The Mirages in the background
(BRUSSELS2) A delegation from the American Congress was recently in Mali on a mission. And the photo, officially posted on the site of Representative Karen Bass, is symbolic.
Four US elected officials — Senators Johnny Isakson (Republican, Georgia) and Christopher Coons (Democrat, Delaware (*); Representatives Terri Sewell (Democrat, Alabama) and Karen Bass (Democrat, California) — members of the "African Affairs" subcommittee, actually made the trip to Bamako. They thus inquired about the political and humanitarian situation on the spot, in particular of the 300.000 displaced people on the spot. But, of course, an American representative must pose in front of instruments of force. So, for want of anything better, they posed in front of... the French Mirage 2000D (from the BA-133 in Nancy), whose tricolor cockades are not visible. France's role, Representative Bass acknowledges, has been to "begin operations." But she takes care to specify, it was with the Americans. "The French took the lead in ground and air operations (...) with logistical and technical support (for air transport, supplies, training) from the United States and other nations".
(*) and not republican as indicated by mistake in a first version