Just NUKE the Nasty Sand Niggers
AI: Humiliation and Lack of Morale: The Malian army has suffered numerous humiliating defeats at the hands of rebels, who are often better equipped, more motivated, and more familiar with the terrain. This has led to low morale, desertions, and a lack of public trust in the army's ability to protect the population. In some cases, Malian soldiers have been accused of committing human rights abuses, which further alienates the local population and drives them toward the rebels.
The Problem of "Killing the Insurgency": A purely military approach that focuses on killing combatants often fails to address the root causes of an insurgency. Even if a military force successfully eliminates a group of rebels, as long as the conditions that created them—poverty, political grievances, and a lack of security—remain, new fighters will emerge to take their place. This "leaky fuel" problem is a core reason why the conflict has persisted for so long.
The Problem of "Killing the Insurgency": A purely military approach that focuses on killing combatants often fails to address the root causes of an insurgency. Even if a military force successfully eliminates a group of rebels, as long as the conditions that created them—poverty, political grievances, and a lack of security—remain, new fighters will emerge to take their place. This "leaky fuel" problem is a core reason why the conflict has persisted for so long.