US to send troops to Uganda to help fight LRA rebels

Gerald · 10-14-11, 05:05 PM

Quote:

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.'Kill or capture'"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".Mr Obama did not provide any details about the deployment duration, but a US military spokesman later told the BBC that the "forces are prepared to stay as long as necessary to enable regional security forces to carry on independently"

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

Note: 14 October 2011 Last updated at 21:01 GMT

Platapus · 10-14-11, 05:12 PM

Swell.

And what exactly is in Uganda that is worth a single American life?

http://www.afrol.com/articles/21834

"Uganda becomes oil producer"

Oh, figured there had to be a reason.

Lemme guess there are tired poor huddled masses yearning to be free that happen to be on top of valuable oil reserves.

Swell, just swell.

Gerald · 10-14-11, 05:22 PM

There are many problems with sending troops, even if it seems innocuous on paper ... it could easily be more, and then it will be conflicts and problems,

these kinds of auctions should be solved in another way.

Jimbuna · 10-14-11, 05:40 PM

Someone found oil there?

Gerald · 10-14-11, 05:51 PM

They have gold and other minerals.

Tchocky · 10-14-11, 06:01 PM

Troops for oil costs more than it's worth. We've all seen that with Iraq, whether you believe that was the motive or not. I don't think the math works out.

It's always a good idea to fight against something like the LRA. Whether it works with your countrys foreign policy or internal politics is a different matter. Also whether the role of the troops is what you say it is - well that's another matter again.

MothBalls · 10-14-11, 06:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jimbuna

Someone found oil there?

There's oil there?

BOMB THEM!

yubba · 10-14-11, 06:07 PM

Yet they said that about Vietnam, Iraq, Lybia, Yemen, I feel that I'm missing some one, hate to think they find oil in Mexico.

magicstix · 10-14-11, 06:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by yubba

Yet they said that about Vietnam, Iraq, Lybia, Yemen, I feel that I'm missing some one, hate to think they find oil in Mexico.

Uhm, Mexico has a *lot* of oil, actually... So does Canada... So do we for that matter...

Oberon · 10-14-11, 06:40 PM

Poor sods, getting caught up in another African mess. Still, I guess they're making their presence felt before China buys up the rest of Africa and its oil.

yubba · 10-14-11, 06:45 PM

I guess that it's better to drop off our troops into far away $&*t holes to die for a barrel of oil, for it is too far for them to walk home.

CaptainHaplo · 10-14-11, 06:52 PM

Cmon people - consistency here....

People screamed about how Bush sent troops into Iraq and those on the right wanted to justify it because it saved Iraqi's from genocide.
Now, the right is yelling "WHY ARE WE DOING THIS" - uhm - to try and save lives....

Why is that answer good enough to justify Iraq, but not good enough for this? Especially considering the very limited forces used.

The LRA has been at their work for what, 20+ years now? How many times did we hear people talk about "why isn't Obama doing something about it" after he got elected. The same question was asked about Bush.

Now something is getting done. Late - absolutely. But at least there is action.

I don't like the vast majority of the President's policies, but this is a good move.

Platapus · 10-14-11, 07:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by magicstix

Uhm, Mexico has a *lot* of oil, actually... So does Canada... So do we for that matter...

The two largest suppliers of foreign oil to the United States are Canada and Mexico.

Platapus · 10-14-11, 07:13 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CaptainHaplo

I don't like the vast majority of the President's policies, but this is a good move.

I might agree that "someone" needs to "do something" in Uganda. However, it has not been demonstrated that this someone needs to be (or should be) the US or that the something needs to be our military.

I guess the older I get the more cold-hearted I get, but I still wonder what is there in Uganda that is worth a single American life?

American lives are kinda important to me. As a former military member, I understand that American military may need to die to support US national agendas. But I would have a hard time looking a soldier in the eye and say "you need to die for Uganda".

magicstix · 10-14-11, 07:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Platapus

I might agree that "someone" needs to "do something" in Uganda. However, it has not been demonstrated that this someone needs to be (or should be) the US or that the something needs to be our military.

I guess the older I get the more cold-hearted I get, but I still wonder what is there in Uganda that is worth a single American life?

American lives are kinda important to me. As a former military member, I understand that American military may need to die to support US national agendas. But I would have a hard time looking a soldier in the eye and say "you need to die for Uganda".

I think the problem isn't necessarily what the President is doing, but more his flagrant disregard for the law and the outright lying in his reasoning for the deployment of the troops. He's said that it's a national security issue (it's not) he's said he's carrying out Congressional mandates (he's not) and he's dropped the letter on us on a Friday like a document dump to avoid media scrutiny.

Going in there for humanitarian reasons is certainly noble, but it should be done within the law. What he's done here is unilaterally gone off on a military adventure in Africa without consulting any of the other branches of government.

The honest thing would have been to say "here's what I want to do, here's why" and make his case before the American people and Congress. We have checks and balances on power for a reason.

10-14-11, 05:12 PM	#2
Platapus Fleet Admiral Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 19,366 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 0	Swell. And what exactly is in Uganda that is worth a single American life? http://www.afrol.com/articles/21834 "Uganda becomes oil producer" Oh, figured there had to be a reason. Lemme guess there are tired poor huddled masses yearning to be free that happen to be on top of valuable oil reserves. Swell, just swell. __________________ abusus non tollit usum - A right should NOT be withheld from people on the basis that some tend to abuse that right.

10-14-11, 05:22 PM	#3
Gerald SUBSIM Newsman Join Date: May 2008 Location: Close to sea Posts: 24,254 Downloads: 553 Uploads: 0	There are many problems with sending troops, even if it seems innocuous on paper ... it could easily be more, and then it will be conflicts and problems, these kinds of auctions should be solved in another way. __________________ Nothing in life is to be feard,it is only to be understood. Marie Curie

10-14-11, 05:40 PM	#4
Jimbuna Chief of the Boat Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: 250 metres below the surface Posts: 190,530 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 13	Someone found oil there? __________________ Wise men speak because they have something to say; Fools because they have to say something. Oh my God, not again!!

10-14-11, 05:51 PM	#5
Gerald SUBSIM Newsman Join Date: May 2008 Location: Close to sea Posts: 24,254 Downloads: 553 Uploads: 0	They have gold and other minerals. __________________ Nothing in life is to be feard,it is only to be understood. Marie Curie

10-14-11, 06:01 PM	#6
Tchocky Navy Seal Join Date: Jul 2004 Posts: 5,874 Downloads: 6 Uploads: 0	Troops for oil costs more than it's worth. We've all seen that with Iraq, whether you believe that was the motive or not. I don't think the math works out. It's always a good idea to fight against something like the LRA. Whether it works with your countrys foreign policy or internal politics is a different matter. Also whether the role of the troops is what you say it is - well that's another matter again. __________________ [SIGPIC][/SIGPIC]

10-14-11, 06:07 PM	#8
yubba Admiral Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: in a neighborhood near you Posts: 2,478 Downloads: 293 Uploads: 2	Yet they said that about Vietnam, Iraq, Lybia, Yemen, I feel that I'm missing some one, hate to think they find oil in Mexico.

10-14-11, 06:40 PM	#10
Oberon Lucky Jack Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 25,976 Downloads: 61 Uploads: 20	Poor sods, getting caught up in another African mess. Still, I guess they're making their presence felt before China buys up the rest of Africa and its oil.

10-14-11, 06:45 PM	#11
yubba Admiral Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: in a neighborhood near you Posts: 2,478 Downloads: 293 Uploads: 2	I guess that it's better to drop off our troops into far away $&*t holes to die for a barrel of oil, for it is too far for them to walk home.

10-14-11, 06:52 PM	#12
CaptainHaplo Silent Hunter Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 4,404 Downloads: 29 Uploads: 0	Cmon people - consistency here.... People screamed about how Bush sent troops into Iraq and those on the right wanted to justify it because it saved Iraqi's from genocide. Now, the right is yelling "WHY ARE WE DOING THIS" - uhm - to try and save lives.... Why is that answer good enough to justify Iraq, but not good enough for this? Especially considering the very limited forces used. The LRA has been at their work for what, 20+ years now? How many times did we hear people talk about "why isn't Obama doing something about it" after he got elected. The same question was asked about Bush. Now something is getting done. Late - absolutely. But at least there is action. I don't like the vast majority of the President's policies, but this is a good move. __________________ Good Hunting! Captain Haplo