... The U.S. has been quietly involved in the war on the LRA [Lord’s Resistance Army] for several years, even helping the Ugandans plan a 2009 raid that missed Kony and sparked a bloody LRA reprisal. So why make such a big deal out of the latest effort? Could the new deployment represent the beginning of another U.S. “shadow war” waged by commandos and killer drones?
And why now? The LRA has been raping and pillaging across Central Africa for 20 years. What, besides a widely-ignored 2010 law, compelled Washington to try again to defeat the group? (Wired Danger Room)
This is the question Americans are asking, why now, why after all these years? We're told by different sources that the LRA is only 400 members strong. Why haven't we used drones and missiles to take these people out over all these years? Yet after two decades or more of raping, killing, torturing, abusing young children, more than 65,000 children over the years, kidnapping tens of thousands of people, forcing them into slavery, the military and prostitution, suddenly we send 100 soldiers?
We're told that the US military already in Uganda and the new members arriving soon -- all combat ready and instructed to fight if attacked -- may further deploy to the Central African Republic, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and southern Sudan. According to reports the US is only sending 100 troops, as advisers. (image: VOA)
Here is one possible explanation:
“Multiple reports from former LRA abductees indicate that key members of the LRA command structure gathered in southeast Central African Republic between June and September of 2011,” Ronan [Paul Ronan, from the aid group Resolve] said. The meeting reportedly included Dominic Ongwen, a former child soldier indicted for war crimes by the International Criminal Court.
“By late September an LRA group of 100 to 200 had split up and was heading into South Sudan and towards Congo, split between four and five groups,” Ronan added. What they’re up to, is anyone’s guess — but it can’t be good. And if their intentions include a large-scale assault on innocent civilians, it could explain why the Pentagon is in a hurry to intervene. (Wired Danger Room)
So, the 200 (or 400 depending on sources) member group has divided up into four or five groups, approximately 40 bad guys per group spread out over how many miles? Uganda has a land surface of 241,139 square kilometers (roughly twice the size of the state of Pennsylvania). It seems to me the goal of taking out the LRA and it's leaders would have been much easier years ago, but that's just me.
Why were troops not sent back in 2009 when congressional permission was given? I am hesitant to suggest that the Barack Obama administration has any political reason for sending these troops now. They already have the 'not-war' in Libya which we were told would have no boots on the ground (lie), which would take only a few weeks (lie), where the US would be taking an advisory role (lie). Outcry from the Left on Libya was nil, same with the announcement on troops to Uganda, unlike the outcry for troops sent by previous presidents.
I'm afraid the answer to the question "why now?" remains unanswered for me.
While Bush was in charge, the democrats screamed and cried to get US Troops involved in Darfur. Bush used our Blood and Treasure for things that actually involved the foreign policy of the US, and our national interests.
Now that "Mr. Obama" is involved and he has the final say, well, you see us involved in Libya and now Uganda. Why? Because they are Black and Muslim? Is that it? What about the Christian nation of the Republic of South Sudan, why did we NOT GO TO THEIR AID? WHY did we not go to the aid of the thousands of freedom seekers in Syria or of the freedom seeking Iranians? They are Muslim, yes, but they are also big enemies of Israel and we all know "Mr. Obama's" feelings about the Jews!
The World has missed the best chance to displace the Despot in Syria and the "Mad Mullahs" of Iran, because "Mr. Obama's" clear hatred of Jewish People!
Posted by: JON A UNDERWOOD | October 18, 2011 at 09:34 PM
I'd love to be in charge of Obama's eternal damnation. How about Adolph Hitler's suffering to the googleplexth (sp?) power? Forever.
Posted by: David (DW) | October 18, 2011 at 10:29 PM
Snake Hunter Sez,
Hey, what did you expect?
Our Foreign Policy Is Run by an "Acting (Female) Preident", and
American business policies by a former slum lord key Advisor, and those Wall Street Protests by Joseph Stiglitz, so it's chaos whereever you look!
What we really need now is a Top To Bottom 'Regime Change'... In Washington D.C.
reb
___ ___
Posted by: Ralph E. | October 19, 2011 at 12:26 AM
Soros.
Posted by: Jeff Schaum | October 19, 2011 at 09:20 AM
Jon,
I have a feeling that you are completely correct.
My big question is why in heavens name did the Republicans such as James Inhofe of Ok jump on board with support for this yet anther Obama fiasco waiting for something to go wrong. Makes absolutely no sense to me but heck , I'm just an ole country boy who ain't got much of nuthin cept common sense. Something sorely lacking in DC.
Posted by: afticker | October 19, 2011 at 01:33 PM
We are in most African nations, the news is way behind on this one. I should know I was there.
Posted by: Trestin | October 19, 2011 at 09:25 PM