32 replies to this topic

[PhillyB]

What is everyone's opinion of this?

linky

Tens of millions of dollars of U.S. military financing will continue to flow to Yemen and three other countries that recruit and use child soldiers, despite a 2008 U.S. law designed to restrict U.S. taxpayer funding of foreign militaries that enlist children to fight in war.

The White House issued a memorandum Tuesday evening to allow military funding to Yemen, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Chad, three of the six countries on the State Department's list of foreign governments that recruit and use child soldiers in state-backed armed forces and militias.

Human rights advocates say the presidential waivers, issued for a second year in a row, undermine the intentions of Congress.

[thefuzz]

I don't know enough about it to understand all the ramifications of it, but just on the surface....I hate it.

We shouldn't be supporting these armies, with or without child soldiers.

We have enough financial issues at home to be sending monies over there.

Just my $.02

[mmmbeans]

I don't know enough about it to understand all the ramifications of it, but just on the surface....I hate it.

We shouldn't be supporting these armies, with or without child soldiers.

We have enough financial issues at home to be sending monies over there.

Just my $.02

our operations in africa are a resource grab disguised as counter-terrorism... we aren't in there for shiats and giggles. That said, I agree with you.

[g5jamz]

Kony v2.0

[Panthro]

I'd rather give my money to Jerry Richardson if that says how much I dislike this.

I also want a definition of what a child soldier is though, their roles, and their age.

[thefuzz]

our operations in africa are a resource grab disguised as counter-terrorism... we aren't in there for shiats and giggles. That said, I agree with you.

Possibly, but I'm not so sure what is over there that we want...diamonds...maybe?

Elements of some type, I just don't know enough.

Personally I think that the government is forever looking to expand, in any way possible.

[Gazi]

I'd rather give my money to Jerry Richardson if that says how much I dislike this.

I also want a definition of what a child soldier is though, their roles, and their age.

17 and younger? But we have plenty of recruits of our own at that age.

[stirs]

It is easy to agree with you that this is abhorrent and worse that we (gov) have not standards.

On the other hand, when we deem an 18 year old, an adult, is that a universal standard? Just asking

[mmmbeans]

Possibly, but I'm not so sure what is over there that we want...diamonds...maybe?

Elements of some type, I just don't know enough.

Personally I think that the government is forever looking to expand, in any way possible.

oil, gas, gold, copper, timber, labor

[Panthro]

We targeted a 16 year old american with a drone. So we have no problem killing them if they sign up.

[Mr. Scot]

Awful decision.

[Davidson Deac II]

oil, gas, gold, copper, timber, labor

Not sure about the others, but Timber and Labor from Africa are not something we really need.

[PhillyB]

i'm interested in hearing arguments in support of it... i think most people i've encountered agree it's terrible... any dissenters?

[mmmbeans]

Not sure about the others, but Timber and Labor from Africa are not something we really need.

1. Not yet.

2. China is in there... just like the middle east, this has more to do with keeping a leash on china as it does with our actual current demand.

3. Lets be serious here. NEED has never been an issue in our consumption... If we don't need them, we'll sell them to someone else at a premium... We always need money.

[Kurb]

Pretty disgusting.