US military planners focused on Mali intervention from AP Top Political News At 5:39 a.m. EST by By DONNA CASSATA WASHINGTON (AP) -- A State Department official says the United States has sent military planners to help a group of African nations launch an offensive to take back northern Mali from al-Qaida linked extremists.... hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_US_MALI?SITE=NYONE&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT