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[House Document 112-64]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]

112th Congress, 1st Session - - - - - - - - - - - - - House Document 112-64

 
 NOTIFICATION THAT APPROXIMATELY 100 U.S. MILITARY PERSONNEL HAVE BEEN 
DEPLOYED TO CENTRAL AFRICA TO ACT AS ADVISORS TO PARTNER FORCES AGAINST 
               THE LORD'S RESISTANCE ARMY AND ITS LEADER

                               __________

                             COMMUNICATION

                                  from

                   THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

                              transmitting

 NOTIFICATION THAT APPROXIMATELY 100 U.S. MILITARY PERSONNEL HAVE BEEN 
DEPLOYED TO CENTRAL AFRICA TO ACT AS ADVISORS TO PARTNER FORCES AGAINST 
               THE LORD'S RESISTANCE ARMY AND ITS LEADER

  October 14, 2011.--Referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs and 
                         ordered to be printed
                                           The White House,
                                      Washington, October 14, 2011.
Hon. John Boehner,
Speaker of the House of Representatives,
Washington, DC.
    Dear Mr. Speaker: For more than two decades, the Lord's 
Resistance Army (LRA) has murdered, raped, and kidnapped tens 
of thousands of men, women, and children in central Africa. The 
LRA continues to commit atrocities across the Central African 
Republic, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and South Sudan 
that have a disproportionate impact on regional security. Since 
2008, the United States has supported regional military efforts 
to pursue the LRA and protect local communities. Even with some 
limited U.S. assistance, however, regional military efforts 
have thus far been unsuccessful in removing LRA leader Joseph 
Kony or his top commanders from the battlefield. In the Lord's 
Resistance Army Disarmament and Northern Uganda Recovery Act of 
2009, Public Law 111-172, enacted May 24, 2010, the Congress 
also expressed support for increased, comprehensive U.S. 
efforts to help mitigate and eliminate the threat posed by the 
LRA to civilians and regional stability.
    In furtherance of the Congress's stated policy, I have 
authorized a small number of combat-equipped U.S. forces to 
deploy to central Africa to provide assistance to regional 
forces that are working toward the removal of Joseph Kony from 
the battlefield. I believe that deploying these U.S. Armed 
Forces furthers U.S. national security interests and foreign 
policy and will be a significant contribution toward counter-
LRA efforts in central Africa.
    On October 12, the initial team of U.S. military personnel 
with appropriate combat equipment deployed to Uganda. During 
the next month, additional forces will deploy, including a 
second combat-equipped team and associated headquarters, 
communications, and logistics personnel. The total number of 
U.S. military personnel deploying for this mission is 
approximately 100. These forces will act as advisors to partner 
forces that have the goal of removing from the battlefield 
Joseph Kony and other senior leadership of the LRA. Our forces 
will provide information, advice, and assistance to select 
partner nation forces. Subject to the approval of each 
respective host nation, elements of these U.S. forces will 
deploy into Uganda, South Sudan, the Central African Republic, 
and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The support provided 
by U.S. forces will enhance regional efforts against the LRA. 
However, although the U.S. forces are combat-equipped, they 
will only be providing information, advice, and assistance to 
partner nation forces, and they will not themselves engage LRA 
forces unless necessary for self-defense. All appropriate 
precautions have been taken to ensure the safety of U.S. 
military personnel during their deployment.
    I have directed this deployment, which is in the national 
security and foreign policy interests of the United States, 
pursuant to my constitutional authority to conduct U.S. foreign 
relations and as Commander in Chief and Chief Executive. I am 
making 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 this action.
            Sincerely,
                                                      Barack Obama.

                                  
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