Official: American Military Aircraft To Be Used in CAR Intervention

An unnamed American official
has told CNN that U.S. military planes will be used to transport
French and African peacekeepers to the Central African
Republic.

From
CNN:

Troops will be flown from Burundi to the Central African
Republic capital of Bangui, which has been wracked with
violence.

The American military also expects to fly in some French troops,
which are working to secure the airport and disarm some militia
members.

The United States will provide security for its planes, but
there is no indication on the number of troops involved. The
operations is expected to be relatively small.

Violence on the ground, which has included machetes, knives,
rifles and grenades, will be a “big factor” in any U.S. operation,
the official said.

Last week, the French began their intervention in CAR after the
United Nations Security Council
unanimously approved the use of military force in the former
French colony.

The British are already assisting the French, having
sent military equipment on a C-17 to help with the peacekeeping
mission.

Since the intervention began French troops have begun
patrolling the streets of Bangui, CAR’s capital, and have come

under fire while trying to disarm rebels in an incident French
officials described as “insignificant.”