US Sends 80Soldiers to Chad To Locate The Kidnapped Nigerian Girls

[Cleita]

Armin Rosen
May 21, 2014

President Obama informed Congress today that he is sending 80 U.S. armed forces personnel to Chad. They will not be there in any combat capacity but will be aiding in the search for over 200 girls that the Islamist group Boko Haram abducted from a school in the northeastern Nigerian town of Chibok last month.

Last week, the U.S. sent a team of special operations forces to train and advise their Nigerian counterparts, in a move that was not officially connected to the ongoing search for the girls. In contrast, Obama's letter to Congress, which is reproduced below, directly cites the Chibok abductions as the reason for the troops' deployment.

This is reminiscent of the involvement of U.S. special operations forces in the hunt for the Ugandan warlord Joseph Kony. Although there are several hundred U.S. personnel involved in the search, they are prohibited from engaging with Kony's forces unless they are fired on first.

Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/the-us-is-sending-soldiers-to-chad-2014-5#ixzz32OB2O6W9

[Common Sense Party]

1. Don't we have drones with infrared? Can't we put those to good use

and fly them over the forest until we locate them?

[Cleita]

3. Don't know. this became public only a few hours ago.

I never thought we would become involved, but here we are.

[Common Sense Party]

5. It's been more than a month. I'm surprised it has taken this long.

But 80 pairs of boots on the ground won't do much. We'd better leverage our technology.

[Cleita]

6. I think there's more going on than the 80 boots.

This is only what they are letting us know.

[Common Sense Party]

7. Probably so.

I hope so.

[Cleita]

8. Funny how there are crickets in the mainstream press.

Only a couple of offbeat news have reported it.

[davidn3600]

9. We are not going to start a war over this

We are providing intel and surveillance.

We are not going to start shooting at people for numerous reasons...
1. Boko Haram has not done harm to Americans nor American interest. But if we start shooting, we have a new enemy in a place where Americans will question, "why are we there?" This is what got us in trouble in the mid-east with Al-Queda.
2. Attempting to rescue them with guns blazing will result in mass civilian casualties. Boko Haram is a very violent group. If we move on them, they WILL simply start slaughtering the girls. They have slaughtered dozens of children in the past. Yes, they will do it...

There is no public will for a war in the middle of Africa.

[Cleita]

11. If you read the article there is a little caveat about not firing

unless fired upon. Once there is a gun fight, stuff changes. But my uneducated opinion is that there is some covert stuff going on. Maybe Navy Seals? Who knows. But 80 soldiers alone? They have to have some cover that's not being talked about. That's what I think. I'm hoping they aren't going to risk getting the girls hurt.

[davidn3600]

12. Again...you are creating an enemy

We can provide intel and surveillance. I have no problem with that... But I want no American skin at risk in this game. We can give intel to the Nigerians and then they can move on Boko if they want. But this isn't our fight. This isn't our problem.

We cannot go around the world like world police every time something like this happens.

Hundreds of thousands of people were slaughtered in Darfur and we did nothing. Yet 300 girls get kidnapped and you want to send in the Navy Seals? Really?

[Cleita]

13. Who says I want this?

Boots on the ground is just that and it's beyond surveillance and intel. Apparently that ship has sailed and now it's boots on the ground. I don't want this anymore than you do.

[davidn3600]

14. Well they better hope shots don't get fired because this could turn ugly for the President

I don't need to see a poll to know any US military involvement in central Africa will get very, very unpopular very quickly if bullets start flying.

No American interests are at risk here.

[okaawhatever]

10. We have. Apparently there are a lot of caves in the Northeastern area. There are also some hiding in

Sambosa forest. I think they have located some of the girls, or Boko Harum troops, but they have to find all of them. Based on past experience, any attempt to rescue some of the girls will get the others killed. That has actually happened in the past. These BK guys are evil as F$%k.
These guys are going to be looking in Chad. It could be a huge misdirect, or they may have a groups of the girls lost somewhere in Chad. Either way it is promising because there is a reason they're looking in Chad, so apparently they have some intel.

[discntnt_irny_srcsm]

16. "...personnel will support the operation of intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance..."

It will be challenging to sort the heat signatures of humans from among animals and ambient heat.
The President's letter dated today:

Dear Mr. Speaker: {Dear Mr. President:}

Approximately 80 U.S. Armed Forces personnel have deployed to Chad as part of the U.S. efforts to locate and support the safe return of over 200 schoolgirls who are reported to have been kidnapped in Nigeria. These personnel will support the operation of intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance aircraft for missions over northern Nigeria and the surrounding area. The force will remain in Chad until its support in resolving the kidnapping situation is no longer required.

This action has been directed in furtherance of U.S. national security and foreign policy interests, pursuant to my constitutional authority to conduct U.S. foreign relations and as Commander in Chief and Chief Executive.

I am providing this report as part of my efforts to keep the Congress fully informed, consistent with the War Powers Resolution (Public Law 93-148). I appreciate the support of the Congress in these actions.

Sincerely,

BARACK OBAMA

[Louisiana1976]

2. I hope they find the girls.

#Bring OurGirlsHome

[Cleita]

4. I do hope it doesn't turn into something bad and that those girls are rescued. eom

[Blue_Tires]

15. Clearly the first step in an imperialistic crusade to put the entire continent under U.S. rule