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| 14 Oct 2011 01:26 PM |
US President Barack Obama has announced he is deploying 100 "combat-equipped" troops to Uganda to help efforts against rebels of the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA), who Washington accuse of griievous human rights abuses.
The US troops, subject to the approval of national authorities, could also deploy from Uganda into South Sudan, the Central African Republic and Democratic Republic of the Congo, Obama said in a message to Congress.
LRA rebels are accused of murdering, gr4 ping and kidnapping thousands of people in the four nations.
Tens of thousands of people have died in their 20-year war with security forces in northern Uganda.
"These forces will act as advisors to partner forces that have the goal of removing from the battlefield Joseph Kony and other senior leadership of the LRA," Obama said, but warned they would not lead the fighting themselves.
"Although the US forces are combat-equipped, they will only be providing information, advice, and assistance to partner nation forces.
"They will not themselves engage LRA forces unless necessary for self-defence. All appropriate precautions have been taken to ensure the safety of US military personnel during their deployment."
The president said a small group of troops deployed on Wednesday and that additional forces will deploy over the next month.
Kony is accused of war crimes and wanted by the International Criminal Court.
The civil war effectively ended in 2006 when a peace process was launched, but Kony and his top commanders continue to commit atrocities in remote areas of neighbouring countries.
General Carter Ham, the head of US Africa Command, said last week that his best estimate was that Kony was probably in the Central African Republic. |
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Warrab
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| Joined: 17 Oct 2010 |
| Total Posts: 2390 |
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| 14 Oct 2011 01:28 PM |
I didn't even know there was a conflict in Uganda.
Hmm. Well I support this. |
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| 14 Oct 2011 01:33 PM |
| LRA is Christian terrorist group. |
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Warrab
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| Joined: 17 Oct 2010 |
| Total Posts: 2390 |
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| 14 Oct 2011 01:36 PM |
| Have you heard about them before |
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Warrab
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| Joined: 17 Oct 2010 |
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Warrab
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| Joined: 17 Oct 2010 |
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| 14 Oct 2011 01:37 PM |
| Wikipedia says the died out in 2007. |
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| 14 Oct 2011 01:40 PM |
| "The group was formed in 1987 and until about 2007 it was engaged in an armed rebellion against the Ugandan government. " |
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Warrab
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| Joined: 17 Oct 2010 |
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| 14 Oct 2011 01:44 PM |
Here is what wikileaks tell us about them
cablegatesearch.net/search.php?q=%22Lord%27s+Resistance+Army%22&qo=0&qc=0&qto=2010-02-28 |
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Warrab
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| Joined: 17 Oct 2010 |
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| 14 Oct 2011 01:46 PM |
| Why send troops to fight a group that isn't rebelling anymore? |
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| 14 Oct 2011 01:49 PM |
The Lord's Resistance Army insurgency is an ongoing guerrilla campaign waged since 1987 by the Christian sectarian Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) rebel group,[4] operating mainly in northern Uganda, but also in South Sudan and eastern DR Congo. The movement's, led by Joseph Kony, who proclaims himself the "spokesperson" of God and a spirit medium, aims are to overthrow Yoweri Museveni's Ugandan government and to establish a theocratic state based on the Ten Commandments and Acholi tradition, according to its leaders.[5][6]
Its ongoing.
The leader is thought to have over 60 wives |
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| 14 Oct 2011 01:49 PM |
"Since the LRA first started fighting in 1987 they may have forced well over 10,000 boys and girls into combat, often killing family, neighbors and school teachers in the process.[31]"
Wow... |
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Warrab
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wreton34
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| Joined: 18 Apr 2010 |
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| 14 Oct 2011 01:55 PM |
| US poking it's nose in other people's business AGAIN....... |
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Warrab
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| Joined: 17 Oct 2010 |
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| 14 Oct 2011 01:57 PM |
| Instead of repeating platitudes like "USA should mind its own business" try and make an argument as to why we shouldn't be involved in THIS conflict specifically. |
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wreton34
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| Joined: 18 Apr 2010 |
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| 14 Oct 2011 01:57 PM |
| Whats it got to do with the US? |
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Warrab
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| Joined: 17 Oct 2010 |
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| 14 Oct 2011 01:58 PM |
| Is there anything wrong with helping other countries kill terrorists? |
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wreton34
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| Joined: 18 Apr 2010 |
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| 14 Oct 2011 01:59 PM |
| If they have attacked the US on US soil, no. But they haven't. USA warmongering. |
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Warrab
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| 14 Oct 2011 02:01 PM |
| Why does it matter? We are helping other countries become stable and prosperous. |
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wreton34
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Branch14
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| 14 Oct 2011 02:07 PM |
| They aren't Christian, Obviously. |
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Warrab
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| Joined: 17 Oct 2010 |
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| 14 Oct 2011 02:07 PM |
| You think Afghanistan was better off when men, women, and children were stoned to death in stadiums? |
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wreton34
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| Joined: 18 Apr 2010 |
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| 14 Oct 2011 02:09 PM |
| You think Afghanistan is better where American break into family's houses, and kill parents right in front of their parents? |
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