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US troops now in 4 African countries to fight LRA
AP ^ | 2/22/12 | JASON STRAZIUSO

Posted on 02/23/2012 4:15:06 AM PST by EBH

The U.S. announced in October it was sending about 100 U.S. troops — mostly special operations forces — to Central Africa to advise in the fight against the LRA and its leader Joseph Kony, a bush fighter wanted by the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity.

Rear Adm. Brian L. Losey, the top U.S. special operations commander for Africa, said the U.S. troops are now stationed in bases in Uganda, Congo, South Sudan and Central African Republic.

"We've already seen a decrease in the lethality of LRA activities, which we think is attributable in part to the pressure we and our partners are applying," Losey said in a telephone briefing to journalists.

Losey said counter-LRA actions will increase in frequency and effectiveness in coming months.

The LRA began its attacks in Uganda in the 1980s, when Kony sought to overthrow the government. Since being pushed out of Uganda several years ago, the militia has terrorized villages in Central Africa.

A top State Department official, Karl Wycoff, said that Kony has shown the ability to mobilize combatants and militant leaders to carry out "horrible atrocities" for the LRA, which he called "some kind of cult," given that the group has no clear agenda. He said the U.S. effort was not just aimed at Kony but at all the LRA leaders.

However, Col. Felix Kulayigye, the spokesman for Uganda's military, said the hunt for Kony was an important aspect of the anti-LRA effort.

(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...


TOPICS: Foreign Affairs; Front Page News; Government
KEYWORDS: obamasfault
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To: blueunicorn6

Of all things, there is said to be a lot of oil in the region—which cannot be exploited for use by Uganda (and Uganda’s rulers) until they actually control the area.

True or not, if we are going to be sending troops to
help clear out corrupt and illegitimate gangs, let’s start with Chicago...


21 posted on 02/23/2012 7:01:20 AM PST by CondorFlight (I)
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To: LomanBill
“Jones, paging Rev. Jim Jones...”

Jim Jones was an atheist Marxist, who cynically tricked people into thinking he was religious in order to further his Marxist agenda.

22 posted on 02/23/2012 7:03:26 AM PST by dfwgator (Don't wake up in a roadside ditch. Get rid of Romney.)
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To: All

My best guess about this is that Obama is doing it for two reasons:

1. He thinks it will help secure him the black vote in 2012, since he can tell them: “See how much I’m doing to help your black ancestors, something no white President has ever done.”

2. If he loses, then he leaves the White Republican President a nice Tar Baby to deal with first thing in office.


23 posted on 02/23/2012 7:16:59 AM PST by catnipman (Cat Nipman: Vote Republican in 2012 and only be called racist one more time!)
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To: Erik Latranyi
Just a guess that this is the strongest pro-Christian group operating in Africa and poses a threat to the islamist movements in the Northern tier.

___________________________________

Yeah, a real "Christian" army.

You might want to do a little homework...try global security...here's a bit of how they describe your "strong pro-Christian group"....

"The LRA abducted large numbers of civilians for training as guerrillas. Most victims were children and young adults. The LRA abducted young girls as sex and labor slaves. Other children, mainly girls, were reported to have been sold, traded, or given as gifts by the LRA to arms dealers in Sudan. While some later escaped or were rescued, the whereabouts of many children remain unknown."

I miss the days when freepers actually knew what they were talking about.

24 posted on 02/23/2012 7:28:29 AM PST by wtc911 (Amigo - you've been had.)
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To: af_vet_rr
My definition of "pro-Christian" doesn't apply to this LRA group since it doesn't include kidnappin and raping children, among many other horrible things.

Do we know this has actually happened or are we depending on the same UN/Obama sources for this allegation?

The point is that until Obama does his duty as POTUS and address the nation to outline our national security obligation in this fight, I will take the LRA's side.

25 posted on 02/23/2012 9:09:10 AM PST by Erik Latranyi (When religions have to beg the gov't for a waiver, we are already under socialism.)
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To: wtc911
I miss the days when freepers actually knew what they were talking about.

Go see my post #25. I trust the LRA before Obama.

26 posted on 02/23/2012 9:10:43 AM PST by Erik Latranyi (When religions have to beg the gov't for a waiver, we are already under socialism.)
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To: Erik Latranyi; Moose4
Do we know this has actually happened or are we depending on the same UN/Obama sources for this allegation?

The point is that until Obama does his duty as POTUS and address the nation to outline our national security obligation in this fight, I will take the LRA's side.


I will take the word of Moose4 and others over the LRA or Obama. I've been doing a little reading, and what Moose4 mentions is happening quite a bit - there are some very brave Christian missionaries and aid workers trying to help those kids and they've been doing so for years. They are better people than I am - I wouldn't have the guts to do what they do, because it's very dangerous for them, even if they try and keep a low profile.

And you can go on YouTube and find videos of the LRA leader claiming he has special "spiritual" powers and is talking directly to God. That sets off a lot of flags right there.
27 posted on 02/23/2012 9:24:45 AM PST by af_vet_rr
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To: maine yankee

“Who’s making money off us being there ?”

I am thinking a remake of “The Dogs of War”, however this time it is the Obama administration and several Senators and Congressmen that are behind the mercs.

Probably found a stash of Unobtanium.


28 posted on 02/23/2012 9:28:06 AM PST by EQAndyBuzz (Most Conservative in the Primary, the Republican Nominee in the General.)
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To: Erik Latranyi
Do we know this has actually happened or are we depending on the same UN/Obama sources for this allegation? The point is that until Obama does his duty as POTUS and address the nation to outline our national security obligation in this fight, I will take the LRA's side.

Atrocities committed by the LRA are pretty-well documented and not part of some MSM coverup conspiracy.

They seem to enjoy cutting off people's noses and lips. Occasionally their hands and arms. And raping. You may want to think twice about taking their side. Not all of Obama's enemies are our friends and certainly not the LRA.

29 posted on 02/23/2012 9:34:05 AM PST by Drew68
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To: Ax
Years ago, during Operation Manta in Chad, the French Foreign Legion had been staging out of Bangui, CAR. The Legion has long been active all over Africa. Their east African training base is in Djibouti, which is now our Horn of Africa HQS in the GWOT.

Based on what I know of the French Foreign Legion, I bet they had more favorable rules of engagement than our troops in that region have.
30 posted on 02/23/2012 10:09:40 AM PST by af_vet_rr
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To: EBH

Heart of Darkness...the sequel.


31 posted on 02/23/2012 10:10:52 AM PST by dfwgator (Don't wake up in a roadside ditch. Get rid of Romney.)
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To: af_vet_rr; Erik Latranyi

I don’t know how much of a national security interest we have in defeating the LRA, to be honest. They are a truly evil group, as bad as any of the many armed bandit bands that have risen in Africa over the last few decades and probably worse than most. The question is, can we and should we send 100 Special Forces advisors over there to train the Ugandans and other central African militaries to take them out? I’m not so sure the militaries in any of those African hellholes are a whole lot better for the populace than the LRA, and that’s saying something.

}:-)4


32 posted on 02/23/2012 10:11:41 AM PST by Moose4 ("Oderint dum metuant" -- "Let them hate, as long as they fear." (Lucius Accius, c. 130 BC))
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To: af_vet_rr

True enough. The Legion isn’t known for pussy-footing around their enemies.


33 posted on 02/23/2012 10:17:18 AM PST by Ax
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To: Moose4; af_vet_rr; Drew68
I don’t know how much of a national security interest we have in defeating the LRA, to be honest.

Thank you. That is my point.....we have no national security interest here and no case has been made for one by anyone.

The media is quiet about this, the GOP is quiet about this and the Obama Admin is quiet about this.

Until someone makes a clear case of what is our mission, I oppose any president from unilaterally deploying troops without an explanation.

34 posted on 02/23/2012 10:21:03 AM PST by Erik Latranyi (When religions have to beg the gov't for a waiver, we are already under socialism.)
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To: Erik Latranyi
Thank you. That is my point.....we have no national security interest here and no case has been made for one by anyone.

I'll agree with this. It ain't our problem and certainly not worth the expense of American treasure or even a single American life. My point was only that there is nothing good about the LRA. They're savages. Then again, there's no shortage of savagery on any side of Africa's multitude of armed conflicts.

35 posted on 02/23/2012 10:28:07 AM PST by Drew68
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To: EBH

And not a single GD voice in the media or useless, shit-scared GOP asking: “WHY?”


36 posted on 02/23/2012 10:44:40 AM PST by Levante
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To: Levante

ollowing introduction in May 2009 by Senator Russ Feingold (D-WI), Senator Sam Brownback (R-KS), Representative Jim McGovern (D-MA), Representative Ed Royce (R-CA) and Representative Brad Miller (D-NC), the bill gained an average of 20 cosponsors a month until passage the next year. The bill passed unanimously in the Senate on March 11th, 2010 with 65 Senators as cosponsors, then passed unanimously in the House of Representatives on May 13th, 2010 with 202 Representatives as cosponsors. These 267 Members of Congress helped bring to the President’s desk the most widely cosponsored bill Africa-related piece of legislation in the last 37 years, or as far back as electronic records document.
To: CondorFlight
LRA Disarmament and Northern Uganda Recovery Act of 2009 http://www.theresolve.org/pages/list-of-congressional-cosponsors
Representative Jeff Fortenberry (NE-1) joined with Reps. Jim McGovern (MA-3) and Bill Young (FL-10) to “ensure that our defense community has the resources necessary to carry out […] an international strategy to help end the atrocities committed by the LRA, protect innocent civilians, and stabilize a region of Africa that is critical to U.S. national security interests.”

In a major victory for Resolve’s S2F campaign, the Senate Armed Services Committee passed its version of the 2012 National Defense Authorization Act today — essentially the budget for the U.S. defense community — and included an unprecedented provision aimed at helping stop LRA atrocities. According to a release on the Committee website, the amendment — put forward by Senator Jim Inhofe (R-OK), and championed by Senator Carl Levin (D-MI), the Chair of the Committee — authorizes $35 million to provide support to regional forces working to protect people from LRA atrocities.

http://www.theresolve.org/blog/archives/category/from-congress


37 posted on 02/23/2012 10:50:24 AM PST by anglian
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To: anglian

Near the village of Niangara recently, a cadre emerged from the bush, slaughtered up to 100 civilians and committed a very particular atrocity — the LRA calling card — on those left behind still alive: hacking off lips and ears, tying their victims to tree trunks.

Bullets, a precious resource, are not often wasted on humans. LRA fighters are more apt to wield machetes and bayonets and machete-like pangas, often crushing skills with no more than large wooden sticks.

Thus have these children and adolescents adapted to their jungle environment.

It took weeks for aid officials to even learn of what had occurred in remote Niangara or retrieve traumatized victims for medical attention. There is no mobile phone coverage that penetrates the region and the village is barely accessible by road. The nearest UN military forward operating base is 150 kilometres away but might as well be on the other side of the moon — such is the tailbone-shattering overland drive.

One young woman who was initially treated at the Dungu hospital before being transferred for more expert treatment elsewhere — though it’s hard to imagine how her horrific mutilation can ever be reversed — told doctors her attackers extended her lips with pliers and then sawed them off. “They were angry because I kept crying for mercy and calling to God for help,” she said.

At the hospital, only a handful of victims still remain, recovering from their wounds: Fidel Nbangala, who took a machete blow across the face but lived; Joseph Antingi, shot in the groin; Dieu-donne Yamba, chopped at the wrist. And 3-year-old Suza Anipidu, who had been in her grandmother’s arms when the woman was shot dead, the child struck by a bullet as well.

When a reporter prepares to take a photograph, the child screams. “She thinks your camera is a gun,” her mother explains.

The massacre at Niangara followed the worst atrocity committed by the LRA in recent years — the killing last December of more than 300 civilians in a nearby village. About 250 people were kidnapped, including 80 children.

To engage UN troops or even a national army platoon would be suicide. They prefer to prey on the week and vulnerable, in isolated villages of mud-and-thatch huts. They pounce on women working in the field, youngsters fetching water from a well. Boys are turned into porters, girls into slaves.
http://www.thestar.com/news/world/article/843637—dimanno-child-sadists-child-victims


38 posted on 02/23/2012 10:52:42 AM PST by anglian
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To: anglian

Thank you, Anglian! I appreciate the info


39 posted on 02/23/2012 10:55:30 AM PST by Levante
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To: All

This joint project, developed by Invisible Children and Resolve, marks the first time data surrounding the crisis has been comprehensively aggregated and made publicly available. http://www.lracrisistracker.com/#updates


40 posted on 02/23/2012 10:56:45 AM PST by anglian
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