Offensive operations will still rely upon outside support for air power, intelligence and logistics.

BBC: Can France achieve its goals in Mali?

The interview came as the US and Jordan announced that 200 intelligence, logistics and operations specialists from the US Army's 1st Armored Division were being sent to Jordan to help contain violence along the border.

BBC: Syria crisis: Bashar al-Assad says West will 'pay price'

Earlier this month, France promised to provide logistics and intelligence to CAR in their struggle against rebels who have recently seized several towns.

BBC: NEWS | Africa | French planes attack CAR rebels

His aides are stressing that the troops being sent to the region are to be used for training, logistics and intelligence, and not combat.

BBC: What is the UK doing in North Africa?

Gen Robert Cone, the deputy commander of US troops in Iraq, told the BBC that the greatest assistance would be needed in the areas of logistics, command and control, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance.

BBC: Iraq 'independent' as the US combat operation ends

The huge trading and logistics operation, backed by a savvy business-intelligence unit, has a global presence in a vast array of commodities that far exceeds that of rivals such as Cargill or Trafigura.

ECONOMIST: Xstrata and Glencore

Without the things that only states can provide - sanctuary, intelligence, logistics, training, communications, money - even the bin Laden network and others like it could manage only the occasional car bomb.

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Center For Security Policy