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Try being in one for 18+ hours

That's a Airborne Op Ensis posted of. Like max flight time is four hours.

I wish we'd send some troops in too. I think it's absolutely the right thing to do. This story is sickening.

Think how many of those girls might come home infected with HIV. I mean, just at the low end of the spectrum of horror here, but still devastating.

What is "US Interest" in Nigeria to justify a US Military/US Armed Forces response?

 Jihadin wrote:
What is "US Interest" in Nigeria to justify a US Military/US Armed Forces response?

I don't honestly think there is one, besides "they asked us to" which to me, I would think "they asked us to blow gak up for them" is better than "they have something bad, so we're gonna go in there and give them freedom" that many people see us doing.

 Jihadin wrote:
What is "US Interest" in Nigeria to justify a US Military/US Armed Forces response?

How about A) help was requested and B) these guys deserves a MOAB up their arse.

This is one instance where I would favor an actual military strike. Go in there with special forces and kill all the kidnappers. Cover them in the blood of swine and leave their corpses on pikes to rot in the jungle heat.

If we're going to go in there and make a statement... then by Allah there should be no question as to what the actual outcome should be.

The key here is that they asked for our help... we ain't jollygagging without their permission in this.

EDIT: ninja'ed by Ensis

 Jihadin wrote:
What is "US Interest" in Nigeria to justify a US Military/US Armed Forces response?

Human interest. Why do you hate children?

(I do not actually think you hate children.)

I hate children.

 Frazzled wrote:
I hate children.

You wouldn't if they stayed off your lawn.

Or would just climb into this oven, er special closet.


Mmmmthe other other white meat.

I would say that we would need something from the UN before sending in any real military units, though personally this seems like something the UN should handle. However history is chalk full of examples of how useless the UN is when it does anything in Africa. This also seems like something a true military contractor could handle ala executive outcomes actions in Sierra Leone in 95

Its cheaper detailing Drones with Hellfire there.

They're hiding in a national Jungle Park that's way bigger then Yellowstone.

The JOTC was closed late 80's early 90's in Panama.

We've no experience in Jungle Operations.

Do we actually want to deploy military Task Force in country? We're out of Iraq and soon to be, real SOON, in Afghanistan. I do not believe that Obama is quite that willing to begin Combat Operations in another country with "Boots on Ground"

Edit

To similar how we got involve in Somalia

 Jihadin wrote:


The JOTC was closed late 80's early 90's in Panama.

We've no experience in Jungle Operations.

It looks like others have noticed the lack of jungle prepared troops. I read this earlier today: http://www.armytimes.com/article/20130604/NEWS/306040004/Hawaii-unit-re-establishing-jungle-warfare-school

Not yet an 'official' as in you can schedule it through your unit training NCO course, but they are trying hard to make it so.

By the way, as someone who was in Panama 'till 99, I can tell you JOTC was running rotations at least through 98. Nothing like crossing a caiman infested river, swimming while pushing your poncho raft, at night. I love Ft Sherman. Except the black palms. Those were not fun.

 Jihadin wrote:
Its cheaper detailing Drones with Hellfire there.

They're hiding in a national Jungle Park that's way bigger then Yellowstone.

The JOTC was closed late 80's early 90's in Panama.

We've no experience in Jungle Operations.

Do we actually want to deploy military Task Force in country? We're out of Iraq and soon to be, real SOON, in Afghanistan. I do not believe that Obama is quite that willing to begin Combat Operations in another country with "Boots on Ground"

Edit

To similar how we got involve in Somalia

Nah... I'd ramp up intelligence operations there...

You know... find them.

Then send in the drones/special forces. Oh... maybe one spectre gunship to loiter around.

An AC130 is not a good tool for rescuing hostages. It may be decent overwatch for a rescue force, but even though they have very good fire control, when dealing with kids who will run anywhere, it would be hard to get fires cleared.

 CptJake wrote:
An AC130 is not a good tool for rescuing hostages. It may be decent overwatch for a rescue force, but even though they have very good fire control, when dealing with kids who will run anywhere, it would be hard to get fires cleared.

I was being cheeky...

I know we can't just drop munitions all over the place.

This would definitely require actual kick ass boots on the ground.

Which is why I am very much in favor of those being Nigerian boots. Way too risky of a mission for me to want to see us take the blame for dead hostages. If they were US hostages (even some) I would be for US door kickers.

I participated in a very limited support role during hostage situation in Peru when Tupac Amaru took over the Japanese Ambassador's residence and know a bit about the sensitivities of host nation and US interests and the potential for gak to go sideways.

 CptJake wrote:
Which is why I am very much in favor of those being Nigerian boots. Way too risky of a mission for me to want to see us take the blame for dead hostages. If they were US hostages (even some) I would be for US door kickers.

I participated in a very limited support role during hostage situation in Peru when Tupac Amaru took over the Japanese Ambassador's residence and know a bit about the sensitivities of host nation and US interests and the potential for gak to go sideways.

Sure... I get that and maybe the best solution is to train the Nigerians to combat this.

I wish them the best of luck in finding these poor girls. I don't know if they'll have any luck, but I hope they do.

I'm fine with us sending FBI teams, and intelligence assets over there to help with the search. It is the proper thing to do.

However, if any asses need to be whooped, let the Nigerians do it themselves while we watch and nod approvingly.

One pitfall people are falling into when discussing Nigeria is that they are acting like its some unstable dictator of the week African country. While it does have a degree of instability like all such countries, Nigeria also has the largest economy in Africa, it's one of the most populous nations in Africa and is the major regional power in sub Saharan Africa. I would classify it as a nation on the edge of westernising.

Nigeria isn't as bad off as its sometimes made out to be. It has very little sectarian violence compared to other African nations despite having one of the most ethnically diverse populations on the continent. It's one of the Next Eleven nations for a good reason. Despite its problems with religious conflict, Nigeria is in a good position to grow very stable and strong over the next century.

I don't have issue with the US going and helping them out. Its a nice change of pace from our usual 'lets invade' philosophy

 EmilCrane wrote:
One pitfall people are falling into when discussing Nigeria is that they are acting like its some unstable dictator of the week African country. While it does have a degree of instability like all such countries, Nigeria also has the largest economy in Africa, it's one of the most populous nations in Africa and is the major regional power in sub Saharan Africa. I would classify it as a nation on the edge of westernising.

Absolutely. it's a foothold of civilization. That makes providing assistance when requested more important, I think.

If we're going to train the Nigerian military up then they need to come here.
S.F.
School of America
JRTC version of Hawaii "JOTC"

Thanks Jake for the update. One rotation there in '92 and someone threw "brass" at the Howler Monkies"

 EmilCrane wrote:
One pitfall people are falling into when discussing Nigeria is that they are acting like its some unstable dictator of the week African country. While it does have a degree of instability like all such countries, Nigeria also has the largest economy in Africa, it's one of the most populous nations in Africa and is the major regional power in sub Saharan Africa. I would classify it as a nation on the edge of westernising.

Their economy is even larger than South Africa?? I mean, I would assume that, outside of the formerly stable Egypt, RSA would be your next "best" country on the Continent, since they have probably the most external influence (especially from Australia, and NZ around this time of year, and then in August)

 Ensis Ferrae wrote:

 EmilCrane wrote:
One pitfall people are falling into when discussing Nigeria is that they are acting like its some unstable dictator of the week African country. While it does have a degree of instability like all such countries, Nigeria also has the largest economy in Africa, it's one of the most populous nations in Africa and is the major regional power in sub Saharan Africa. I would classify it as a nation on the edge of westernising.

Their economy is even larger than South Africa?? I mean, I would assume that, outside of the formerly stable Egypt, RSA would be your next "best" country on the Continent, since they have probably the most external influence (especially from Australia, and NZ around this time of year, and then in August)

It is ranked second to South Africa. 3rd on the continent.

I'm pretty sure they're the largest growing economy, meaning that they have the biggest opportunity for growth in Africa which isn't too outlandish.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Boko Haram in the news again;

http://news.yahoo.com/shocked-survivors-count-dead-boko-haram-attack-194032325.html

 daedalus wrote:

 Jihadin wrote:
What is "US Interest" in Nigeria to justify a US Military/US Armed Forces response?

Human interest. Why do you hate children?

(I do not actually think you hate children.)

America always claims to be the (LA)PD of the world, so they should offer their help, Or there must be OIL or Titanium off course. Isolation really, should have done that in 40-45 the europe and russia would have been part of the 1000 year reich

 Jehan-reznor wrote:
America always claims to be the (LA)PD of the world, so they should offer their help,

I don't believe we've ever made that claim.

Other countries have certainly claimed we are or believe ourselves to be, but I don't recall any of our leaders or public institutions ever having accepted the mantle.

 Ensis Ferrae wrote:

 EmilCrane wrote:
One pitfall people are falling into when discussing Nigeria is that they are acting like its some unstable dictator of the week African country. While it does have a degree of instability like all such countries, Nigeria also has the largest economy in Africa, it's one of the most populous nations in Africa and is the major regional power in sub Saharan Africa. I would classify it as a nation on the edge of westernising.

Their economy is even larger than South Africa?? I mean, I would assume that, outside of the formerly stable Egypt, RSA would be your next "best" country on the Continent, since they have probably the most external influence (especially from Australia, and NZ around this time of year, and then in August)

Yup, this happened recently. We seem to be stagnating a little the last few years, but this is a discussion for a different place.

As for your second point, the only thing we're influencing in Oz and NZ at the moment, is the bottom places on the combined log (with my team holding onto top spot, but still got away games against the Crusaders [gulp] and Brumbies to worry about). As for August...

 Ensis Ferrae wrote:

 EmilCrane wrote:
One pitfall people are falling into when discussing Nigeria is that they are acting like its some unstable dictator of the week African country. While it does have a degree of instability like all such countries, Nigeria also has the largest economy in Africa, it's one of the most populous nations in Africa and is the major regional power in sub Saharan Africa. I would classify it as a nation on the edge of westernising.

Their economy is even larger than South Africa?? I mean, I would assume that, outside of the formerly stable Egypt, RSA would be your next "best" country on the Continent, since they have probably the most external influence (especially from Australia, and NZ around this time of year, and then in August)

Nigeria is potentially one of the largest oil producers int he world. The make, well nothing else, except rebel groups and crime. They're real good about that. Also killings of Christians (no one noted these Christian girls) is common in certain regions.

Corruption is so bad, pretty much no US company can do business there. I remember starting a bank call with the CEO starting by saying "the good news, no one was killed in the attack." The call went downhill from there.