The French are not the only ones there for the gold, apparently. The US (and al Qaeda) are there too...
The United States, which has operated a counter-terrorism training program in the region, said it was sharing information with French forces and considering providing logistics, surveillance and airlift capability.
"We have a responsibility to go after al Qaeda wherever they are," Defense Secretary Leon Panetta told reporters heading with him on a week-long tour of European capitals.
Despite fears of escalation, Randgold Resources says it's "business as usual" at its Mali projects. It confirmed in a statement on January 14 that operations were normal at its Loulo-Gounkoto gold mining complex and its Morilla joint venture following the declaration of a state of emergency in Mali over the weekend as the joint French-Malian military operation against the rebels intensified in the north.
