# Obams Sends Ground Troops to Africa **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [October 14, 2011, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obams-sends-ground-troops-to-africa/599681 "2011-10-14T22:24:51Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Duckster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duckster/32/1244_2.png) [@Duckster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duckster)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2011, 10:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obams-sends-ground-troops-to-africa/599681/1 "2011-10-14T22:24:51Z")
[From this locked thread in GQ](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=627868): > [@](#): > > ``` > **Obama sends ground troops into Uganda** > > ``` > > Just read it on Al Jazeera. When does this end? When does the blatant abuse of power stop? Update from CNN: > [@](#): > > **Washington (CNN)** – President Barack Obama is sending about 100 U.S. troops to Africa to help hunt down the leaders of the notoriously violent Lord’s Resistance Army in and around Uganda. > > “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,” Obama said in letter sent Friday to House Speaker John Boehner and Daniel Inouye, the president pro tempore of the Senate. Kony is the head of the Lord’s Resistance Army. > > U.S. military personnel advising regional forces working to target Kony and other senior leaders will not engage Kony’s forces “unless necessary for self-defense,” Obama said. [http://www.cnn.com/2011/10/14/world/africa/africa-obama-troops/index.html?hpt=hp\_t2](http://www.cnn.com/2011/10/14/world/africa/africa-obama-troops/index.html?hpt=hp_t2) Now let’s address the authority: > [@](#): > > **Section 2 - Civilian Power over Military, Cabinet, Pardon Power, Appointments** The President shall be Commander in Chief of the Army and Navy of the United States, and of the Militia of the several States, when called into the actual Service of the United States; [Article II, Section 2., US Constitution](http://usconstitution.net/const.html#A2Sec2) I ask for an explanation of the outrage in the original OPs thread: [ul] [li]Are you complaining about an alleged abuse of power? The Constitution grants the delegated authority to commit the military.[/li][li]Are you concerned the president is adding another new military campaign, and commitment, of this country’s military? If so, fair comment.[/li][li]When will it end? Is this rhetorical, considering every US president has the delegated authority?[/li][li]Do you just hate the current officeholder?[/li][/ul] ---
**Author:** ![smiling\_bandit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@smiling\_bandit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smiling_bandit)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2011, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obams-sends-ground-troops-to-africa/599681/2 "2011-10-14T22:34:58Z")
[quote=“Duckster, post:1, topic:599681”] [li]Are you complaining about an alleged abuse of power? The Constitution grants the delegated authority to commit the military.[/li][li]Are you concerned the president is adding another new military campaign, and commitment, of this country’s military? If so, fair comment.[/li][li]When will it end? Is this rhetorical, considering every US president has the delegated authority?[/li][li]Do you just hate the current officeholder?[/li][/QUOTE] Can’t speak for him, however. _Much like the Libya mess, this amounts to putting American troops out without a declaration of war, which the President cannot do indefinitely (he has a limited time, basically_\*). Obama’s action in Libya was clearly unconstitutional. \*Fortunately this can’t really too far wrong. The Lord’s Army isn’t exactly a top-flight organization. I don’t think we have any interest in the matter and don’t see why we’re involved, which was much my problem with Libya. There, however, I felt we had an actual interst in NOT getting involved, whereas this is acompletely neutral issue. Also, the Lord’s Army is basically controlled by complete bastards, so… meh. \*No, I think he’s unsuited for any executive position. I actually think he’d make a fine Secretary of State, and probably be a lot happier, too. I’d be so happy if Hillary were were President and the Big O SecState. \*\*This is a complicated legal issue I don’t want to get into. SHort version: Congress permits Presidents a little leeway with a law of dubious legality. Presidents previously have never publicaly accepted the law, but were always careful to stay within its bounds. ---
**Author:** ![smiling\_bandit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@smiling\_bandit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smiling_bandit)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2011, 10:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obams-sends-ground-troops-to-africa/599681/3 "2011-10-14T22:37:36Z")
Here is a more reliable report, one hopes: > **[Obama Sends 100 US Troops to Uganda to Help Combat Lord’s Resistance Army](https://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2011/10/obama-sends-100-us-troops-to-uganda-to-combat-lords-resistance-army/)** > > Get breaking national and world news, broadcast video coverage, and exclusive interviews. Find the top news online at ABC news. ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2011, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obams-sends-ground-troops-to-africa/599681/4 "2011-10-14T22:51:15Z")
So, you don’t want to debate the situation, but just ask the OP of a locked thread what s/he really meant?? -XT ---
**Author:** ![HoboStew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/f17d59/32.png) [@HoboStew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoboStew)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2011, 10:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obams-sends-ground-troops-to-africa/599681/5 "2011-10-14T22:58:46Z")
> [@smiling\_bandit](#): > > Can’t speak for him, however. > > _Much like the Libya mess, this amounts to putting American troops out without a declaration of war, which the President cannot do indefinitely (he has a limited time, basically_\*). Obama’s action in Libya was clearly unconstitutional. Wow, a president putting troops out without a declaration of war?! That NEVER happens! ---
**Author:** ![Ludovic](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7ab992/32.png) [@Ludovic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ludovic)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2011, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obams-sends-ground-troops-to-africa/599681/6 "2011-10-14T23:00:32Z")
> [@HoboStew](#): > > Wow, a president putting troops out without a declaration of war?! That NEVER happens! This may be the break the Kerry campaign was waiting for! ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2011, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obams-sends-ground-troops-to-africa/599681/7 "2011-10-14T23:02:30Z")
I do have to wonder what sort of response this board would have had if it was Bush who, by fiat, decided to land 100 ‘advisers’ into Africa on a military adventure. 😛 I’m guessing it would be, er, a bit different than what we are seeing here… -XT ---
**Author:** ![HoboStew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/f17d59/32.png) [@HoboStew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoboStew)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2011, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obams-sends-ground-troops-to-africa/599681/8 "2011-10-14T23:06:24Z")
I can’t say I have exhaustively researched the matter, but my gut feeling is that Bush sending 100 advisors into Africa on a military adventure wouldn’t even crack the top 100 stupidest things he did in office. ---
**Author:** ![XT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/xt/32/456_2.png) [@XT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/XT)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2011, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obams-sends-ground-troops-to-africa/599681/9 "2011-10-14T23:08:53Z")
Nope, but the outrage quotient would be a lot higher. I say that as someone who would have been outraged if Bush had done this without any sort of congressional approval or even vote, and someone who, hypocritically, is NOT outraged that Obama has done the same thing. But I see the dual standard in myself over this…it comes down to trust, and I trust Obama a hell of a lot more than I did Bush. Assuming the original OP (who, based on a quick look at their past posting history, probably feels exactly opposite to what I’m saying above) doesn’t wander in here, what’s the debate? -XT ---
**Author:** ![Richard\_Parker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/35a633/32.png) [@Richard\_Parker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Richard_Parker)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2011, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obams-sends-ground-troops-to-africa/599681/10 "2011-10-14T23:13:24Z")
> [@xtisme](#): > > I do have to wonder what sort of response this board would have had if it was Bush who, by fiat, decided to land 100 ‘advisers’ into Africa on a military adventure. 😛 I’m guessing it would be, er, a bit different than what we are seeing here… > > -XT Heh. Except, you know, Bush did this. Multiple times. And that’s just the times reported to Congress, which doesn’t include things like sending military personnel to Poland secretly for anti-terrorist operations, which we know he did. He sent troops to Cote d’Ivoire, Liberia, and Mauritania. In fact, in 2003, he sent 4,350 U.S. combat troops to Liberia to restore order. ---
**Author:** ![HoboStew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/f17d59/32.png) [@HoboStew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/HoboStew)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2011, 11:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obams-sends-ground-troops-to-africa/599681/11 "2011-10-14T23:21:13Z")
> [@xtisme](#): > > Nope, but the outrage quotient would be a lot higher. It would be higher, but I doubt by much. 100 troops just isn’t a lot to get excited about. Only the most strident of Bush haters (and we know who they are) would work a sweat over that. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2011, 11:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obams-sends-ground-troops-to-africa/599681/12 "2011-10-14T23:30:55Z")
> [@smiling\_bandit](#): > > \*Fortunately this can’t really too far wrong. The Lord’s Army isn’t exactly a top-flight organization. Moses ans Aaron on a stick! ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2011, 11:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obams-sends-ground-troops-to-africa/599681/13 "2011-10-14T23:33:28Z")
From [TheHill.com](http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/187679-obama-orders-100-troops-to-uganda-in-hunt-for-accused-war-criminal): > [@](#): > > A bill authorizing Obama to aid Uganda in stopping Kony passed unanimously in the Senate in March and unanimously in the House in May. It seems like it passed in May 20120, not 2011 as the article implies. You can read the legislation (Lord’s Resistance Army Disarmament & Northern Uganda Recovery Act) in question [here](https://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/2241/images/S1067%20Final.pdf). The legislation contains: > [@](#): > > It is the policy of the United States to work with regional governments toward a comprehensive and lasting resolution to the conflict in northern Uganda and other affected areas by— > (1) providing political, economic, military, and intelligence support for viable multilateral efforts to protect civilians from the Lord’s Resistance Army, to apprehend or remove Joseph Kony and his top commanders from the battlefield in the continued absence of a negotiated solution, and to disarm and demobilize the remaining Lord’s Resistance Army fighters; I’m having trouble seeing where Obama went off the rails on this one. ---
**Author:** ![WillFarnaby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/willfarnaby/32/514_2.png) [@WillFarnaby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WillFarnaby)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2011, 11:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obams-sends-ground-troops-to-africa/599681/14 "2011-10-14T23:43:39Z")
[li]Are you complaining about an alleged abuse of power? The Constitution grants the delegated authority to commit the military.[/li] Yes. [li]Are you concerned the president is adding another new military campaign, and commitment, of this country’s military? If so, fair comment.[/li] Yes. Thank you. [li]When will it end? Is this rhetorical, considering every US president has the delegated authority?[/li] As you quoted the president is in charge of the armed forces WHEN it is called into service. I think the war powers act gives leeway if an attack is imminent. In this case ot appears it is not. [li]Do you just hate the current officeholder?[/li] Hate is a strong word considering I voted for him as a reaction to the unabated militarism of the preceding administration. I feel he has been an abject failure but no worse than several other presidents. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2011, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obams-sends-ground-troops-to-africa/599681/15 "2011-10-14T23:51:59Z")
> [@xtisme](#): > > I do have to wonder what sort of response this board would have had if it was Bush who, by fiat, decided to land 100 ‘advisers’ into Africa on a military adventure. 😛 I’m guessing it would be, er, a bit different than what we are seeing here… Because Bush is an idiot and a monster, and there’s zero chance the purpose would be well meaning and not much more chance that it would be anything but a disaster with him even remotely involved. Outside of not running in the first place, the best thing Bush could have done as President is remained unspeaking at his desk the whole time avoiding sudden movements & sharp objects. And avoiding solid food; remember the pretzel incident? Solid food is way too challenging for this guy; best stick to mush. ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [October 14, 2011, 11:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obams-sends-ground-troops-to-africa/599681/16 "2011-10-14T23:56:29Z")
The question is how do neighboring countries feel about it? The US could use a little more good will on that continent. ---
**Author:** ![WillFarnaby](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/willfarnaby/32/514_2.png) [@WillFarnaby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/WillFarnaby)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2011, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obams-sends-ground-troops-to-africa/599681/17 "2011-10-15T00:33:57Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > From [TheHill.com](http://thehill.com/blogs/blog-briefing-room/news/187679-obama-orders-100-troops-to-uganda-in-hunt-for-accused-war-criminal): > It seems like it passed in May 20120, not 2011 as the article implies. You can read the legislation (Lord’s Resistance Army Disarmament & Northern Uganda Recovery Act) in question [here](https://salsa.democracyinaction.org/o/2241/images/S1067%20Final.pdf). The legislation contains: > I’m having trouble seeing where Obama went off the rails on this one. I was not aware of that. Guess my frustration was misdirected. ---
**Author:** ![BrainGlutton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/82dd89/32.png) [@BrainGlutton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BrainGlutton)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2011, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obams-sends-ground-troops-to-africa/599681/18 "2011-10-15T00:55:21Z")
We’re foot-slog-slog-slog-sloggin’ over Africa - Foot-foot-foot-foot-sloggin’ over Africa - (Boots-boots-boots-boots-movin’ up an’ down again!) There’s no discharge in the war! – Rudyard Kipling ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2011, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obams-sends-ground-troops-to-africa/599681/19 "2011-10-15T01:06:25Z")
> [@](#): > > Heh. Except, you know, Bush did this. Multiple times. And that’s just the times reported to Congress, which doesn’t include things like sending military personnel to Poland secretly for anti-terrorist operations, which we know he did. He sent troops to Cote d’Ivoire, Liberia, and Mauritania. In fact, in 2003, he sent 4,350 U.S. combat troops to Liberia to restore order. None of which generated even a blip on the radar of public opinion. The only real news story here is why some people even give a damn about a president doing something that every prior president in history did many times. ---
**Author:** ![Kolga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e56c9b/32.png) [@Kolga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kolga)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2011, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obams-sends-ground-troops-to-africa/599681/20 "2011-10-15T01:14:59Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > None of which generated even a blip on the radar of public opinion. The only real news story here is why some people even give a damn about a president doing something that every prior president in history did many times. Yea, I wonder why that is? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obams-sends-ground-troops-to-africa/599681.md?page=2)