Indeed, the conflict in Mali is taking place geographically in Africa, but in many ways its causes and ramifications lie in the Middle East. When France intervened in an African country in the past, there was no risk of terrorist attacks on its territory or on its citizens elsewhere in the world.
事实上，马里冲突虽然从地理上说发生在非洲，但从很多方面看，其根源和演化都是中东式的。过去，法国在干预非洲国家时不会在当地或在世界其他地区遭到该国人策划的恐怖袭击。现在则非如此。