tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1835455773953043846.post7101559035825284674..comments2024-01-12T18:59:05.080+00:00Comments on Defence With A "C": More Trouble in TimbuktuUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger9125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1835455773953043846.post-22460828968267957662013-01-28T09:21:29.289+00:002013-01-28T09:21:29.289+00:00Hey DefPhoto, thanks for stopping by,
Indeed on t...Hey DefPhoto, thanks for stopping by,<br /><br />Indeed on the expeditionary work. There is a mountain of skills and capabilities we can offer people, depending on their own levels of expertise. The list would be a post in istelf!Chrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18182426936194426623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1835455773953043846.post-69559324172683915312013-01-27T21:33:26.879+00:002013-01-27T21:33:26.879+00:00A side note on this: the FR unit were on Ex JW11-2...A side note on this: the FR unit were on Ex JW11-2 operating from HMS Bulwark, with a similar scenario only insert MALI, delete SCOTLAND; so it's not only C17/Sentnel we can offer but good expeditionary training.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1835455773953043846.post-46959667554835803992013-01-23T19:32:53.525+00:002013-01-23T19:32:53.525+00:00Yes and no on the training.
One thing that specia...Yes and no on the training.<br /><br />One thing that special forces of all kinds have excelled in over the last 60 odd years, which hasn't been picked up so much by regular troops yet, is the training of troops in very remote locations, well away from secure bases, in teams of no more than say 8. <br /><br />That's how, for instance, the battle of Mirbat kicked off in Oman, because you had a small SAS team deployed miles and miles away from Muscat, leading a small bunch of Firqats and Omani police which then came under attack.<br /><br />I'm glad that we're turning more and more to the training and mentor role though. Less force required, probably less expensive, and most importantly, less casualties. Switching from being the primary combatants to more of an enabling role can only be a good thing.<br /><br /><br /><br />Chrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18182426936194426623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1835455773953043846.post-23808589790045597802013-01-23T13:34:59.272+00:002013-01-23T13:34:59.272+00:00Chris, an awesome post mate
Its interesting thoug...Chris, an awesome post mate<br /><br />Its interesting though that many of these mentoring and training roles that were traditionally the preserve of SF are now routinely handled by conventional forces, especially the RMP and big chunks of what will become the adaptable force.<br /><br />The trick now will be to see how these capabilities can be effectively rolled together with DFiD and the FCO. think defencehttp://www.thinkdefence.co.uknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1835455773953043846.post-52852027080101751422013-01-22T02:00:00.218+00:002013-01-22T02:00:00.218+00:00@ ACC,
Thanks for stopping by. A lot of the Tuare...@ ACC,<br /><br />Thanks for stopping by. A lot of the Tuaregs who initially kicked this whole thing off had been doing various mercenary tasks for Gaddafi (some just pulling security in places, right up to the gamut of oppression) so once Gaddafi fell they drifted back south. <br /><br />When (not if) this intervention overcomes the main strongholds they'll probably be on the move again.Chrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18182426936194426623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1835455773953043846.post-35939885607305843702013-01-21T17:54:06.380+00:002013-01-21T17:54:06.380+00:00Chris, a good point this one "Perhaps the big...Chris, a good point this one "Perhaps the biggest risk is not in Mali istelf, but that operations in Mali will simply push the most dangerous Islamist elements elsewhere such as back north into Algeria or Libya, or east into Niger and/or Burkina Faso, possibly just for a transition period before they move on further east into Chad or, more likely, join up with groups like Boko Haram in northern Nigeria. "<br />- one only needs to look at the map and a lot of that area was covered by the Gaddafi-funded legions and decades of strife they whipped up (probably a good number of those same guys around now, just working for themselves rather than an easily defined paymaster)<br /><br />Cheers, ACCAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1835455773953043846.post-49849187692503744342013-01-20T02:16:25.115+00:002013-01-20T02:16:25.115+00:00@ Gareth,
In the doghouse! An independent Azawad i...@ Gareth,<br />In the doghouse! An independent Azawad is basically off the menu now, though there exists the possibility of creating a region which has more say in its local governance. Depends how forgiving the future Malian government (presuming there are elections again at some point) decides to be.<br /><br />@ Sir H,<br />Many thanks Sir H. Keep up your own good work! Just about to dive into your Major Projects report post.<br />Chrishttps://www.blogger.com/profile/18182426936194426623noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1835455773953043846.post-30610622920885860282013-01-19T15:10:38.147+00:002013-01-19T15:10:38.147+00:00Chris - really really good post there and well wor...Chris - really really good post there and well worth reading. <br /><br />I'll crosslink over at my post as a brilliant summary of the situation. Sir Humphreyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08704774192275240783noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1835455773953043846.post-38012913639141343462013-01-19T12:04:31.173+00:002013-01-19T12:04:31.173+00:00Excellent summary Chris. I was wondering what had ...Excellent summary Chris. I was wondering what had happened to the MNLA and where they stood.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10940535661399125656noreply@blogger.com