# 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:** 2
**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 15, 2011, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obams-sends-ground-troops-to-africa/599681/21 "2011-10-15T01:27:38Z")
> [@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. That would be a different situation indeed. Mainly because Obama didn’t do this by “fiat” but in accordance with unanimously passed legislation pledging support (including military) in assisting the regional governments in stopping Kony. ---
**Author:** ![marshmallow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@marshmallow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/marshmallow)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2011, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obams-sends-ground-troops-to-africa/599681/22 "2011-10-15T02:03:10Z")
AFRICOM has to be used for something, right? A real life live fire exercise, etc. > [@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 Dems only feel uncomfortable killing foreigners when it’s not one of ‘their own’ doing it. Pubs don’t care either way. Film at 11. ---
**Author:** ![Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/f04885/32.png) [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2011, 2:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obams-sends-ground-troops-to-africa/599681/23 "2011-10-15T02:30:14Z")
> [@Der\_Trihs](#): > > 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. :rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes: Let’s just hope the LRA hunt goes well. A few dozen professional soldiers could whup guerrilla ass. ---
**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 15, 2011, 2:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obams-sends-ground-troops-to-africa/599681/24 "2011-10-15T02:44:29Z")
> [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](#): > > :rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes::rolleyes: > > Let’s just hope the LRA hunt goes well. A few dozen professional soldiers could whup guerrilla ass. They aren’t going to “whup ass” they are advisers. Until one gets killed. :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2011, 2:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obams-sends-ground-troops-to-africa/599681/25 "2011-10-15T02:55:24Z")
> [@carnivorousplant](#): > > They aren’t going to “whup ass” they are advisers. > Until one gets killed. > :rolleyes: At the outset of WWI the British cabinet asked the French commanding general Joffre how many British soldiers he would need to stop the German advance. He replied, “Right now just one, and he needs to get shot as soon as possible”. ---
**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 15, 2011, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obams-sends-ground-troops-to-africa/599681/26 "2011-10-15T03:17:34Z")
> [@Richard\_Parker](#): > > 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. Well, not for the first time, I have to admit my ignorance here…I had heard of the Poland thing (I don’t think it’s the same but concede that MMV), but the other stuff I never heard of, to be honest. -XT ---
**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, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obams-sends-ground-troops-to-africa/599681/27 "2011-10-15T03:51:15Z")
And you never heard of it because a president sending a few hundred troops somewhere is a total nonevent. ---
**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 15, 2011, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obams-sends-ground-troops-to-africa/599681/28 "2011-10-15T03:58:35Z")
I agree that Obama sending 100 advisers to Africa is a non-event…but Bush sending over 4000 combat troops to Liberia sounds like more of a big deal, if nothing else cost wise. -XT ---
**Author:** ![Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/f04885/32.png) [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2011, 4:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obams-sends-ground-troops-to-africa/599681/29 "2011-10-15T04:43:28Z")
> [@xtisme](#): > > I agree that Obama sending 100 advisers to Africa is a non-event…but Bush sending over 4000 combat troops to Liberia sounds like more of a big deal, if nothing else cost wise. > > -XT Well it worked, end of story. ---
**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2011, 4:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obams-sends-ground-troops-to-africa/599681/30 "2011-10-15T04:46:37Z")
Obviously he’s sending in those soldiers to secure his real birth certificate. ---
**Author:** ![Foggy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foggy/32/1082_2.png) [@Foggy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Foggy)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2011, 5:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obams-sends-ground-troops-to-africa/599681/31 "2011-10-15T05:41:26Z")
> [@Lobohan](#): > > Obviously he’s sending in those soldiers to secure his real birth certificate. But are a 100 troops enough to secure the Long Form? 😃 ---
**Author:** ![griffin1977](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/977dab/32.png) [@griffin1977](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/griffin1977)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2011, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obams-sends-ground-troops-to-africa/599681/32 "2011-10-15T06:06:07Z")
As long as they don’t get [gay married](http://current.com/shows/vanguard/blog/93401327_bachmann-adviser-tied-to-ssempa-pastor-behind-kill-the-gays-law.htm) while they are there. ---
**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 15, 2011, 8:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obams-sends-ground-troops-to-africa/599681/33 "2011-10-15T08:25:05Z")
Rush Limbaugh’s headline: [Obama invades Uganda, Targets Christians](http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/daily/2011/10/14/obama_invades_uganda_targets_christians). Republicans, this is your party. ---
**Author:** ![willthekittensurvive](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/91b2a8/32.png) [@willthekittensurvive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/willthekittensurvive)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2011, 10:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obams-sends-ground-troops-to-africa/599681/34 "2011-10-15T10:24:23Z")
> [@Richard\_Parker](#): > > Rush Limbaugh’s headline: [Obama invades Uganda, Targets Christians](http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/daily/2011/10/14/obama_invades_uganda_targets_christians). > > Republicans, this is your party. wow is that real? more like something you could read on the Onion ---
**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 15, 2011, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obams-sends-ground-troops-to-africa/599681/35 "2011-10-15T13:21:00Z")
That last paragraph is golden. “Wait… These guys commit all manner of atrocities? Well… Maybe… But… _Obama is fighting Christians!_” You can’t make stuff like that up. ---
**Author:** ![Rune](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e68b1a/32.png) [@Rune](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rune)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2011, 1:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obams-sends-ground-troops-to-africa/599681/36 "2011-10-15T13:28:01Z")
The LRA needs plenty killing, but why is it the USA’s problem? The US president exists to further the interests of American citizens, what benefits it the USA to expose US troops in danger and use money to fight the LRA? But kill away. You shall hear never a bad word from me on that account. ---
**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 15, 2011, 1:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obams-sends-ground-troops-to-africa/599681/37 "2011-10-15T13:38:28Z")
Well, American civilians are represented via their Congresscritters and said critters voted unanimously in both chambers that the US has an interest in this. Arguably it’s not a huge interest in comparison to some things but then I wouldn’t call 100 soldier/advisors a huge outlay of resources, either. ---
**Author:** ![levdrakon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@levdrakon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/levdrakon)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2011, 2:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obams-sends-ground-troops-to-africa/599681/38 "2011-10-15T14:13:23Z")
> [@Richard\_Parker](#): > > Rush Limbaugh’s headline: [Obama invades Uganda, Targets Christians](http://www.rushlimbaugh.com/daily/2011/10/14/obama_invades_uganda_targets_christians). > > Republicans, this is your party. Yeah well, all those guerrilla army drug cartels ravaging Mexico these days and allegedly making assassination deals with Iran are all Christian too. ---
**Author:** ![Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/f04885/32.png) [@Qin\_Shi\_Huangdi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qin_Shi_Huangdi)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2011, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obams-sends-ground-troops-to-africa/599681/39 "2011-10-15T15:52:57Z")
According to Limbaugh: > [@](#): > > Lord’s Resistance Army objectives. I have them here. “To remove dictatorship and stop the oppression of our people.” So did the Khmer Rogue and Che Guevera, :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![John\_Mace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/john_mace/32/185_2.png) [@John\_Mace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/John_Mace)\ **Post date:** [October 15, 2011, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obams-sends-ground-troops-to-africa/599681/40 "2011-10-15T16:29:42Z")
> [@xtisme](#): > > Well, not for the first time, I have to admit my ignorance here…I had heard of the Poland thing (I don’t think it’s the same but concede that MMV), but the other stuff I never heard of, to be honest. > > -XT That’s because news sources such as [Fox tried to hide it.](http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,92938,00.html) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obams-sends-ground-troops-to-africa/599681.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/obams-sends-ground-troops-to-africa/599681.md?page=3)