Finishing the Job: The US to Help Stop the LRA?

by Scott A Morgan

Ever Since Operation Lightning Thunder was launched by the Combined Forces of Uganda, The Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Government of Southern Sudan there has been ample criticism about how this plan was conceived and carried out. Now there is a call for this operation to begin again.

The Operation was launched back in December 2008 when Joseph Kony the Leader of the LRA (Lord's Resistance Army) did not show up to sign an Accord that would have brought an Insurgency that traces its roots back to 1986 to an amicable end. A fortnight later the Allied effort was launched with the Initial Goal of bringing Kony to Justice then it morphed into eradicating the LRA.

Around Christmastime the LRA launched a "counteroffensive"that could best be described as a reprisal. In a region that was sparsely monitored by the Congolese Military and UN Peacekeepers the LRA struck. The Attack in the Dorouma area killed hundreds to begin an effort that sowed terror in the Eastern Congo. Thousands had fled their homes to flee the onslaught from these Insurgents.

In an action that was meant to placate a restless Parliament in Kinshasa the Kabila Administration placed a limit on how long the Ugandan led Forces could operate within the borders of the DRC. This would mean that the Ugandans would have to leave the DRC by the End of March. This in effect placed limits on how effective the Allied Offensive against the LRA would be. In recent weeks there have been several raids by the LRA along the Sudanese-Congo Border.

Now a call has been made for a New Actor to join in the Effort to defeat this Insurgent Group. The Group ENOUGH! has issued a paper that calls for the United States to take an Increased Role in bringing the LRA leadership to Justice and to defeat the Organization. Earlier this year there was criticism of the US after it was revealed that the Bush Administration had ordered the African Command to support Operation Lightning Thunder.

Just Exactly what did the Pentagon or more specifically AFRICOM (African Command) do to support this effort? After the Formal request was made the US helped plan this mission. The US also provided soldiers on the scene to assist with tactics, Satellite Photos and communications gear and $ 1 Million in fuel. It has been considered in the eyes of some analyists that this was a Failure of AFRICOM.

What actions is ENOUGH reccomending that the US take? First of all it has been suggested that the US back a Proposed New Offensive with Solid Intelligence, Planning and logisitical support. It also calls for the US to take responsibility for the execution and the outcome of the operation. It is felt that if this mission is abandoned then the Population of Central Africa will have disasterous consequences. Those are chilling words and a scenario that is frightening. But with the US being one of the few actors that can actually bring about closure to this crisis it is not surprising to hear.

The Author Comments on US Policy towards Africa and publishes Confused Eagle on the Internet. It can be found at morganrights.tripod.com