Qatar backing Mali rebels

Or "terrorists" if you will.

But aren't they supposed to be our allies?

We know that they funneled weapons to the Libyan rebels. It's common knowledge that they've been instrumental in supplying the Syrian rebels. Should we be surprised that they are also supporting the rebels in the north of Mali?

After all, it's more or less the same rebels. Or terrorists, depending on the time and the place.

What would be surprising is that while the Libyan and Syrian supply operations were done with the approval of the US, their support for the Mali rebels is supposedly an independent venture.

The key word being "supposedly."

Qatar is tiny country with a population the size of Spokane. It hosts major American Air Force and Navy facilities. Is it realistic to suppose they would be delivering weapons to Malian rebels without the tacit approval of the US?

Also curious is the absence of this story from US news reports. While it's a matter of public discussion in France, the story is invisible on this side of the Atlantic.

But it might explain the reticence of the Obama administration to more overtly ally themselves with Hollande's African adventure.

While it wouldn't be the first time that the US supports both sides in a conflict, it's not the sort of thing that can be done too publicly.