They aren't lying about what they are doing, they are lying about their long term intentions. And why would this be an unlikely scenario? Why would this scenario be different from all the previous scenarios where the media lied on behalf of its government?
OK, my bad. Oh, in that case I don't necessarily trust what the Government is telling about its intention, I rather weight the + and - for France to stay or leave Mali. What I think is going to happen is that France we'll keep a small force a provide assistance to the Malian army for some time, the way they did in Afghanistan and the way they are doing in Ivory Coast now. I however don't think that is necessarily bad. And don't start throwing "french imperalist" at me, I am tunisian, i was the one colonised by France, but I don't think every foreign presence is necessarily bad. If troubles go up north ans start generatin too much troubles for the Tunisian government to deal with, I'd have no problem having France assist Tunisia dealing with AQMI.
I have stated in this thread time and time again it will not be short, which is what the French government wants its people to believe. It doesn't want them or the people of North Africa to think it has long term machinations in its former colonies. That is where the lying has come in. If terrorist attacks increase, (5 million Muslims in France), the French Government knows damn well that will give them further excuse to occupy North Africa. Occupations are rarely quick and easy.
France won't "occupy" Mali not because it can't but because french people don't want that to happen, unless Malien terrorist attacks become daily and the only way stopping them would be occupying Mali (which will never happen IMHO, you have every right to think otherwise).
If by occupying you're more thinking about what I wrote above, than that is indeed not necessarily unlikely. But than again, if free and honest elections are held soon and the democratically elected governement of Mali is OK with that, I don't see why would that be a problem.
Ahh, yes, the free Mali press under its new dictator, no doubt... ...in French no doubt. Or was that in Bambara?
Stop the patronising tone, I doubt you read bambara or even french for that matter
I grew up in a dictator hip my self and know that you need to be very cautious about news in places like Mali. That being said, i have to say:
1. when malien press in written french, that is not necessarily bad contrary to what your insinuating (as if french languaged newspaper must be pro-french !!!!!). In Ben Ali Tunisia, many of the free press was in french because many poeple understand the language in the country (or know tons of people that do) and it gives the media international access which is usually one of the purposes (make international media "know" about what's going on).
2. Mali, until recently was considered almost a model in the region in terms of freedom of the press and democracy. The Coup d'Etat happened a few month ago, before that ATT was elected "decently fairly". It's not Switzerland, but it's not North Korea either. Again, that is the impression I had from local, regional (I read arabic) and international (if you have more trustworthy sources, please share them with us)
You get an impression from a French News station the people of Mali are re-embracing their former colonizers? And how many Tuaregs and Arabs were interviewed? (Also citizens of the region) Did they talk about the mob violence happening against them? Were they happy for that? How about the 33 Tuaregs massacred and thrown down a well by the Malian army? Are they happy?
Why won't Malien embrace French if they think they are doing the right job for them???? What makes you think Malien hate French to the point of refusing help from them? (do you still hate the Brits to the point of not wanting them to help you?)
And yes, here on french TV, they indeed did interviewed Tuareg and showed massacres done by Malien Army againt the Tuareg/Arabs. So what? Allies I am sure did very wrong things while moving towards Berlin, women were raped and some prisoners were killed, that is not enough of a reason to make the whole Allies war against 3rd Reich an Unjustified Imperialist Invasion. I hope the people who did that will be tried, but war is war.
And if the Tuaregs asked for France's help as well, why didn't France just help the Tuaregs get destroy Ansar Dine? Why are they helping the Mali dictator destroy Islamist and the Tuareg uprising?
That is a whole new subject: should Tuareg have their own country? I have no idea to be honest. French government, as many other, seem however to be against that. And again Mali is indeed under a dictatorship now, though it was not the case one year ago. I, as french, hope my govenrment will push the malien authorities toward fair elections soon.
it really doesn't matter what you think your media has told you is true. Time will tell who is right. I'd be willing to bet French troops will still be in Mali in 2017.
It doesne't matter either what YOU tells us is true cause, with all due respect, I do not see any reason to take yours words more seriously than those of many media sources in France, Mali, London, Algiers, Dakar, Abidjan, Ouagadougou etc.
And for your bet, I hope you'll be wrong, but even if you were right, I don't consider this to be necessarily done against Malien people.
