A top official in MINUSMA, the UN's peacekeeping force in Mali, warned that there is no rule of law in Kidal, armed groups have not been disarmed, and the MINUSMA force is only at half strength. The al Qaeda-linked Ansar Dine and its commander Iyad Ag Ghaly have resurfaced. A French officer commanding joint French and Malian forces said attacks in Gao and Tessalit last month suggest concerted action by al Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb and its allies. French forces in country will drop to about 2,000 after next month's election. Malian reporters marched in Bamako in honor of two French journalists slain last week in Kidal.
Bill Roggio is a regular guest on the John Batchelor Show from Monday through Friday to discuss the war. Check John's site for the time. Click here to listen live online at WABC.
