Obama's new African adventure: Hunting LRA

[Beerina]

On yesterday's The World program, they mentioned that many human-rights advocates and leaders from around the world applauded the decision, and that they have been pressuring the US for some time to take some action against the LRA.

With all due respect to the rest of the world, unless it's an emergency threat to the US, that's a job for Congress, not the President.

That this has been "going on for 20 years" suggests subtly that it isn't.

 

[geni]

Are the LRA even opperating in Uganda to a significant extent any more? I thought they had mostly relocated to the DRC.

 

[Virus]

Oil.

Remember when you said that about Iraq and were wrong?

 

[JihadJane]

'New War of Choice in Uganda Follows Familiar Foreign Police Doctrine
Sending 100 combat troops to Uganda, Obama is fighting a routine fight: unnecessary war, support for dictatorship, and blowback as an afterthought'

"President Obama’s deployment of 100 US combat forces to Uganda and surrounding areas has shocked many as highly unusual and even downright bizarre. But while ground troops in Africa are a comparatively rare occurrence, the decision follows a very familiar path of dominant US foreign policy.

...

For years, the US has lent economic and military support to the Ugandan government, now headed by the regime of President Yoweri Museveni, reelected earlier this year in a vote that was widely disputed by international observers. And since the US war in Somalia has intensified, relying on obedient state thugs in neighboring countries is ever more important.

Ostensibly aimed that the rag-tag al Shabaab militant group based in Somalia, the US has expanded its drone war in Somalia. It has also doubled down on a proxy war in which one group of militants gets US support, while the other – indistinguishable from the first – is targeted. Meanwhile, the CIA and Joint Special Operations Command are running what amounts to a kill/capture program in the country."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

'Ugandan Oil Fields are the best-kept secret in the world'

 

[Virus]

'New War of Choice in Uganda Follows Familiar Foreign Police Doctrine
Sending 100 combat troops to Uganda, Obama is fighting a routine fight: unnecessary war, support for dictatorship, and blowback as an afterthought'

"President Obama’s deployment of 100 US combat forces to Uganda and surrounding areas has shocked many as highly unusual and even downright bizarre. But while ground troops in Africa are a comparatively rare occurrence, the decision follows a very familiar path of dominant US foreign policy.



...

For years, the US has lent economic and military support to the Ugandan government, now headed by the regime of President Yoweri Museveni, reelected earlier this year in a vote that was widely disputed by international observers. And since the US war in Somalia has intensified, relying on obedient state thugs in neighboring countries is ever more important.

Ostensibly aimed that the rag-tag al Shabaab militant group based in Somalia, the US has expanded its drone war in Somalia. It has also doubled down on a proxy war in which one group of militants gets US support, while the other – indistinguishable from the first – is targeted. Meanwhile, the CIA and Joint Special Operations Command are running what amounts to a kill/capture program in the country."

Antiwar.com

'Ugandan Oil Fields are the best-kept secret in the world'

Just because there's oil there doesn't mean Obama is plotting to steal it.

 

[L.Y.S.]

Just because there's oil there doesn't mean Obama is plotting to steal it.

The most reasonable thing I've heard you say ever.

 

[angrysoba]

'Ugandan Oil Fields are the best-kept secret in the world'

Not any more, they're not!

 

[Pardalis]

Edited by Tricky: 

Edited for rule 12.

 

[Nerd]

The ROE, as of now is restricted, meaning the troops are not allowed to engage targets unless they are being engaged themselves. This isn't an offensive strategy - the US is sending in advisers, not teams to hunt down Kony.

(From JihadJane's linked article)...has murdered, raped, and kidnapped tens of thousands of men, women, and children in central Africa.” The use of this rationale is as common in US military interventions as it is fraudulent, given US administration of, complicity in, and disregard for comparable atrocities around the world.

Disregard for comparable atrocities around the world?
I'm pretty sure the conflict in the Ugandan region is top on that list...

It still baffles me that in lieu of how far we've come as a society, they're still fundamental problems like genocide and famine in the world. Shouldn't developed societies, like those we live in, act as the basis to lead underdeveloped countries? Why should sit in complacency as people are committing the most inhumane atrocities that we shouldn't even be able to fathom just a plane ride away?

But then again, that's just hippie talk.

 

[Virus]

It still baffles me that in lieu of how far we've come as a society, they're still fundamental problems like genocide and famine in the world. Shouldn't developed societies, like those we live in, act as the basis to lead underdeveloped countries? Why should sit in complacency as people are committing the most inhumane atrocities that we shouldn't even be able to fathom just a plane ride away?

But then again, that's just hippie talk.

It's all about hating America and inventing conspiracy theories to justify it.

 

[L.Y.S.]

It still baffles me that in lieu of how far we've come as a society, they're still fundamental problems like genocide and famine in the world. Shouldn't developed societies, like those we live in, act as the basis to lead underdeveloped countries? Why should sit in complacency as people are committing the most inhumane atrocities that we shouldn't even be able to fathom just a plane ride away?

But then again, that's just hippie talk.

And for some not hippie talk. The indigenous really don't want the help of industrialized nations and don't need it. We don't want to live the same life style. We understand that hurt, pain, and sacrifice will come with progress. It isn't the job of any developed nation to "lead" anyone. You guys can barely lead your damn selves. And if it leads to being fat with McBurgers in our hands then we'll gladly pass. I think helping developing nations is actually worse than not helping them. Since a lot of the convoys that bring food get stolen by the wealthy elite and the militaries of poor nations. And intervention should really become a thing of the past. Only if it involves the extinction of humanity should anyone get involve. If some crazy Ethopian dictator gets a nuke, then feel free to stop him by all means.

I must've forgot the part in European history where people came on boats to help Europeans with their wars and famines.

It's all about hating America and inventing conspiracy theories to justify it.

And you just couldn't stop with the rhetoric huh?

 

[Virus]

The indigenous really don't want the help of industrialized nations and don't need it.

So you won't mind if we cut off all the foreign aid, development projects, vaccinations, charity activities and investments then?

 

[L.Y.S.]

So you won't mind if we cut off all the foreign aid, development projects, vaccinations, charity activities and investments then?

Not really, they can do it themselves. Leaders in those countries are just pansies who make poor decisions and have their nations gripped by the balls. Whenever western nations help to build anything we end up with more massive debts we can’t pay back and it makes the problem worse. Direly needed national projects are often delayed because we have to pay back debts we can’t possibly dream of paying back. Either the indigenous stop this cycle of dependency and tell western nations to **** off or we continue to be in a perpetual state of servitude and debt to the west.

 

[Virus]

Not really, they can do it themselves. Leaders in those countries are just pansies who make poor decisions and have their nations gripped by the balls. Whenever western nations help to build anything we end up with more massive debts we can’t pay back and it makes the problem worse. Direly needed national projects are often delayed because we have to pay back debts we can’t possibly dream of paying back. Either the indigenous stop this cycle of dependency and tell western nations to **** off or we continue to be in a perpetual state of servitude and debt to the west.

Why are you posting on the internet if you don't want to live like a Westerner?

Why did you move to the US if you don't want to live like a Westerner?

Why do you go to a Western university if you don't want to live like a Westerner?

Can you hear that siren going off? That's the hypocrite alert.

 

[L.Y.S.]

Why are you posting on the internet if you don't want to live like a Westerner?

Why did you move to the US if you don't want to live like a Westerner?

Why do you go to a Western university if you don't want to live like a Westerner?

Can you hear that siren going off? That's the hypocrite alert.

Who said I was against western civilization or technology? You are the one who made the bald ass assertion. As you have several times in the past. I'm not one to fall for this trap. I said I'm against western intervention. You all only want to help us when its convenient anyway. Why help us at all? And plus resorting to rhetoric pretty much tells me you have no significant material to post. You know that what I say is the truth, so you resort to rhetoric. If this is not the case then disprove my assertions with facts.

I assure you that this will be impossible since what I say is true.

 

[L.Y.S.]

Let me let you in on a little secret Virus. Those "projects" that the west are so eager to help us out with keep us in debt and in perpetual servitude. Here is a small example of that.

The World Bank’s Global Finance Development 1999 publication tracked the annual movement of international capital flows to developing countries, presenting new information about the scale of the debt crisis. It showed that total debt continues to rise, despite ever-increasing payments, while aid is falling. The developing world now spends $13 on debt repayment for every $1 it receives in grants, as summarized by the Jubilee 2000 campaign.

Source, I'm sure you'll find something wrong with it, but there is plenty more where that came from.

 

[Virus]

Not really, they can do it themselves. Leaders in those countries are just pansies who make poor decisions and have their nations gripped by the balls. Whenever western nations help to build anything we end up with more massive debts we can’t pay back and it makes the problem worse. Direly needed national projects are often delayed because we have to pay back debts we can’t possibly dream of paying back. Either the indigenous stop this cycle of dependency and tell western nations to **** off or we continue to be in a perpetual state of servitude and debt to the west.

Aftica's problems are their own fault.

 

[bikerdruid]

Aftica's problems are their own fault.

western imperialism had nothing to do with africa's problems?
wow....really??

 

[L.Y.S.]

western imperialism had nothing to do with africa's problems?
wow....really??

Yeah I know...

 

[geni]

Just because there's oil there doesn't mean Obama is plotting to steal it.

Well yes I rather assume that the US has experts in such things. They would be foolish not to.

My suspicion is though that its a more generalised regional power play than oil in particular.