Folks;
About 10 days ago, at the height of emotional discussions about the recent deployment of 100 US Special Forces soldiers to Uganda, I pledged to seek some detailed explanation from top defense officials this weekend. I’m pleased to report to you that I met with those folks today.
From their official and personal positions, the deployment was overdue. The Special Forces were sent there following emerging terrorist threats within eastern Africa, anchored by Al-Shabaab and its outfits that now operate in 4 countries. Included in this mission is the specific task of tracking and capturing / killing Joseph Kony and his LRA top commanders.
I shared with these officials the wide scepticism with which most commentators here have received the 100 soldiers, considering that LRA and Kony have been inactive in Uganda over a decade. To allay those concerns, I was reminded that US military presence in Uganda has remained constant for about seven years now, and so the new addition is no cause for concern.
So, folks, I want to believe that these soldiers are there for these purposes, and not to help Museveni either galvanize his stronghold on Ugandans or individualized our oil.
Afganistan
Secondly, the firing of this senior commander will not go down well in the US, especially coming at the time of low support for Afganistan. First, his comment mirrors the position of most Americans who see Afghans in the manner of “asante ya pumba ni mateke” mindset. Secondly, it’s a distraction from what the White House wants to accomplish in this year. So, expect him to be re-deployed in a comparable command position or even get a promotion and then quickly retire. He did not lie. He might have been politically incorrect, but his comment resonates with most Americans’. Now, for his own safety, he should be re-assigned out of Afghanistan. Personally, I support him.
Greece Debt Deal and Democracy
There is a fascinating irony in the current tug-of-war between Greece PM, George Papandreou and his European benefactors. The EU cobbled together an austerity package to rescue the Greece economy, which Papa now wants to present to his fellow citizens before implementation. Considering the long-term debt impact this austerity measure will create in Greece, it’s understandable why Papa wants to handle this economic bailout in the most democratic way possible, so that it does not come across as being forced on the future generations.
Unlucky for Papandreou, New York, London, Paris and Bonn are bleeding financially. Now in a comedic tantrum, the same so-called democracies (US, UK, Frnace and Germany) are lecturing Greece that this is not the time for democracy! To compound this irony, it’s the same Greece that gave birth to what we know as democracy. Money really talks and bull— works for sure!
Edward Pojim
UAH forumist in New York
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The eyes and ears of Special Forces participants will be lending superior skills. Allow them to complete their missions no matter how known or unknown each may be. Access to the equipment alone allows an excellent source to hunt and track terrorists of all decades. Museveni’s criminal empire runs The Republic of Uganda and keeps all the cash it wants; these Americans are in Uganda to help for specific purposes; me thinks Ugandans should lend a little trust toward the American’s, you know, For God and Country. Peace on Earth, too.
David Mitchell
A USA citizen and a member of UAH
Comments
LRA/ Kony is a local problem created by our rulers and it is they who will do away with it IF they want.Don’t you be duped that the USA troops deployment in our Country is a noble call.Remember the February 2011 Presidential Elections in Uganda,which were conducted within the confines of artificial peace ushered in the North by Museveni? This was a protracted scheme and plan of Museveni when he had finally put the Lwos to where he thinks they belong.You wait after sometime,now that the Lwos who taunted Museveni and actually feared them,and he unleashed his wolf[Kony]unto them. They are now tamed and they can be ruled by him. But wait, if Museveni thinks he is going to dupe the West as he primitively thinks like all the tyrants alll over the World think, he is playing with the wrong people.Those USA troops will never leave Uganda until Museveni, who is now viewed by them as a Political expendable is gone leaving them to lay their hands on the Ugandan resources.Because they will use some of their technologies to rid us of the despot and thus we pay for the war reparations.
David Mitchell appears to believe that Musveni has and runs a criminal empire. The 100 US forces were allegedly deployed to arrest the types of situation’s which mirror what Mitchell appears to suggest. Ergo, these gallant men and women are in that part of the world to ostensibly arrest that which is specifically articulated as well as implied.
Whatever the case, the US government is not oblivious to the conditions and circumstances many a forumist have skirted around. In fact, the US government knows more than the Museveni government knows. Taken to its logical conclusion, circumstances would suggest that it is only a matter of time before we arrive at conclusions supporting that which is not obvious to most of us!
Whatever the case, US foreign policy and interests are usually driven by variables men and women on the street are slow to appreciate.
I strongly agree with Mitchell a citizen of USA. I do not see the reason why people should criticise USA`s occupancy in Uganda. Most of the developing countries lack capacity for effective and transparent leadership as well as monitoring and evaluation of the big projects. Uganda ranks high in corruption and this has been silenced with dictatorship. How come a Country like Uganda that claims increase in economic growth with the boom of Oil up to now have not introduced the Oil plans to the natives. Have the issue of oil been discussed in the parliament to ensure that there are proper plans for extraction of Oil ? I would not mind at all if USA could manage the oil fields of Uganda other than the government managing with no concrete plan. I do not mean that the USA officials have been assigned for this responsibility but i just want to open your eyes. Actually it is high time USA increased its presence in Uganda. The Baganda proverb says Eriso lyo mukulu ewadugala wewalaba meaning ” For the elderly`s would have sight by the darkest part”
Oh Uganda May God Uphold thee, We lay our future in thy hands! Please Let us Unite and fight our common enemy Corruption and Dictatorship in Uganda.
JM.