US sending troops to Uganda

[RedRalph]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-15317684

US President Barack Obama has said he is sending about 100 US soldiers to Uganda to help regional forces battle the notorious Lord's Resistance Army.

Although combat-equipped, the troops would be providing information and advice "to partner nation forces", Mr Obama wrote in a letter to US Congress.

A small group is already in Uganda, and the troops could later be deployed in other central African nations.

The LRA is blamed for mass murder, rape and kidnapping in the region.

"I have authorised a small number of combat-equipped US forces to deploy to central Africa to provide assistance to regional forces that are working toward the removal of (LRA leader) Joseph Kony from the battlefield," Mr Obama wrote on Friday.

But he stressed that "although the US forces are combat-equipped... they will not themselves engage LRA forces unless necessary for self-defence".

At least 30,000 people died as the LRA spread terror in northern Uganda for more than 20 years, displacing some two million people.

It is notorious for kidnapping children, forcing the boys to become fighters and using girls as sex slaves.

The group is listed by the US as a terrorist organisation and now operates mainly in neighbouring countries such as Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan and Central Africa Republic.

Joseph Kony and his close aides have been wanted by the International Criminal Court (ICC) since 2005.

He refused to sign a peace deal with the Ugandan government in 2008 when it could not guarantee the withdrawal of the ICC arrest warrants.

...and almost no one notices!!! The DRC war was one that I would have welcomed intervention by almost anyone in. What do you think?

Moderator Action: Thread title changed to be less misleading.

 

[Ajidica]

Errr, isn't this what UN Peacekeepers are for?

 

[NovaKart]

Misleading title.

 

[Quackers]

Strange move - why?

Errr, isn't this what UN Peacekeepers are for?

Obama wants to get something done.

 

[Flying Pig]

Unfortunately the UN mandate has to place the highest value on neutrality so that the UN can keep its moral authority - which all too often means that those of us more used to 'robust' RoE are frustrated by the lack of active intervention that the UN allows. Using national badges, as happened in Kosovo, enables peacekeeping forces to do the job while perhaps ruffling a few more feathers than the blue beret.

 

[Thoughtful Thug]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-15317684



...and almost no one notices!!! The DRC war was one that I would have welcomed intervention by almost anyone in. What do you think?

Rwandans and Ugandans has a history of illegally extracting minerals from the DRC, and exporting them to the international markets. To answer your question: no.

Also, there need to be something done about Canadian mining companies as well...

 

[Joecoolyo]

This is good, very good.

 

[SS-18 ICBM]

...and almost no one notices!!!

Misleading title.

It works for attracting attention.

Anyway, what kind of authorization is needed for an action like this?

 

[carmen510]

About time we started to do something about Central Africa.

 

[Skwink]

If I were prez, I wouldn't be doing little wimpy 100 people invasions. I'd be sending in the whole damn army and finish whatever is started in a few days.

 

[amadeus]

What the heck business do we have in Uganda? I say we send Obama and Gates to the front lines first.

 

[emzie]

What the heck business do we have in Uganda? I say we send Obama and Gates to the front lines first.

LRA are terrorists, just not... the right kind, am i rite?

 

[Yoda Power]

What the heck business do we have in Uganda? I say we send Obama and Gates to the front lines first.

Eh, it's 100 troops, the US military can probably handle it.

 

[Dumanios]

Misleading title+First post commentary are misleading. If the UN would get things done right, we wouldn't be doing this.

 

[MobBoss]

Eh, it's 100 troops, the US military can probably handle it.

Way back when...thats kinda how Vietnam started too.....

Anyway, I detest the LRA so much I endorse this action.

 

[CELTICEMPIRE]

I thought Obama declared war on Uganda for a minute, that would be very stupid.

 

[innonimatu]

About time we started to do something about Central Africa.

Poor africans, as if "you" were not already doing more than enough to keep them screwed.
First there was the whole colonial episode, then there was the sponsoring of rebellions all over Congo with the use of mercenaries (and who paid those mercenaries, it was a questions worth asking...), then the placement of that thief Mobutu there, then the rwandan mess spilled over thanks to the oh-so-well-intended "humanitarian intervention" which meddled with the civil war there by sheltering one of the parties to that war across the border (the civil wars on Rwanda being also the result of a long history of foreign meddling and supposed good intentions), then there are the religious fanatics in Rwanda accidentally created by the oh-so-well-intentioned missionaries...

And the end result is that always, always, there is an excuse for yet another "humanitarian intervention". More more meddling. For preventing the region from reaching any kind of stability on its own. The "humanitarian interventions" will sow the seeds of future conflict and ensure the excuse for future "humanitarian interventions. That's how modern colonialism works.

 

[Yoda Power]

Way back when...thats kinda how Vietnam started too.....

Anyway, I detest the LRA so much I endorse this action.

That's one example, out of how many? The US have conducted many military missions without turning it into Vietnam.

I really don't see a problem with this. Sending a hundred troops won't have any big impact on the military expenses and they are doing good.

 

[Trajan12]

LRA are terrorists, just not... the right kind, am i rite?

Ya. You are only a terrorist if you kill people of value. Who cares about Africans.

 

[classical_hero]

Yeah. This is not Israel, so it is not worth talking about.