Crisis in Mali 101: A Turning Point for U.S. Foreign Policy?

In the past two weeks, Mali–known primarily for its rich musical traditions and the whimsical connotations of the city of Timbuktu–has become front-page news. The crisis there is important because it indicates the type of activity the U.S. will see from major terrorist threats in the years ahead. If left unresolved, the events in Mali could result in a growth of terrorist operations in Africa.

Read on for an explanation of the major players and events in this escalating crisis.