Yesterday President Obama announced the extended deployment of U.S. Advisers in the LRA-affected areas:

“Today I can announce that our advisers will continue their efforts to bring this madman to justice and to save lives. It’s part of our regional strategy to end the scourge that is the LRA and help realize a future where no African child is stolen from their family and no girl is raped and no boy is turned into a child soldier.”

Read the full post here.

60 notes   -  24 April 2012

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In this article for GOOD Magazine, the authors compare the KONY 2012 viral phenomenon to those of the Obama campaign in 2008 and Wikipedia’s SOPA and PIPA blackout. They says that Millennials “have little interest in being lectured at by experts who have not been able to resolve the world’s problems”. Janessa Goldbeck, former field dicrector for the Genocide Intervention Network, explains that “Social media platforms lower the barrier to entry and provide people with mechanisms to connect and get involved—hopefully for the long haul.” Read the article here.

In this article for GOOD Magazine, the authors compare the KONY 2012 viral phenomenon to those of the Obama campaign in 2008 and Wikipedia’s SOPA and PIPA blackout. They says that Millennials “have little interest in being lectured at by experts who have not been able to resolve the world’s problems”. Janessa Goldbeck, former field dicrector for the Genocide Intervention Network, explains that “Social media platforms lower the barrier to entry and provide people with mechanisms to connect and get involved—hopefully for the long haul.”

Read the article here.


107
About a year ago, a school teacher was jailed for declaring the desire for Syria to experience a revolution. In retribution for this, her students wrote on the school’s wall, “The people want the downfall of the regime”, quoting the popular slogan of Arab uprisings. When these children were arrested and tortured, the city of Deraa came together in protest and their government retaliated with violence. The four people killed on March 18, 2011 ignited anti-government movements and harsh military action across the country.  The Syrian government has recently increased its assaults against opposition-held towns. Turkey, who borders Syria, has been receiving up to 200 refugees a day and horrifying reports of landmines being lain along these escape routes have surfaced. The opposition groups have ignored President Bashar al-Assad’s attempt to placate their movement and they staunchly insist that he be removed from power. The world has watched for almost year as 8,000 people have lost their lives and we are still unsure of how to react. The seemingly indifferent cruelty of the Syrian government looks to have us at a stand still, unsure of how to proceed.  Obama does not want to jump quickly to a militaristic solution, Russia and China are vetoing anything and everything, the Arab League - halted by those vetoes - is calling for an investigation into possible war crimes and the UN Security Council has influenced nothing thus far. There is no doubt that the solution is far from simple, but time isn’t healing it either. On Monday the US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, spoke with conviction to the international community: ”We believe that now is the time for all nations - even those who have previously blocked our efforts - to stand behind the humanitarian and political approach spelled out by the Arab League.” If the Arab League accomplishes this neutral investigation and provides proof of crimes against humanity, it is possible that they might garner the needed support to push through their proposal.  (Photo from Reuters)

About a year ago, a school teacher was jailed for declaring the desire for Syria to experience a revolution. In retribution for this, her students wrote on the school’s wall, “The people want the downfall of the regime”, quoting the popular slogan of Arab uprisings. When these children were arrested and tortured, the city of Deraa came together in protest and their government retaliated with violence. The four people killed on March 18, 2011 ignited anti-government movements and harsh military action across the country. 

The Syrian government has recently increased its assaults against opposition-held towns. Turkey, who borders Syria, has been receiving up to 200 refugees a day and horrifying reports of landmines being lain along these escape routes have surfaced. The opposition groups have ignored President Bashar al-Assad’s attempt to placate their movement and they staunchly insist that he be removed from power. The world has watched for almost year as 8,000 people have lost their lives and we are still unsure of how to react. The seemingly indifferent cruelty of the Syrian government looks to have us at a stand still, unsure of how to proceed. 

Obama does not want to jump quickly to a militaristic solution, Russia and China are vetoing anything and everything, the Arab League - halted by those vetoes - is calling for an investigation into possible war crimes and the UN Security Council has influenced nothing thus far. There is no doubt that the solution is far from simple, but time isn’t healing it either.

On Monday the US Secretary of State, Hillary Clinton, spoke with conviction to the international community: ”We believe that now is the time for all nations - even those who have previously blocked our efforts - to stand behind the humanitarian and political approach spelled out by the Arab League.”

If the Arab League accomplishes this neutral investigation and provides proof of crimes against humanity, it is possible that they might garner the needed support to push through their proposal. 

(Photo from Reuters)


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President Obama referenced the mission to stop the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) in his speech at the National Prayer Breakfast yesterday. This is a big sign that things are going well. “And when I decide to stand up for foreign aid, or prevent atrocities in places like Uganda, or take on issues like human trafficking, it’s not just about strengthening alliances, or promoting democratic values, or projecting American leadership around the world, although it does all those things and it will make us safer and more secure. It’s also about the biblical call to care for the least of these — for the poor; for those at the margins of our society.” Read the full transcript of President Obama’s speech here via The Washington Post.

President Obama referenced the mission to stop the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) in his speech at the National Prayer Breakfast yesterday. This is a big sign that things are going well.

“And when I decide to stand up for foreign aid, or prevent atrocities in places like Uganda, or take on issues like human trafficking, it’s not just about strengthening alliances, or promoting democratic values, or projecting American leadership around the world, although it does all those things and it will make us safer and more secure. It’s also about the biblical call to care for the least of these — for the poor; for those at the margins of our society.”

Read the full transcript of President Obama’s speech here via The Washington Post.


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Tonight at 9 P.M. EST President Barack Obama will be addressing our nation. Stream it here. (Photo by Gerald Herbert)

Tonight at 9 P.M. EST President Barack Obama will be addressing our nation. Stream it here.

(Photo by Gerald Herbert)


Breaking News: Obama Sends 100 US Troops to Uganda to Help Combat Lord’s Resistance Army

Read it yourself. It’s happening.

THE WHITE HOUSE
 
 Office of the Press Secretary
 
                                                                  
 
For Immediate Release         October 14, 2011 
 
 
TEXT OF A LETTER FROM THE PRESIDENT
TO THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
AND THE PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE OF THE SENATE
 
 
October 14, 2011 
 
 
 
 
Dear Mr. Speaker: (Dear Mr. President:)
 
For more than two decades, the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA)
has murdered, raped, and kidnapped tens of thousands of men,
women, and children in central Africa.  The LRA continues to
commit atrocities across the Central African Republic, the
Democratic Republic of the Congo, and South Sudan that have a
disproportionate impact on regional security.  Since 2008, the
United States has supported regional military efforts to pursue
the LRA and protect local communities.  Even with some limited
U.S. assistance, however, regional military efforts have thus
far been unsuccessful in removing LRA leader Joseph Kony or his
top commanders from the battlefield.  In the Lord’s Resistance
Army Disarmament and Northern Uganda Recovery Act of 2009, Public
Law 111-172, enacted May 24, 2010, the Congress also expressed
support for increased, comprehensive U.S. efforts to help
mitigate and eliminate the threat posed by the LRA to civilians
and regional stability.
 
In furtherance of the Congress’s stated policy, I have authorized
a small number of combat-equipped U.S. forces to deploy to
central Africa to provide assistance to regional forces that are
working toward the removal of Joseph Kony from the battlefield. 
I believe that deploying these U.S. Armed Forces furthers U.S.
national security interests and foreign policy and will be a
significant contribution toward counter-LRA efforts in central
Africa.
 
On October 12, the initial team of U.S. military personnel with
appropriate combat equipment deployed to Uganda.  During the next
month, additional forces will deploy, including a second combat-
equipped team and associated headquarters, communications, and
logistics personnel.  The total number of U.S. military personnel
deploying for this mission is approximately 100.  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.  Our forces will provide information,
advice, and assistance to select partner nation forces.  Subject
to the approval of each respective host nation, elements of these
U.S. forces will deploy into Uganda, South Sudan, the Central
African Republic, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. 
The support provided by U.S. forces will enhance regional
efforts against the LRA.  However, although the U.S. forces are
combat-equipped, they will only be providing information, advice, 
 
2 
 
and assistance to partner nation forces, and they will not
themselves engage LRA forces unless necessary for self-defense. 
All appropriate precautions have been taken to ensure the safety
of U.S. military personnel during their deployment.
 
I have directed this deployment, which is in the national
security and foreign policy interests of the United States,
pursuant to my constitutional authority to conduct U.S. foreign
relations and as Commander in Chief and Chief Executive.  I am
making this report as part of my efforts to keep the Congress
fully informed, consistent with the War Powers Resolution (Public
Law 93-148).  I appreciate the support of the Congress in this
action.
 
      Sincerely,
 
 
      BARACK OBAMA
 
 
 
      # # #
71 notes   -  14 October 2011