[cat in the hat]

Part of the reasoning goes with the DOD/State department attempts to apply the sunscreen principle in Africa. ie. a few troops now to put out little fires before extremism takes further root and/or spreads further.

Kony has in the past operated in South Sudan, with the recent separation North Sudan could "persuade" the LRA to make trouble for the new government in Juba. South Sudan has oil and natural gas reserves.

the LRA has been active in DROC so we trained up a light infantry BN in Kisangani a few years back with the hope that it would be used against LRA and some of the other groups. Congo has many minerals we like to use in our toys.

lots of other nations have a head start on the Dark continent and we are playing catch up trying to get more than a token foot in the door.

AND, without sounding like a conspiracy nut. we have troops in Uganda working with the UPDF SF group so that our CIC can point to a military operation that is not based on corporate greed (unless you really look deep). I have no doubt that as the election grows closer, he will use US involvement to his advantage.

and on top of all the above ideas. getting involved with the anti LRA effort is the right thing to do. outside of the base in Djibouti, most of the US military operating in the area are SF, PSYOP/MISO and CA (Army and Navy) we get more bang for the buck and can do more with less troops.