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French troops nearing direct combat with Al Qaeda

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    Military campaign to stop advancing Islamist insurgents in Mali

  • Duration 4:16
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Molly has been taken over the northern part of Molly by al-Qaeda type individuals.

We want to make sure that we're seeing progress throughout the Middle East with Molly now having north -- taken over by al-Qaeda with Syria.

Having Assad continuing to assess that killed who murdered his own people.

That this is a region will -- -- -- that third week in October Mitt Romney talking about that it was hot spot in the war on terror that is now getting a lot hotter.

France saying it's just hours from direct combat -- al-Qaeda fighters in the West African country.

Of knowledge this is Defense Secretary Leon Panetta says the Pentagon may provide limited logistical support to America's ally but -- -- go further.

General Jack -- Fox News military analyst four star general former army vice chief of staff how you doing sir good morning to you.

Good morning bill we're having a much better day than the woman in Portland and when she is free you're gonna see it here in the meantime.

What is France up against now.

And -- the French do this on the -- would you -- in the expect the United -- -- to upgrade its support what's on the line.

Well I think the -- -- here pretty quick because they saw the al-Qaeda in -- -- -- moving to the south heading towards the capital Mali much more aggressively and more rapidly than anybody expected.

The -- -- others were waiting for the African force which was doing some months from now to come -- to -- to try to stop.

The al-Qaeda -- in their intrusion what they're doing to dominate in the country.

But this is kind of an emergency reaction to what has taken place and have.

The French have been conducted air strikes.

-- -- have limited value.

And now they've got some forces off on the ground but these things as we know Bolten.

From eleven years of war in Iraq and Afghanistan and -- -- what do Israelis did in 2006.

Against the Hezbollah.

These things are a lot easier as the stalked and -- ought to finish it.

Yeah that's the case -- in -- reports about logistical support reports about the US providing drone support to help the French troops on the ground would you expect that.

Well or you or did you see a scenario where -- -- several months in this contest in in Paris is asking Washington for for boots on the ground.

Well I I think certainly.

Will provide them the kind of support that they need in terms of airlift they also want tankers to help refueling fighters so they don't have to go back to their bases and -- can stay on station longer.

They once increased surveillance.

Specifically drones were probably providing satellite.

They probably want some of IN SA's eavesdropping capabilities so they can monitor the also the al-Qaeda is transmissions but I think this -- our administration is pretty clear and it's been pretty clear for awhile that.

They don't not wanna get on the ground in any of these conflicts and I think we'll avoid putting any troops on the.

Two more things to two bring into this discussion there's report that they tried these rebels the fighters actually.

Crossed over and Algeria took a bunch of westerners hostage earlier today.

At an oil field there are so we're watching that -- -- -- develops.

A lot of the fighters have dissolve themselves into the tribes in villages you know how difficult that is to go in there.

And find them then that's of the French are up against right now but strategically speaking in the greater war on terror.

What why do you see this as so critical.

In the current fight that that that's clearly expanding.

Well the strategic objective very al-Qaeda -- obviously a transnational group has always been to establish a column play.

In the region dominate the region to achieve that end.

They have stated publicly from the outset they must -- the United States and west.

Out of the region that's why they dropped the two embassies United States in the late ninety's that's why the US host -- took place.

9/11 as well painfully for us.

That's why they drove into Ben -- to drive us out of that consulate so that objective.

Is there this is that this is a tactical step and along the line to a much larger strategic objective.

What we're told al-Qaeda in the Maghreb which is this group has about a thousand hardcore fighters were about to see how the French can do it on the round general thank you Jack -- In Washington thank you sir good talking to --

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