Internationally Secure

Children are being swept away at night, taken from their families and their homes. Being forced by a man with power to kill and mutilate others of their kind, and of their age. The most powerful man forcing them to shoot their elders and fight for a cause they don’t see as right. The Uganda children being forced against their will. The same scenario has happened in prior years, but on our own accord. The Iraq children being forced to fight in their own military, against the American men in their country. Fighting against men they do not recognize with is a difficult task for these children. To change the way we conduct our military operations, we need to train rather than fight. As few as 100 American men sent to Uganda were able to train soldiers to protect the tens of thousands of children being targeted in their country (Russel). International involvement by the United States can potentially save lives, of children as young as infants, with little to nothing in comparison to the money we have to offer. We need to look to the Uganda incident as a model for how our country engages in military operations.

Invisible Children Incorporated is a nonpartisan, non-profit organization that campaigns through film seeking to draw attention to the atrocities performed by Joseph Kony in Uganda over the last 9 years. In this recent year, Invisible Children has a campaign by the name of “Kony 2012”, to have US involvement in the Uganda area to stop the horrific actions of this man. Joseph Kony has kidnapped children for years, forcing them to kill their parents, mutilate and kill other Ugandan children and follow every order given (Zavan). This Non-Government Organization has succeeded in finding public awareness in the United States, to further push the government to make a difference. Our motivation for helping Uganda has come from the population of the United States, with everyday Americans fighting for the cause. Seeing this in comparison to the Iraq war, with no true motivation of help to our or their country, shows that the way we are handling the Uganda conflict is the correct way of military operation.

In October of 2011 Barack Obama agreed to send 100 United States Military Supervisors to Uganda to train the Ugandan army forces. These forces are on one sole mission, to capture and bring justice to Joseph Kony. With the power of only 100 men, the united states has advised troops on battle tactics, disrupting insurgency networks by discovering where rebels are based and how they procure guns, money and other logistical support. The American troops have been advised to advise, not engage in combat, unless forced to defend themselves.

With the involvement of the United States in the last 5 months Uganda has established troops with special learned skills, and have a recognition of the man wanted for capture. American men are not going into battle, but rather teaching men of Ugandan decent to fight for what their country needs (Rogers). With American involvement the people of Uganda have found a way to stand tall against a strong force, with little risk to our own men. With this being said, I feel as though American involvement in international security can be a prime source for a hope for peace. Uganda now recognizes the United States as a helping source and thus can return a favor if given a chance. International relations have helped us to create strong ties with a country that is nothing but thankful, as well as showed that we are a force for others to use to their advantage if given the opportunity. By continuing this relationship with other countries, our allies will be numerous, as well as strong due to the skills we have provided for them.

Since beginning our help for the war in Uganda, the United States has spent 33 million dollars and has cost zero American lives over the course of 3 years. In comparison to the Iraq war, this is a phenomenal feat. The Iraq war has cost our country roughly 823.3 billion dollars, as well as 4, 484 American solders losing their lives (Tapper). In the process of helping the Ugandan people, we have spent a significantly less amount of money and American people, and have set Uganda on a path to national stability (Russel). With as little as we are effecting our own country in the great dead of improving another country, we can revive great benefits as well has build a positive environment in Uganda. As Uganda grows stronger we have the opportunity to become allies with a country who now feels a strong connection towards our American power, after making that country a much stronger place then before.

While some might fight for the anti war movement, in all reality there is no overall stop to the war around us. As Americans have made themselves a powerhouse of security, our forces can help other countries with the power we already have. With war always occurring somewhere in the world, with the correct training we can make our allies strong, and keep them close for our benefit as well as their own. With little risk to the men we have sent to Uganda, we were able to make a large change in their government and operation of their military power, which now operate in a working manner and respect us immensely. As we have made ourselves the world police of safety, we can use our power to advise and help the other countries that will always have a conflict, no matter the cause.

With many more benefits than concerns, I believe the process of helping the Ugandan people has shown that International involvement can set our country on a path of power. Barack Obama has already begun our help with international security, and I believe that the choices made have been the correct for our national benefit.