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Berlin to refuel French jets for Mali mission

Published: 31 Jan 13 08:33 CET | Print version
Updated: 31 Jan 13 10:19 CET
Online: http://www.thelocal.de/national/20130131-47671.html

Germany is considering expanding its support of France’s military campaign against Islamists in Mail to include airborne refueling of jets carrying out airstrikes.

“We are working of the necessary certification of refueling systems and are in close contact with France,” German Defence Minister Thomas de Maizière told the daily Süddeutsche Zeitung on Thursday. “I think we will be ready in February.”

He said refueling French aircraft on combat missions would require the approval of the German parliament.

“Airborne refueling would put us so close to the Constitutional Court’s so-called engagement threshold that we should have a mandate,” he said.

Currently, Germany has limited its participation in Mali to providing transport planes and equipment. This has exposed Berlin to criticism that it was not pulling its weight, as France fought Islamist militants in the North African country.

German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle on Wednesday defended Berlin's contribution, saying there was no reason for embarrassment.

"Instead Germany can really say we are behaving in an exemplary fashion internationally," he told parliament. "When everything is added up, including what we're doing in Europe, we hit upwards of $100 to $120 million."

The Local/mry

What do you think? Leave your comment below.


Your comments about this article:

13:30 January 31, 2013 by Leo Strauss
If only we had a politician here in Germany as courageous as Belgium`s Laurent Louis. During a speech before his parliament, he explained-

'why he voted against the Belgian support of war in Mali, that it was based on lies and rooted in neo-colonialism. Then he expressed his disgust and wrath against the criminal foreign policies of the Western elite and its submission to foreign financial and interests groups, before scolding his colleagues who voted for interventionist war with ¦quot;f-ck you¦#39;s¦quot;. Finally, he says that the war on terror is a lie and that 9/11 was a false flag to justify aggressive military action in the Muslim world.'

Read and watch his full speech here:

http://chemtrailsplanet.net/2013/01/26/belgian-mp-blames-911-false-flag-for-criminal-invasions-of-sovereign-countries/
14:53 January 31, 2013 by raandy
Leo, they all have different reasons for their support but there is no doubt that France's is economics.

here is a c/p

"Mali is a country with massive natural resources which include gold, phosphates, kaolin, salt, limestone, uranium, gypsum, granite, hydropower which mostly exploited by westerners particularly France who has a large French nationals living in the country whilst The country¦#39;s population living in absolute poverty. Also new natural resources have been discovered in Mali which include bauxite, iron ore, manganese, tin, and copper deposits but so far not exploited. The existence of hydrocarbons in Mali has been known since the 1970s, when drilling tests proved massive oil resources which can be developed at low costs."
15:50 January 31, 2013 by Leo Strauss
@ raandy

Right on, raandy, thanks for the info on Mali. Do take a few minutes to check out the speech in the link I provided above. Probably one of the most important in the 21st century and entertaining as well. :)
19:21 January 31, 2013 by trevzns
Neo-colonialism. The fight against Muslin terrorists. Fighting for world democracy and human rights. European, American or Middle East states national security and religious freedom.

It is the same alliance of European, Arab, African colonists. Oppressors, merchants, traders, enslavers and tyrants of humanity.
22:38 January 31, 2013 by ChrisRea
@ Leo Strauss

Thanks for the link. They guy is a bit of a populist, but his points are valid.
22:59 January 31, 2013 by Leo Strauss
@ ChrisRea

You are very welcome- glad that you checked it out. :)

Here is another link to an article entitled 'Mali and AFRICOM¦#39;s Africa Agenda: Target China' by William F. Engdahl, an American journalist living in Frankfurt:

http://www.voltairenet.org/article177327.html
00:03 February 1, 2013 by raandy
Leo, thanks was very informative and realistic .
12:26 February 1, 2013 by Leo Strauss
@raandy

You`re welcome- glad you found it interesting. :)
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