Obama Versus The Lord’s Resistance Army!

Obama Versus The Lord’s Resistance Army!

A Commentary by J. D. Longstreet

Where, exactly, is the threat to the National Security of the United States in, uh, Uganda?  

Maybe its just my natural paranoia, or, it could be that after nearly three full years of watching Obama’s slight of hand, and misdirection of America’s attention, I suspect something more going on than we are led to believe.

Now we are learning that US troops are already on the ground in Uganda, AND, will (according to an ABC News report) ultimately go to South Sudan, the Central African Republic, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, with the permission of those countries.

If my math is correct, the US is now currently engaged in military actions in four countries… simultaneously. If, and when, the US troops move across the borders in Africa, we will have military operations in not four, but SEVEN countries.

Is Obama now on a crusade to save the “dark continent?”  What’s really going on … I mean besides Obama sucking up to leftists bleeding heart groups that will not accept that no one can save Africa but AFRICA!

Obama says: “although the U.S. forces are combat-equipped, they will only be providing information, advice, and assistance to partner nation forces, and they will not themselves engage LRA forces unless necessary for self-defense.”   Uh-huh.    

Can you say VIETNAM??? 

Is the average age of Americans now so young that we must deduce that America no longer remembers the colossal mistake, humongous blunder, in Vietnam that cost the lives of over 50,000 US servicemen and women?  In the event that you do not remember… THIS is the way it began.

 The folks over at Department of Defense tell us that US troops will be Special Ops troops and  “will be traveling out to field locations in the areas affected by the LRA where they can interact with and advise those forces that are actively pursuing the LRA.” The spokesman went on to say: “they will not be engaging in direct combat against the LRA.”  Again, I am having flashbacks about the line of bull America was fed when we sent Special Ops troops into Vietnam to “advise” and not engage with the enemy except in self-defense.  Remember the Green Berets in Vietnam… not to mention Laos and Thailand? This is all so familiar that it is truly disturbing. 

Is anyone actually fooled by the seemingly small; number of troops Obama is committing to Africa…   100 troops… right? Not on your life!  In my day it took nine support troops for every combat soldier you had on the ground not to mention the material to conduct operations and the supply lines, by way of ship and aircraft, to keep them supplied while in the field.

What about air support for the troops in combat on the ground?  US troops ALWAYS have air to ground cover when engaging the enemy. It is one of the reasons our combat troops are so effective in battle.  They can call on air support when they need it.

“US Africa Command” says US forces are prepared to stay as long as necessary to enable regional security forces to carry on independently.    

Look.  The Lord’s Resistance Army is a rag tag bunch of tin pot desperadoes who have wreaked havoc in that part of Africa for years.  But … they present NO THREAT to the national security of the US.  I am convinced this is more of the UN’s “Responsibility to Defend,” policy, which will keep the world in a constant state of war.  (By “the world,” I mean, of course, the United States and the US military.)

The loss of the lives of US soldiers in Uganda, South Sudan, the Central African Republic, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, will quickly turn Americans against this President’s seemingly whimsical approach to war. Consider, too, the cost of our treasure… in money.  It is one more expense the US taxpayer simply cannot afford.   

Another reminder.  The President is hanging his authority to commit troops to this hopeless situation on a law passed by a democrat controlled Congress in May of 2010 called “The Lord’s Resistance Army Disarmament and Northern Uganda Recovery Act.”  The bill passed both houses of Congress, overwhelmingly, which is not surprising since liberal guilt has a long, long, history of leaving it’s bloody imprint of the pages of history through what we now refer to as “unintended consequences.”

The bill contained these words:  “… providing political, economic, military, and intelligence support for viable multilateral efforts to protect civilians from the Lord’s Resistance Army.”

We know the left does not understand the military …  and …  they sure as heck do not understand the application of military force.

Africa is the quick sand of the world.  It will suck a nation in and, eventually, under.  Ask Great Britain, France, Germany, or even Belgium.

The current Congress should immediately cut off all funding for this foray into foolishness at the expense of American lives and American money.

J. D. Longstreet