The
White House , Office of the Press Secretary , 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
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, 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
Obama
orders U.S. troops to help chase down African 'army' leader
Fri
October 14, 2011
According
to the State Department, "since 2008 alone, the LRA has killed more than
2,400 people and abducted more than 3,400. The United Nations estimates that
over 380,000 people are displaced across the region because of LRA
activity."
The
Pentagon cited multiple examples of its assistance, such as sending equipment to
Central African armed forces and training a Democratic Republic of Congo light
infantry battalion deployed in that country's northeast.
It
noted that U.S. Africa Command is "exploring ways to support the military
of South Sudan."
In
early October 2010, the U.S. military had more than 1,700 troops deployed in
sub-Saharan Africa, the Pentagon said. The majority of them -- around 1,380 -
were deployed in Djibouti. But U.S. troops had at least a small presence in 33
different nations in sub-Saharan Africa. At this time last year they had nine
troops in Uganda.
One
conservative member of Congress, Sen. Jim Inhofe, R-Oklahoma, weighed in to
support the effort.
Kony
claims he is a prophet sent from God to replace the Ugandan government with a
democracy based on the Ten Commandments.
The International Criminal Court has
issued arrest warrants against Kony and four other group leaders for crimes
against humanity and war crimes. Chief Prosecutor Luis Moreno-Campo said that
the "LRA is an involuntary army and the majority of the fighters are
formerly abducted children. "
Representatives
of 34 groups in the LRA-affected areas of northern Congo, Central African
Republic, and Southern Sudan wrote Obama in
December, applauding his commitment to tackle the problem and urging him to
deal with the group, according to Human Rights Watch.
The
letter cites massacres in 2008 and 2009.
Obama,
Uganda & the ICC OCTOBER 15, 2011
The
move is said to further a 2010 statute that, as posted,
Obama signed just as the International Criminal Court Review Conference began
in Uganda's capital, Kampala.
It
(the letter) made no mention, however, of the fact Kony's
the target of an ICC arrest warrant that was issued in 2005 and
thereafter became the subject of frequent "peace v. justice" debates.
A remarkable move, particularly for a state not party to the ICC treaty.
A remarkable move, particularly for a state not party to the ICC treaty.
