U.S. Marines poised to enter South Sudan
Source: CNN
About 150 U.S. Marines are poised to enter turbulent South Sudan to help evacuate Americans and provide security for the U.S. Embassy, two U.S. military officials said Monday.
The troops are moving from Spain to Africa, probably to the nation of Djibouti, the officials told CNN's Barbara Starr on Monday.
An estimated 100 U.S. citizens are believed to be in South Sudan, where steady violence is stoking fears of an all-out civil war in the world's newest country.
On Sunday, all Americans who presented themselves at a U.N camp in the flashpoint town of Bor were evacuated safely, the State Department said.
Read more: http://www.cnn.com/2013/12/23/world/africa/south-sudan-violence/
hrmjustin
(71,265 posts)TwilightGardener
(46,416 posts)What the fuck would we stay for?
maxsolomon
(34,835 posts)And don't want to see it shoot itself in the head/foot.
TwilightGardener
(46,416 posts)the embassy when things calm down. It's like we learn nothing. This better not be residual Rwanda guilt.
former9thward
(33,336 posts)It will only provide a focal point for attacks.
maxsolomon
(34,835 posts)It is not anti-USA or anti-NGO in nature, from what I understand. Where the US Military can be a force for good in the world, with truly altruistic (not profit) motives, I would like to see us try. Our efforts to create S. Sudan were largely motivated by humanitarian concerns.
150 well-armed Marines might be enough to protect the Embassy and create a safe zone for non-combatants, especially if the UN/EU nations follow suit. I don't know if it will work, but that would seem to be the idea, right? Stabilize, and stop S. Sudan from turning into another Somalia?
If risking the lives of our troops for any reason is defacto unacceptable, I would like to see our military reduced to the point where we're not tempted to do good, because we can't.
TwilightGardener
(46,416 posts)It's enough of a risk to evacuate the embassy personnel and other Americans there--that's an appropriate use of the military. Trying to keep an embassy open in a country that collapsed in exactly 7 days is a recipe for disaster.
maxsolomon
(34,835 posts)As you said, an appropriate use of military power.
As to the Embassy, the US Special Envoy is trying to mediate between factions - where should he do that from, Djibouti? Another country's embassy?
TwilightGardener
(46,416 posts)diplomatic or military. This is a fledgling, broken country with an ineffective military force and complete political and factional disarray. If the location of the embassy (Juba?) becomes like the town of Bor where there's total chaos (and tons of British, Canadian and other foreign personnel who are currently trapped like rats), we may end up with a siege or a slaughter.
maxsolomon
(34,835 posts)And Ban Ki Moon promising the people of S. Sudan we won't abandon them.
I understand your concerns, but I think we're committed. Maybe we'll see the births of two new nations: South South Sudan and North South Sudan.
warrant46
(2,205 posts)There must be oil or something that the corporations covet near there.
geek tragedy
(68,868 posts)of a nostril
warrant46
(2,205 posts)maxsolomon
(34,835 posts)Or is that just a reflex - dismiss any actions that Obama or the State Dept take as motivated by a national policy of enabling corporate greed?
warrant46
(2,205 posts)I'm Not
maxsolomon
(34,835 posts)But parents don't choose where their adult children are sent to die when those kids VOLUNTEER to project American Power in exchange for a steady paycheck. Every conflict zone on the planet is a shit hole - they don't have civil wars on the Cote D'Azur.
You are questioning our motivation for poising 150 marines in Djibouti as a quick reaction force to protect an Embassy as motivated by greed. Are you also accusing the UN of stationing 6800 troops there just to get to the oil?
warrant46
(2,205 posts)"those kids VOLUNTEER to project American Power in exchange for a steady paycheck." (the response)
Mercenaries----eh ?
My kid is paid shit, in fact several of his friends who are married get food stamps.
If there were any F@$#ing jobs that paid living wages, the military would have to do what it did ten years ago (when Iraq was the hot spot) pay bonuses etc.
But most here wouldn't understand ---duty, honor,, country, and I as a parent will question WTF the US is doing in that shit hole.
Just like my mother and father did when 3 of my family including me were getting our asses shot at in the Nam for $155.00 a month, $60.00 was "combat pay" (None of us were drafted)
You want mercenaries--send in Blackwater
maxsolomon
(34,835 posts)i didn't even think it.
i said that they get paid (they do), not that they were paid adequately. and many join to get employment, or skills, or both. not all are motivated by patriotism like your family.
"duty, honor, country" is, frankly, what they sell you to get you to volunteer. the reality is often a shit hole: vietnam, afghanistan, iraq, the south sudan.
i don't want mercenaries.