America to Support East Africa?!

The spoon I was feeding the baby with practically dropped from my hand when I heard it.

Although that television had been on all day in another room, we hardly noticed. We had back-packs to pack, bottles to bottle, games to play, leaves to rake, places to go. The television? White noise to the four of us: myself, the infant, and 5 and 7 year old boys.

White noise until I heard it crystal clear: “…President Obama has authorized troops to Central Africa to aid efforts in bringing down Joseph Kony…”, and practically dropped the spoon as I dashed into the room with the television.

The news pundits scratch their heads, baffled. They said "we have no strategic interest in Central Africa" and "there are no resources of interest to us there." Hence, they surmised it was a ludicrous decision. And my heart broke for their detachment from the human suffering that Joseph Kony and his LRA (Lord's Resistance Army) have inflicted on the region for the last 25 years.

Last Friday and unexpectedly, Obama authorized 100 troops dispatched to Sudan, Kenya, and Uganda. In an effort to help local governments take out Joseph Kony and his LRA. For over two decades, LRA soldiers have systematically broken-in to local homes and terrorized families. They select young boys - whom they force to rape their own mothers in front of their many siblings. Although sometimes they're given options. I know personally of a case, witnessed by a teen-age girl, who watched as her brother carefully chose between raping his mother or placing his infant sibling in a pot of boiling water, to cook. They the LRA soldiers give that 10 year old boy an AK 47.

The trauma and resulting psychological damage to the boy and his family make the notion of ever returning home, yet alone healing, practically impossible. It's gut-wrenching stuff. (And if you're not cringing or vomiting reading about or learning of this, then my heart breaks for you, too.)

And today I received the following message from Resolve, a human rights and anti-human trafficking organization that I'm involved with. They are asking for participation in a call to Members of Congress on Thursday - I'll be involved and I'm asking that you will too.

Dear Nicole –

Last Friday, President Obama announced that he was dispatching 100 U.S. military advisers to help governments in central Africa keep people safe from LRA attacks.

I don’t think I need to tell you this, but I will anyway: this is the one of the most exciting developments in the history of our work, and our leaders need to hear about our support. In his letter announcing the move, the President cited last year’s legislation as justification, and stated that:

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… [U.S.] forces will act as advisers to partner forces that have the goal of removing from the battlefield Joseph Kony and other senior leadership of the LRA.

Both Democratic and Republican Members of Congress immediately welcomed the announcement. More news coverage highlighting the LRA crisis was generated than ever before. Our office is working day and night right now to get the facts out there.

But in the divided and challenging political climate we face, this new development will be politicized and attacked unless strong public support is visibly demonstrated. Already, one commentator bizarrely claimed on his radio show that “the Lord’s Resistance Army are Christians,” and that they are fighting to “see an end to gross violations of human rights and dignity of Ugandans.”

That’s why we are asking that you join a nation-wide call-in this Thursday, and contact your Members of Congress to make sure they know the truth. The deployment of these advisers in itself will not solve the problem, but it is a historic step forward – and we have to fight to protect it.

On Thursday morning, we’ll send you all the information you need. Thank you for your tireless efforts that helped make this happen.

- Michael

P.S. - Visit our blog and follow our twitter stream for the latest updates, as new details are coming fast and furious.