Boko Haram, what should we do?

[SportsGuy41017]

I read a report from the Vatican that the Archbishop in Nigeria is appealing for help as the Boko Haram fighters are advancing, threatening to take the city of Maiduguri, and would bring even more catastrophic events for many innocent people.

 

Asked if the international community should step in and create some sort of diplomatic dialogue, the Archbishop said "This situation has nothing to do with dialogue because we are dealing with a group that has lost all rationality and kills people at will. Whether they are Christians or Muslims, they kill them indiscriminately".

 

I know we have had threads about Kobo Haram before, we all know of their brutality. What should be done?

[Getslow]

It starts with Goodluck Jonathan getting his head out of his backside. He sits in the relatively peaceful south of the country, using the conflict to his political advantage in the upcoming elections while the north burns. Until he's actually willing to acknowledge the extent of thud crisis, there's not a whole lot the rest of the world can do. His neighbors and the rest of the African Union would probably love to help... but they have to be invited.

[UKMustangFan]

It starts with Goodluck Jonathan getting his head out of his backside. He sits in the relatively peaceful south of the country, using the conflict to his political advantage in the upcoming elections while the north burns. Until he's actually willing to acknowledge the extent of thud crisis, there's not a whole lot the rest of the world can do. His neighbors and the rest of the African Union would probably love to help... but they have to be invited.

 

The bolded isn't really true.

[Getslow]

The bolded isn't really true.

 

The AU won't do anything without invitation. That's just the way that's going to go.

[UKMustangFan]

The AU won't do anything without invitation. That's just the way that's going to go.

 

Right, but if they really wanted to they could.

[doomer]

Send Kerry over to give them all a big hug.

 

I believe this should be escalated to the UN before we do anything...then it should be in line with the UN position.

[jericho]

Let Michelle Obama throw hashtags at them, it apparently does so much good, I mean at least it got those girls home. Wait , no it didn't.

[Getslow]

Right, but if they really wanted to they could.

 

Fair enough.

 

The main task for the time being is to keep it from spilling over into other states. Cameroon and their other neighbor to the north both have strong military presence along the border in order to contain Boko Haram to the North of Nigeria. If Jonathan wins re-election, he may have a new-found sense of duty and will do more to root out the group and its leaders. As of now, the fact that his main opponent is a northerner, a general, and a muslim, the war going poorly perversely works in his favor among his electoral base in the south of the country.

[SportsGuy41017]

I bring this up as I have a question. Since Boko Haram is a terrorist organization, who is working at least in part with ISIS, why shouldn't we be dealing with them? In the air and/or the ground?

[jericho]

Send Michelle Obama there to hashtag them to death.

 

Her little pouty lips and sign has done nothing to bring the girls back.

[SportsGuy41017]

Anyone with any real ideas and solutions?

[bballfamily]

The AU should be the first to deal with this situation. Both the AU and UN should be prepared to act if and when this situation spills across Nigeria's borders.

They also must be ready to go, if they think that the deaths of civilians reach a point where they can no longer wait for the government of Nigeria to ask for help. Otherwise, you just sit back and watch the horror play out.

[SportsGuy41017]

^ Thanks for your reply. Then why sit back and watch here, but not with Iraq and other places? Both are terrorist organizations, and Boko is working with ISIS.

 

The EU and the UN always want to wait and see, they think that dialog will solve all issues, so they want to sit back and "talk" things over, the problem is, they never want to give up on just "talking" and don't want to start real action. It would be nice if the world was like that, the way we should operate, by heart to heart communications to get things worked out. But in the real world it doesn't work that way, some people are evil and don't care about the talks, and just keep doing what they are doing.

[PepRock01]

^ Thanks for your reply. Then why sit back and watch here, but not with Iraq and other places? Both are terrorist organizations, and Boko is working with ISIS.

 

The EU and the UN always want to wait and see, they think that dialog will solve all issues, so they want to sit back and "talk" things over, the problem is, they never want to give up on just "talking" and don't want to start real action. It would be nice if the world was like that, the way we should operate, by heart to heart communications to get things worked out. But in the real world it doesn't work that way, some people are evil and don't care about the talks, and just keep doing what they are doing.

 

The AU is much more proactive, but they can't go into a member country unless invited.

[bballfamily]

^ Thanks for your reply. Then why sit back and watch here, but not with Iraq and other places? Both are terrorist organizations, and Boko is working with ISIS.

 

The EU and the UN always want to wait and see, they think that dialog will solve all issues, so they want to sit back and "talk" things over, the problem is, they never want to give up on just "talking" and don't want to start real action. It would be nice if the world was like that, the way we should operate, by heart to heart communications to get things worked out. But in the real world it doesn't work that way, some people are evil and don't care about the talks, and just keep doing what they are doing.

 

I know what stated is based upon wishful thinking, particularly in relation to the UN. What other alternative is there, other than a US led coalition? Many would oppose this on a variety of reasons across the political spectrum.

 

Anytime the US enters a conflict it should be to wage total war to victory. No fooling around with rules of engagement that limit quick and utter destruction and complete victory over our enemies. That is a problem our military faces today and causes increased killed and wounded and possibly not totally defeating our enemies.