June 7, 2010
It has been interesting to read the New National Security Strategy that has been proposed by the Obama Administration. One thing that has been garnering a lot of interest is the proposed use of Covert Operations and Special Operations Forces around the World. It is this concept that may yield how a recent law will be implemented by the Administration.
It has been interesting to read the New National Security Strategy that has been proposed by the Obama Administration. One thing that has been garnering a lot of interest is the proposed use of Covert Operations and Special Operations Forces around the World. It is this concept that may yield how a recent law will be implemented by the Administration.
The LRA Disarmament and Northern Uganda Recovery Law which was recently passed by the House and signed by the President has an interesting provision. It requires the President to develop and report to Congress within 180 Days a strategy to bring Joseph Kony to Justice. However a Covert Operation reduces the number of people on Capitol Hill that actually have a need to know about what actions are being taken under a Presidential Finding.
At this time to the angst of some people US Special Forces are currently operating in 75 Countries around the world. It is believed that roughly half of these elite troops are currently conducting operations in either Afghanistan or Iraq. The plan is for an increase in funding and having the size of the command increase to roughly 19,000 troops in Short Order. AFRICOM has its own contingent of Special Forces available as the 3rd Special Forces Group and the subsequent Naval, Marine and Air Force Contingents for Africa attached.
So are there any pieces already in place for the United States to launch such an Operation? Currently the US Air Force is conducting Logistical Support for the UN Mission in Darfur from Kigali, Rwanda. Also the US Military is conducting a training Operation for a Battalion of the Congolese Army near Kisangani. This seems to be a logical location for a Covert Operation against the Lord’s Resistance Army to be launched from.
This part of Central Africa is permeated with various Militia Groups, Government Forces and even UN Peacekeepers. So if such an operation is launched it will not be much time before reports of American Troops operating in Central Africa enter the seeming never ending news cycle. Also the American troops will be in a position where they may not be able to determine which body or troops whether they are Government or Insurgent that they will be able to trust. And who knows how Private Security Forces will react to American Troops in the Region.
The potential area of operations will be large as well. Currently the activities of the LRA are in the Central African Republic, The Democratic Republic of the Congo and Southwestern Sudan. The LRA is operating in small sized units as well so this will be another problem as it will be difficult to determine what size and in what direction they are travelling.
There is another reason to be concerned. There is rising instability in the region. The recent Presidential Elections in Sudan have not solved any burning issue but appears to have inflamed passions. The Actions by the Government of Chad appears to indicate that it supports Bashir at its own peril. President Kagame of Rwanda is trying to silence Critical Voices as Rwanda prepares to go to the polls in July. The UN is also preparing to withdraw Peacekeepers from the Congo as well. This means that US Forces may be walking into a Hornets Nest.
The Author Publishes Confused Eagle and comments on US Policy Towards Africa. Confused Eagle can be found at confusedeagle.livejournal.com
The LRA Disarmament and Northern Uganda Recovery Law which was recently passed by the House and signed by the President has an interesting provision. It requires the President to develop and report to Congress within 180 Days a strategy to bring Joseph Kony to Justice. However a Covert Operation reduces the number of people on Capitol Hill that actually have a need to know about what actions are being taken under a Presidential Finding.
At this time to the angst of some people US Special Forces are currently operating in 75 Countries around the world. It is believed that roughly half of these elite troops are currently conducting operations in either Afghanistan or Iraq. The plan is for an increase in funding and having the size of the command increase to roughly 19,000 troops in Short Order. AFRICOM has its own contingent of Special Forces available as the 3rd Special Forces Group and the subsequent Naval, Marine and Air Force Contingents for Africa attached.
So are there any pieces already in place for the United States to launch such an Operation? Currently the US Air Force is conducting Logistical Support for the UN Mission in Darfur from Kigali, Rwanda. Also the US Military is conducting a training Operation for a Battalion of the Congolese Army near Kisangani. This seems to be a logical location for a Covert Operation against the Lord’s Resistance Army to be launched from.
This part of Central Africa is permeated with various Militia Groups, Government Forces and even UN Peacekeepers. So if such an operation is launched it will not be much time before reports of American Troops operating in Central Africa enter the seeming never ending news cycle. Also the American troops will be in a position where they may not be able to determine which body or troops whether they are Government or Insurgent that they will be able to trust. And who knows how Private Security Forces will react to American Troops in the Region.
The potential area of operations will be large as well. Currently the activities of the LRA are in the Central African Republic, The Democratic Republic of the Congo and Southwestern Sudan. The LRA is operating in small sized units as well so this will be another problem as it will be difficult to determine what size and in what direction they are travelling.
There is another reason to be concerned. There is rising instability in the region. The recent Presidential Elections in Sudan have not solved any burning issue but appears to have inflamed passions. The Actions by the Government of Chad appears to indicate that it supports Bashir at its own peril. President Kagame of Rwanda is trying to silence Critical Voices as Rwanda prepares to go to the polls in July. The UN is also preparing to withdraw Peacekeepers from the Congo as well. This means that US Forces may be walking into a Hornets Nest.
The Author Publishes Confused Eagle and comments on US Policy Towards Africa. Confused Eagle can be found at confusedeagle.livejournal.com
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