Canadian Military Training Mission in Mali, West Africa?

HALIFAX - The Harper government is examining whether to dispatch Canadian troops to help train an African force whose purpose would be to take back a vast swath of Mali from an off-shoot of al-Qaeda. Defence Minister Peter MacKay, speaking in Halifax Sunday, said what form of military assistance can be provided to a growing international campaign is something that's under active discussion.

Will 2013 see Canada (and the US) fighting militant Islam in Africa? Mali is beginning to carve out its own brand of the Taliban under Sharia and may be preparing for a conflict with Western powers.

To be sure, Islam will be a hot subject in 2013 as well.