In reply to talbot_60:
> The very same way ISAF cleared them out of Afghanistan in the early 2000's. Al Qaeda aren't stupid enough to go toe to toe with a professional army. All that will happen is they melt into the desert and start a Guerilla campaign that will last another decade.
>
a) Not without the support of the local people (Taureg).
b) You've checked out that part of the world on Google Earth?