolster his ego & to make it look like he’s doing ‘something’ that has a moral outlook. He has deliberately & cynically inflicted misery on France, its citizens & Western Europe as a whole. Things will improve but there is more anarchy & misery ahead for a long time before this morass is sorted out. Firstly the French military need to go in HARD on the Islamists in Africa. Secondly Mass Deportations of these ‘migrants’ back to N. Africa. They can walk to Saudi. There is a massive Refugee Camp there. All the facilities & Air-Conditioning to cater for at least 500,000 souls. At the moment it has…. none! Thirdly, Macron & Co. are kicked out of Office, FORCIBLY, if necessary, if the won’t go peaceably. On a more central note to restore the Equilibrium, ALL Muslim Nations are booted out of the UN! But first, they can pay their debts to the UN & New York City, they have run up over the past 70years. No Aid whatsoever to ANY Muslim majority country either. Let them look to their Ummah (Islamic Community), to tend to their needs & NOT the infidel, Kuffur, Satanist Countries of the West! It is now 29/Jan/20, just a few days ago in Syria, 3French Aid Workers & their Syrian Colleague ‘disappeared’ in Syria. What has Macron done about it? nothing. Probably send some more Aid Workers. It is a complete disgrace what has happened in the Western Countries & our Political ‘Leaders’ do nothing while their countries burn!
Marco says
“Paris and its allies consider the region increasingly critical for ensuring Europe’s security against jihadist threats and for stemming an unchecked flow of migrants across the Mediterranean.”
It’s a little late for that conclusion.
I say bring our troops home. We don’t the need the French to be under US command. The French can either decide to get serious or leave.