U.S. to aid French in Mali with aerial refueling

Fighters linked to al Qaeda have taken over parts of Mali and the U.S. is helping the French military push them out. Elizabeth Palmer reports on what is becoming a new center of terrorism. / ERIC FEFERBERG

WASHINGTON The United States has decided to provide additional support to the French military in its war against Islamic militants in Mali by conducting aerial refueling missions.

The Pentagon says Defense Secretary Leon Panetta has told the French defense minister, Jean-Yves Le Drian, that U.S. Africa Command will provide the aerial refueling support. A Pentagon spokesman says the two defense officials discussed the refueling missions and other topics during a phone conversation Saturday.

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U.S. aerial refueling planes would be a boost to air support for French ground forces as they enter areas of Mali that are controlled by al Qaeda-linked extremists.

The U.S. has already been helping France by transporting French troops and equipment to the West African nation.

[quincytodd]

No surprise here. I figured that those right-wing idiots in Washington would get us involved in this stupid war one way or another!

[jgg000010]

hey cbs, when are you going to report on the F-16's and tanks we are gifting to the muslim brotherhood, the 3,000 US troops that were sent back to Iraq, and the US Troops that were sent this month to 35 African countries?

[chevyhotrod]

The jew hater is back, just with a different name and CBS continues to allow his hate speech when clearly they continue to not follow the "Rules of Engagement" as listed on the bottom of this page.

Reality does not exist for Neincensorship.