Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan Wants U.S. Troops to Fight Boko Haram

[whereisjustice]

Last edited Sat Feb 14, 2015, 04:13 PM - Edit history (1)

Source: The Wall Street Journal

ABUJA, Nigeria—With his oil-powered economy faltering and just five weeks to go before he faces a close election, Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan is appealing to the U.S. to send combat troops against his country’s most intractable problem: the Islamist insurgency Boko Haram.

The 57-year-old president of Africa’s largest democracy said in an interview that he has been asking the U.S. since early 2014 to send combat soldiers along with military advisers to Nigeria to battle Boko Haram. Citing intelligence reports, he said the militants were receiving “training and funds” from Islamic State, the jihadist group whose leadership is based in Iraq and Syria.

“Are they not fighting ISIS? Why can’t they come to Nigeria?” Mr. Jonathan said, in his first interview with Western media this year. “Look, they are our friends. If Nigeria has a problem, then I expect the U.S. to come and assist us.”

Read more: http://www.wsj.com/articles/nigerian-president-wants-u-s-troops-to-fight-boko-haram-1423850893

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I'm betting oil industry corruption fueling an oppressive regime keeping a 60%+ poverty rate has something to do with the problem.

[Agnosticsherbet]

1. I thnk we should train them and arm them so they can fight their own war.

Boko Haran should be hunted down and capture if possible or killed if necessary. I would not oppose the use of US Airpower since the time it takes to train a competent air force would be prohibitive.

But the US should not be the tip of the spear.

[7962]

8. Amen. Maybe they could learn from Chad. They've had some recent success

Twice over the past couple weeks I've seen stories about Boko getting their Harams kicked by Chadian forces

[Joe Magarac]

19. ... train them ...

Just advisors, right?

Where have I heard that before?

[Agnosticsherbet]

20. We train people from a lot of foreign nations. Some of them here in the US.

For others we send unites to the country to train people at home.

Training unites are not there in a combat role.

[potone]

2. Hmm...you think so?

You might have a point there. But just how many wars are we supposed to be involved in at the same time???

[jamzrockz]

3. Jesus Christ

This man has finally lost it. First of all, he is the leader of a country with a capable military fighting a terrorist group much weaker than say the Syrian rebels and with no super power supporting it (if you can believe it). Secondly, the US cannot afford to babysit another country.

I was rooting for him but now, I don't care if the northerners regain power again. You have to show strength and leadership in this time of crisis, not go running to the Americans with his tail tucked between his legs.

What a sad excuse of a leader.

[malthaussen]

4. Oh, boy! I can hardly wait!

After all, our miltary is gonna rust if we don't keep fighting. Use it or lose it.

I especially like that he "expects" the US to intervene. Lets you know who's running the country, eh?

-- Mal

[treestar]

5. Oh my

thanks goodness no President McCain.

[christx30]

12. +1.

I agree with you 100%. And judging by mccain's performance during the election, I think he does too.

[TwilightGardener]

6. Fuck that shit. Terror groups take over weak-ass countries. Stop being

a weak-ass corrupt shithole, is my advice. No American troops' blood when your own forces run away or join the terrorists.

[pangaia]

7. Badluck Jonathan has a problem.

[Yupster]

22. So do the young women

of northern Nigeria.

[Moondog]

9. Good luck with that one, Goodluck.

[libdem4life]

10. It's not like there isn't plenty of precedent for this. But I think we're trying to keep it down to

just one "intervention" or "regime change" or "Rebel Cause" at a time. And this one is a Democracy...how quaint.

That is unless we hop across the Pond to Ukraine and give them a helping bomb or two. So, Nigeria may not have such "Goodluck" with their friends this time.

[Demeter]

11. Who does he think he is: Bibi Netanyahu?

Get in line, Jonathan.

[Hekate]

13. Good luck with that. I hate how despots now think the US is the go-to supplier of armed troops...

...to clean up messes they should have cleaned up themselves.

Yeah, that IS a knee-jerk reaction from me. I hate what Boko Haram has done and will do to women and children. But really, President Jonathon? Really?

[Jack Rabbit]

14. Goodluck with that, President Jonathan

Just when you think our politicians are worthless, along come one like this. For Nigerian consumption, he has been denying that there is a problem and tried to say that the story about the kidnapping of schoolgirls was a hoax to embarrass him. Yeah, it was all about him.

I wonder how much he draws on public funds for personal use.

But he does have a colorful name.

[Turbineguy]

15. The corruption in the Nigerian government

is Boko Haram's best friend.

[jamzrockz]

25. Not really

Their very best friend is destabilization of the region and christian president. Nigerians are so used to corruption to the point that most people alive today can't imagine a world without corruption.

Ignore what the foreign media tells you, all of this has nothing to do with corruption. There is a good possibility that some higher up Hausas or even foreign forces are behind this whole thing. You have to understand that nobody I know from any tribe, religion or region support these folks and yet just like the Syrian rebels, they continue to gain strength and take areas where they have no support.

[Turbineguy]

26. Interesting.

Thanks.

[blkmusclmachine]

16. The Nigerian Government kills its gay people. No aid to that Christofascist Government.

[BumRushDaShow]

17. Nigeria has the largest population on the African continent

and has twice the populace of the next largest country there. Time to take some of that oil money and create a military. But we all know that "military" means "guaranteed military coup" there, so they have a choice to make.

[DeSwiss]

18. Fight your own damned wars. n/t

[quadrature]

21. stop Mitch McConell and other blood-thirsty Republicans

Libya and Syria are disasters.
hundreds of thousands dead.
millions of displaced persons

no more stupid
US aggression

[former9thward]

23. It was Obama who sent troops to Nigeria

after Michelle Obama started her #bringbackourgirls campaign. The girls are long gone and fortunately the troops have returned after accomplishing nothing.

[romanic]

24. The US is not the world's police force.

Nigeria needs to be at the forefront of this situation. If they can't, why not ask surrounding nations for help?

[no_hypocrisy]

27. Sure, as soon as we're done destroying ISIS/ISIL . . . . .