International assistance widens

Nigeria’s President Goodluck Jonathan accepts an offer of assistance from Israel.  The United States, United Kingdom and France already have sent experts and equipment to assist the Nigerian military in finding the more than 200 missing girls.  China has also offered to help. Jonathan’s spokesman says the president told [Israeli Prime Minister] Netanyahu that Nigeria would be pleased to have Israel’s globally acknowledged anti-terrorism expertise deployed to support its ongoing operations.

US Secretary of Defense Charles Hagel says it won’t be easy to find the girls, but assistance at this point does not include the use of US troops.