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| U.S. Begins Airlift of a French Battalion to Mali | U.S. Begins Airlift of a French Battalion to Mali |
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| WASHINGTON — The Pentagon is airlifting a French battalion to join the fight in Mali against Islamist militants, Pentagon and administration officials said Tuesday, but the United States has not yet agreed to a request from France to provide refueling tankers for its warplanes. | WASHINGTON — The Pentagon is airlifting a French battalion to join the fight in Mali against Islamist militants, Pentagon and administration officials said Tuesday, but the United States has not yet agreed to a request from France to provide refueling tankers for its warplanes. |
| Air Force C-17 transport planes had completed five flights from bases in France into Bamako, the capital of Mali, by Tuesday, delivering 80 troops and more than 120 tons of their equipment, according to George Little, the Pentagon press secretary. It could take the United States two weeks to transport the entire 600-member French mechanized infantry unit and all of their gear, according to other Pentagon officials. | Air Force C-17 transport planes had completed five flights from bases in France into Bamako, the capital of Mali, by Tuesday, delivering 80 troops and more than 120 tons of their equipment, according to George Little, the Pentagon press secretary. It could take the United States two weeks to transport the entire 600-member French mechanized infantry unit and all of their gear, according to other Pentagon officials. |
| The airlift expands the involvement of the United States in support of a NATO ally, but officials stressed that the American military footprint on the ground in Mali would remain small. | The airlift expands the involvement of the United States in support of a NATO ally, but officials stressed that the American military footprint on the ground in Mali would remain small. |
| Pentagon officials declined to offer details beyond saying that security for the American airlift would be provided by French forces and that a very small number of American military communications personnel were on the ground to coordinate the flights. | Pentagon officials declined to offer details beyond saying that security for the American airlift would be provided by French forces and that a very small number of American military communications personnel were on the ground to coordinate the flights. |
| A decision by the Obama administration on providing aerial tankers is expected within days, but the United States wants a clearer explanation of French plans for its mission, including whether more forces would be committed and how the French planned to end their leading role in the military campaign. | A decision by the Obama administration on providing aerial tankers is expected within days, but the United States wants a clearer explanation of French plans for its mission, including whether more forces would be committed and how the French planned to end their leading role in the military campaign. |
| A French official, speaking on ground rules of anonymity to describe bilateral discussions, said some officials in Washington were concerned that assigning American tanker planes to refuel French warplanes bombing Islamist militant targets in Mali might make the United States appear as a co-belligerent in the conflict. Even if that view was not supported under international law, it could be the perception across the Muslim world. | A French official, speaking on ground rules of anonymity to describe bilateral discussions, said some officials in Washington were concerned that assigning American tanker planes to refuel French warplanes bombing Islamist militant targets in Mali might make the United States appear as a co-belligerent in the conflict. Even if that view was not supported under international law, it could be the perception across the Muslim world. |
| One administration official confirmed that those concerns had been discussed in Washington. “If we are seen as a co-combatant, what does that mean for U.S. facilities and personnel in the region, and what are the costs associated with that?” the official said. “We are working through these issues, but there is no lack of support for our ally.” | One administration official confirmed that those concerns had been discussed in Washington. “If we are seen as a co-combatant, what does that mean for U.S. facilities and personnel in the region, and what are the costs associated with that?” the official said. “We are working through these issues, but there is no lack of support for our ally.” |
| The French official explained that the request for American refueling aircraft was submitted only as a prudent alternative if the mission continues for longer than anticipated — or in case there is a significant military crisis requiring the immediate dispatch of additional French aircraft. | The French official explained that the request for American refueling aircraft was submitted only as a prudent alternative if the mission continues for longer than anticipated — or in case there is a significant military crisis requiring the immediate dispatch of additional French aircraft. |
| “We do have air-refueling capacity,” the French official said. “And we do have offers of support from other Europeans to do it. This request to the United States is the hypothetical case that our operations last longer than expected and we have to have a backup.” | “We do have air-refueling capacity,” the French official said. “And we do have offers of support from other Europeans to do it. This request to the United States is the hypothetical case that our operations last longer than expected and we have to have a backup.” |
| At the White House, Tommy Vietor, a spokesman for the National Security Council, said the United States already was also providing “significant intelligence support” to the French mission in Mali. | At the White House, Tommy Vietor, a spokesman for the National Security Council, said the United States already was also providing “significant intelligence support” to the French mission in Mali. |
| He said the United States and France agreed that long-term security required handing off the military operation to Mali’s forces, perhaps assisted by African troops from the region. | He said the United States and France agreed that long-term security required handing off the military operation to Mali’s forces, perhaps assisted by African troops from the region. |
| “We are working with African troop contributors to quicken their deployment to Mali,” Mr. Vietor said. | “We are working with African troop contributors to quicken their deployment to Mali,” Mr. Vietor said. |
| The French launched their offensive into Mali to push back gains by Islamist militant fighters. Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb started out as an Algerian group that was fighting the Algerian government. Pushed out of the country, it found a sanctuary in northern Mali, as did militants who left Libya after the fall of Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi. | The French launched their offensive into Mali to push back gains by Islamist militant fighters. Al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb started out as an Algerian group that was fighting the Algerian government. Pushed out of the country, it found a sanctuary in northern Mali, as did militants who left Libya after the fall of Col. Muammar el-Qaddafi. |
This article has been revised to reflect the following correction: | This article has been revised to reflect the following correction: |
| Correction: January 25, 2013 | |
An | An article on Wednesday about the role of the United States in support of French military operations in northern Africa misidentified, at one point, the country into which French forces launched an offensive. It is Mali, not Algeria. |