In fact, they were being led into an undercover operation in an attempt to catch a violation of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA).

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By breaking the fragile status quo prevailing since the spring of 2012, it triggered the current French-led military operation in an attempt to avoid a complete collapse in Bamako.

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Bill finally got his operation at the fifth attempt - two months after surgery was first scheduled, and nearly six months after cancer was originally diagnosed.

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