AP Photo

Politicians in Paris are still speaking as though Mali can be won on the cheap and quick—a drawdown in March from the 4,000 French troops here now, and a pullout after hypothetical elections in July. At that point, a trained-up Malian army and other African forces will theoretically handle the country's security. Except now that the insurgency has shown its face, with roadside IEDs and suicide bombings, and local supporters sheltering jihadists in key towns such as Gao, none of the French seriously expect their intervention to last less than a year. Even Capt. Benoit points out that they're nowhere near training Malian forces.