Lords Resistance Army
Sick, sick people. They are the single largest user of child soldiers in the world. They operate mainly in Uganda. Families have to flee into the city at night to keep their children from being kidnapped. Some children are sold as sex slaves, but most are used as cannon fodder against the Uganda army.
They'll tell the children they don't need to take cover "because the Holy Spirit is protecting you". Then the more experienced LRA members will run for cover.
It's sickening that most people don't know these guys exist. They are a scourge upon the world and should be eradicated.
/discuss
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lord's_Resistance_Army
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/world/para/lra.htm
The most disturbing thing I've heard about them is one of their tactics for persuading the kids to become soldiers: They kidnap a group of them, and then tie them up loosely and seem to leave. When one of the kids tries to escape, the LRA people reappear and force the other kids to bite the escapee until she/he dies. If one of the kids refuses, then the escapee is replaced with that kid.
The most disturbing thing I've heard about them is one of their tactics for persuading the kids to become soldiers: They kidnap a group of them, and then tie them up loosely and seem to leave. When one of the kids tries to escape, the LRA people reappear and force the other kids to bite the escapee until she/he dies. If one of the kids refuses, then the escapee is replaced with that kid.
And the U.S. is all against terrorism and despotic leaderships, yet we let this continue?
And the U.S. is all against terrorism and despotic leaderships, yet we let this continue?
Few countries intervene in situations they don't perceive as a threat to them. That's why America invaded Iraq and not Zimbabwe.
Few countries intervene in situations they don't perceive as a threat to them. That's why America invaded Iraq and not Zimbabwe.
Because Iraq was such a threat to us?
I fail to see how Iraw was harming us in anyway.
1.) WMD's were not found, and still have not been found.
2.) Terrorist support- Saudi Arabia is by far a larger supporter of terrorism than Iraq. Like 11 of the suicide bombers on 9-11 were Saudi Arabian, and we know that the Saudis have given funding to Osama and other violent Islamists.
Which leaves....what?
Because Iraq was such a threat to us?
I fail to see how Iraw was harming us in anyway.
1.) WMD's were not found, and still have not been found.
2.) Terrorist support- Saudi Arabia is by far a larger supporter of terrorism than Iraq. Like 11 of the suicide bombers on 9-11 were Saudi Arabian, and we know that the Saudis have given funding to Osama and other violent Islamists.
Which leaves....what?
Are you here to actually talk about child soldiers, or just bitch about the US? Don't use these atrocities as a platform to preach from. Discuss the issue itself...it's a serious one, and it's not about the USA.
Are you here to actually talk about child soldiers, or just bitch about the US? Don't use these atrocities as a platform to preach from. Discuss the issue itself...it's a serious one, and it's not about the USA.
I'm trying to say that the U.S. should intervene in this situation, as should the U.N. and the rest of the world.
The Lords Resistance Army isn't the only one forcing children to become killers. Uganda, the Congo, Sierra Leone, Colombia, Parguay, Sri Lanka, Papua New Guinea, Serbia, and other nations ALL recruit children. This is a huge issue, and the entire international community needs to get off their asses.
War Child ( http://www.warchild.org/)
Child Soldiers ( http://www.warchild.org/links_resources/childsoldiers/childsoldiers.html)
I'm trying to say that the U.S. should intervene in this situation, as should the U.N. and the rest of the world.
I don't think the US should be intervening exept as PART of an international effort. And it's going to take more than addressing this one particular force.
Anarchic Christians
24-11-2005, 18:05
Hey, if the UN was meant to deal with this shit then maybe they'd have set it up to do that.
The UN is pretty well irrelevant in this situation because no-one in it is bothered.
Unfortunately that means no-one's ever going to intervene until the Ugandan government can get them. And given their lack of success so far...
The Lords Resistance Army isn't the only one forcing children to become killers. Uganda, the Congo, Sierra Leone, Colombia, Parguay, Sri Lanka, Papua New Guinea, Serbia, and other nations ALL recruit children. This is a huge issue, and the entire international community needs to get off their asses.
War Child ( http://www.warchild.org/)
Child Soldiers ( http://www.warchild.org/links_resources/childsoldiers/childsoldiers.html)
Seriously.
"All that is neccessary for evil to suceed is for good men to do nothing."
Seriously.
"All that is neccessary for evil to suceed is for good men to do nothing."
We think the 'youth of today' is screwed up in our countries? Imagine what being forced to kill your own family does to a kid...or any of the other horrible shit they are forced into. Not to mention all the children that are forced into sexual slavery.
I really think that for the average person, it's too much to handle. They can't deal with it. I know it gives me the friggin' heebee jeebees...kids with limbs missing because they were HACKED off, and so on. The horror is too intense, and we don't know what to do.
We think the 'youth of today' is screwed up in our countries? Imagine what being forced to kill your own family does to a kid...or any of the other horrible shit they are forced into. Not to mention all the children that are forced into sexual slavery.
I really think that for the average person, it's too much to handle. They can't deal with it. I know it gives me the friggin' heebee jeebees...kids with limbs missing because they were HACKED off, and so on. The horror is too intense, and we don't know what to do.
Replace the news coverage of that poor person with anorexia or bulimia or some other mental disease that only people in first world countries can get and replace it with stories about these atrocities? I think that informing more peope would be the first step to getting the world involved in these situations.
Never has a single good man existed.
Replace the news coverage of that poor person with anorexia or bulimia or some other mental disease that only people in first world countries can get and replace it with stories about these atrocities? I think that informing more peope would be the first step to getting the world involved in these situations.
It hasn't worked with Zimbabwe, so why would it work with Uganda?
What politician would risk sending their army into a country hosting a huge, fanatical/brainwashed army, and tell their soldiers that they're going to have to shoot the children 'cause the children won't think twice about shooting them?
It hasn't worked with Zimbabwe, so why would it work with Uganda?
What politician would risk sending their army into a country hosting a huge, fanatical/brainwashed army, and tell their soldiers that they're going to have to shoot the children 'cause the children won't think twice about shooting them?
A larger and more conscerted military effort.
And what politician would risk it? One with a strong sense of moral duty.
If we go after one dictator (i.e Saddam Hussein), then we should be obligated to go after all of 'em.
Saudi Arabia
Sudan
Iran
North Korea
Columbia
Problem is...we wont ever go after these groups because we either have no interest (i.e. "not important")...or we're actually allied with the scumbags. When I think about that I re-afirm my belief that money is the root of all evil.
When I think about that I re-afirm my belief that money is the root of all evil.
It's not money that's the issue here, but raw materials. Even if we were just bartering for goods, we'd still need to keep on good terms with the suppliers.
It's not money that's the issue here, but raw materials. Even if we were just bartering for goods, we'd still need to keep on good terms with the suppliers.
Heh. Not going to matter that much in ten years anyway.