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Is There More to the Invisible Children Story in Uganda Than Meets the Eye?

I was a sophomore in college when I first saw the movie. I remember sitting cross-legged in front of the screen while wearing a white undershirt and khaki pants. I cried.

How can you not shed a tear when you see innocent children talking about having to kill family members and being captured to take part in a mad man’s war? I never forgot the images.

Those images were the result of the nonprofit Invisible Children — a group fighting to end the atrocities of Joseph Kony in Uganda. He and his Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) captures the helpless children, forces them to fight, and kills and rapes others.

For a little bit, I even wanted to go over to Uganda and join the fight against Kony. I didn’t. I became a journalist. And now I find myself in a tough position: after posting an Associated Press story about the Invisible Children’s newest video (which has been seen millions and millions of times and even has the support of Anonymous), I’ve been getting messages from people (including my own brother) telling me to look into it more. Something seems a little off, they’ve said. Torn, I started digging a little more. And here’s what I found.

Invisible Children Critiques and Criticism | In Depth Information

On the surface, something does seem a little odd. In looking at what people are saying about the new video and campaign, there could be legitimate criticisms. The UK’s Guardian has posted an extensive piece detailing some of the critiques. For example, it points to the tumblr Visible Children, which has raised some important concerns, including Kony not even being in Uganda anymore and accusations of “manipulating facts:”

The group is in favour of direct military intervention, and their money supports the Ugandan government’s army and various other military forces. Here’s a photo of the founders of Invisible Children posing with weapons and personnel of the Sudan People’s Liberation Army. Both the Ugandan army and Sudan People’s Liberation Army are riddled with accusations of rape and looting, but Invisible Children defends them, arguing that the Ugandan army is “better equipped than that of any of the other affected countries”, although Kony is no longer active in Uganda and hasn’t been since 2006 by their own admission. These books each refer to the rape and sexual assault that are perennial issues with the UPDF, the military group Invisible Children is defending.

Still, the bulk of Invisible Children’s spending isn’t on supporting African militias, but on awareness and filmmaking. Which can be great, except that Foreign Affairs has claimed that Invisible Children (among others) “manipulates facts for strategic purposes, exaggerating the scale of LRA abductions and murders and emphasizing the LRA’s use of innocent children as soldiers, and portraying Kony — a brutal man, to be sure — as uniquely awful, a Kurtz-like embodiment of evil.” He’s certainly evil, but exaggeration and manipulation to capture the public eye is unproductive, unprofessional and dishonest.

But Visible Children isn’t the only one raising concerns.

Michael Wilson from Foreign Policy, who spent time in Uganda:

It would be great to get rid of Kony.  He and his forces have left a path of abductions and mass murder in their wake for over 20 years.  But let’s get two things straight: 1) Joseph Kony is not in Uganda and hasn’t been for 6 years; 2) the LRA now numbers at most in the hundreds, and while it is still causing immense suffering, it is unclear how millions of well-meaning but misinformed people are going to help deal with the more complicated reality.

First, the facts. Following a successful campaign by the Ugandan military and failed peace talks in 2006, the LRA was pushed out of Uganda and has been operating in extremely remote areas of the DRC, South Sudan, and the Central African Republic — where Kony himself is believed to be now. The Ugandan military has been pursuing the LRA since then but had little success (and several big screw-ups). In October last year, President Obama authorized the deployment of 100 U.S. Army advisors to help the Ugandan military track down Kony, with no results disclosed to date.

Additionally, the LRA (thankfully!) does not have 30,000 mindless child soldiers. This grim figure, cited by Invisible Children in the film (and by others) refers to the total number of kids abducted by the LRA over nearly 30 years. Eerily, it is also the same number estimated for the total killed in the more than 20 years of conflict in Northern Uganda.

Arthur Larok, Action Aid’s director in Uganda, previously the director of programs at the Uganda National NGO Forum:

From what I know about Invisible Children, it’s an international NGO, and it documents the lives of children living in conflict for international campaigning to draw attention to the lives of children in the north.

Six or 10 years ago, this would have been a really effective campaign strategy to get international campaigning. But today, years after Kony has moved away from Uganda, I think campaigning that appeals to these emotions … I‘m not sure that’s effective for now. The circumstances in the north have changed.

Many NGOs and the government, especially local government in the north, are about rebuilding and securing lives for children, in education, sanitation, health and livelihoods. International campaigning that doesn’t support this agenda is not so useful at this point. We have moved beyond that.

[...]I don’t think this is the best way. It might be an appeal that makes sense in America. But there are more fundamental challenges. Kony has been around for 25 years and over. I don’t think in the north at the moment that is really what is most important. It might be best on the internet and the like but, at the end of the day, there are more pressing things to deal with. If the Americans had wanted to arrest him, they would have done that a long time ago.

They [Invisible Children] are not a member of our forum. Many international organisations prefer to work and have direct contact with their quarters. They don’t work so much within the structures we have in the country. There is nothing dramatic about them. They are like any other organisation trying to make a difference. At the moment I think the work of Invisible Children is about appealing to people’s emotions. I think that time has passed. Their reputation in the country is something that can be debatable. There is a strong argument generally about NGOs and their work in the north.

It doesn’t sound like a fair representation of Uganda. We have challenges within the country, but certainly the perception of a country at war is not accurate at all. There are political, economic and social challenges, but they are complex. Being dramatic about a country at war is not accurate. [Emphasis added]

John Vidal, environment writer at the Guardian:

They call themselves “a movement” seeking to end the conflict in Uganda and stop the abduction of children for use as child soldiers, but behind the slick website and the touchy-feely talk about “changing the course of human history”, there’s a hard-nosed money-making operation led by US filmmakers and accountants, commuication [sic] experts, lobbyists and salespeople.

So far the organisation has released 11 films and run film tours across the US and other countries to raise awareness. In Uganda, it has given scholarships to 750 children, and helped to re-build schools there and in centralo Africa. The organisation’s accounts show it’s a cash rich operation, which more than tripled its income in 2011, with more than two thirds of its money coming from “general donations”.

The accounts suggest nearly 25% of its $8.8m income last year was spent on travel and film-making with only around 30% going toward programes on the ground. The great majority of the money raised has been spent in the US. $1.7 million went on US employee salaries, $357,000 in film costs, $850,000 in film production costs, $244,000 in “professional services” – thought to be Washington lobbyists – and $1.07 million in travel expenses . Nearly $400,000 was spent on office rent in San Diego.

And for what it’s worth, Aaron Rodgers, the NFL MVP who at first came out in support of the group, has tempered his reaction:

Invisible Children Critiques and Criticism | In Depth Information

That’s a lot to digest, especially for this writer, who was moved years ago by the stories of pain. But is that even the whole story. Maybe not. I’d be remiss not to point out some counterarguments. For one, even though Kony seems to have moved out of Uganda, he’s still wreaking havoc wherever he or his LRA Army goes. The Guardian filed this report from the Congo in July:

Additionally, on radio Thursday, Glenn Beck shared that Sen. Jim Inhofe’s (R-OK) office called to assure him that this wasn’t something that was affiliated with or supported by the Obama administration, after Beck had raised concerns considering the administration’s eagerness to involve itself in international conflicts. The Inhofe camp said the senator has been working with the organization for some time.

Most importantly, however, is the response put out by Invisible Children. If you read all the information above, you should consider the group’s reaction. It’s lengthy, but worth it. I’ve excerpted some of it below:

Re: Financials

Invisible Children’s financial statements are online for everyone to see. Financial statements from the last 5 years, including our 990, are available at www.invisiblechildren.com/financials. The organization spent 80.46% on our programs that further our three fold mission, 16.24% on administration and management costs and 3.22% on direct fundraising in FY2011. Invisible Children is independently audited every year and in full compliance with our 501 c 3 status.

Re: Ugandan government human rights record

We do not defend any of the human rights abuses perpetrated by the Ugandan government or the Ugandan army (UPDF). None of the money donated through Invisible Children ever goes to the government of Uganda. Yet the only feasible and proper way to stop Kony and protect the civilians he targets is to coordinate efforts with regional governments.

Re: Why work with the UPDF if the LRA is no longer in northern Uganda

The LRA left northern Uganda in 2006. The LRA is currently active in Democratic Republic of Congo, Central African Republic, and South Sudan. Invisible Children’s mission is to stop Joseph Kony and the LRA wherever they are and help rehabilitate LRA-affected communities. The Ugandan government’s army, the UPDF, is more organized and better equipped than that of any of the other affected countries (DRC, South Sudan, CAR) to track down Joseph Kony. Part of the US strategy to stop Kony is to encourage cooperation between the governments and armies of the 4 LRA-affected countries. The LRA was active in Uganda for nearly 20 years, displacing 1.7 million people and abducting at least 30,000 children. The people and government of Uganda have a vested interested in seeing him stopped.

Re: The photo of the founders with the guns (see banner image)

A story told by Jason Russell: The photo of Bobby, Laren and I with the guns was taken in an LRA camp in DRC during the 2008 Juba Peace Talks. We were there to see Joseph Kony come to the table to sign the Final Peace Agreement. The Sudan People’s Liberation Army (SPLA) was surrounding our camp for protection since Sudan was mediating the peace talks. We wanted to talk to them and film them and get their perspective. And because Bobby, Laren and I are friends and had been doing this for 5 years, we thought it would be funny to bring back to our friends and family a joke photo. You know, “Haha – they have bazookas in their hands but they’re actually fighting for peace.” The ironic thing about this photo is that I HATE guns. I always have. Back in 2008 I wanted this war to end, like we all did, peacefully, through peace talks. But Kony was not interested in that; he kept killing. And we still don’t want war. We don’t want him killed and we don’t want bombs dropped. We want him alive and captured and brought to justice.

Well that’s certainly interesting.

“If encountering something you disagree with, suggest an alternative to what we are doing- and we will absolutely take heed,” the group writes. “If it’s a matter of opinion, taste, humor, or style: we apologize, and will have to agree to disagree. As the poet Ke$ha says, ‘we are who we are.’”

I won’t comment on the wisdom of quoting Ke$ha while trying to defend your institution from criticism, but what I will say is that hopefully this has given you a lot to think about.

And whether the truth is on the side of the Invisible Children, the critics, or a combination of both, it’s probably worth shedding more tears over. For a number of reasons.

If you have any other information to share with us, feel free to send it along.

Comments (151)

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  • Mark0331
    Posted on March 8, 2012 at 2:00pm

    Should we all join hands and sing “We are the World” now….this is Africans being Africans. A damn tragedy but nothing new. Even the Ugandan govt used child soldiers to get into power…focus on America…this is the ‘other hand’, tugging at your heartstrings…Darfour, Rawanda, Uganda,Ethiopa..what has changed? Nothing. How much money has been thrown at this continent to fix it? Metric tons of cash and aid supplies, yet it still sits in the stone age.Kind of looks like every inner city to me.

    Report Post » Mark0331  
    • SgtB
      Posted on March 8, 2012 at 3:10pm

      You know, some would even say that our “intervention” through food charity has caused the majority of the last half century’s problems. Excess food from our market is bought with taxpayer dollars to subsidize our farmers and drive higher food prices while said excess food is dumped in real food deserts and destroys any chance for a local farmer, rancher, or store to make it. There are several groups that seek to end this form of economic murder and instead of dumping food, they buy the locally produced food spurring reinvestment and then distribute the food to only those who are truly needy and do not stay long. There are even charities where you can donate livestock to people so that they can raise and breed more. To us, a cow or goat might not be worth much, but where edible food is scarce, a goat that can eat grass, weeds, and assorted vegetation that humans cannot eat is a prized commodity.

      Report Post » SgtB  
    • UNBOTHERED
      Posted on March 8, 2012 at 3:32pm

      Damn conservatives are evil people.
      Damn

      UNBOTHERED  
    • GoliathOnline
      Posted on March 8, 2012 at 5:07pm

      sorry but i like to laugh at ironic things like the people who want Kony killed are the same people that complain the US shouldnt police the world… im down with ending any Human trafficking.. but we need to see that this problem is in many.. many.. many.. more countries other than just Uganda as well. and these things usually happens when a countries own government has zero control and is full of corruption. kill a man, and he will be replaced.. its usually the story. but to really cut the head off the snake would be a sound government and education. if we go there just to only kill Kony, well what problem are we truly solving?

      Report Post » GoliathOnline  
    • Walkabout
      Posted on March 8, 2012 at 5:23pm

      UNBOTHERED

      Clinton is that you?

      Clinton wrang his hands about the U.S. not doing anything about Rwanda genocide. Clinton was president at that time. China was still emerging & Russia was in an economic collapse. The U.S. was the lone superpower. What did Clinton do? He did the intern.

      Damn Liberals are evil.

      Report Post »  
    • wasatchghost
      Posted on March 8, 2012 at 5:46pm

      Well now that the dysfunctional, insecure Alyssa Milano is aware all of this will just go away.

      Report Post »  
    • maumau
      Posted on March 8, 2012 at 6:44pm

      I didnt like the bit on changing our conversations that sounded a lot like michelle obama also when she said change our traditions….

      Report Post » maumau  
    • FreedomPurveyor
      Posted on March 8, 2012 at 7:05pm

      Joseph Kony left Uganda in 2006. Since then, over 45,000 people have been murdered across our unsecured southern border. Hmmm…………….. yeah let’s worry about Uganda.

      Report Post » FreedomPurveyor  
    • mjmiddleton
      Posted on March 8, 2012 at 7:13pm

      No, this is Africans being victimized by a terrorist group that has received funding, weapons and support from the radical Islamist, Muslim Brotherhood backed regime in Khartoum, which is hell bent on sowing discord among the Christian communites in South Sudan, Congo, and Central African Republic. Get over your racist bias and learn the truth.

      Report Post »  
    • soybomb315
      Posted on March 8, 2012 at 7:20pm

      one more step towards world government

      Report Post » soybomb315  
    • resme
      Posted on March 8, 2012 at 7:32pm

      Where is the outcry of this video? NONE

      http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=5zNwOeyuG84

      Report Post » resme  
    • EndTheFedNOW
      Posted on March 8, 2012 at 8:56pm

      No War Anywhere

      Report Post » EndTheFedNOW  
    • Walkabout
      Posted on March 8, 2012 at 9:38pm

      JZS

      “The Lord’s Resistance Army (also Lord’s Resistance Movement or Lakwena Part Two) is a militant group with a syncretic Christian extreme religious ideology,” -wiki

      Did you see the adjective (the modifier) syncretic? If it were mainstream Christianity it would not need an adjective.

      syn·cre·tism -the attempted reconciliation or union of different or opposing principles, practices, or parties, as in philosophy or religion.

      Now JZS let me school you. If you come across a Christian they will probably turn the other cheek. But if you come across a person who is a cultural Christian but not an actual practicing Christian, they will not take your needling well at all. For starters they won’t listen to you or trust you. If for some reason you both agree on something they will have been so savaged by you in the past by your caustic comments that they will never make common cause with you.

      Report Post »  
    • Walkabout
      Posted on March 8, 2012 at 9:43pm

      “The Lord’s Resistance Army (also Lord’s Resistance Movement or Lakwena Part Two) is a militant group with a

      syncretic

      Christian

      extreme religious ideology, known for the extreme atrocities they commit against civilians, including killings, mutilations, rape, and in some accounts even cannibalism.[4]. The group operates in northern Uganda, South Sudan, the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Central African Republic.[5]

      The Lord’s Resistance Army was formed in 1987 in the Acholi region of Northern Uganda. Initially, the LRA was an outgrowth and continuation of the larger armed resistance movement waged by some of the Acholi people against a central Ugandan government which they felt marginalized them. Over 25 years, the LRA’s political goals have become much harder to decipher” -wiki

      syncretism: the combination of different forms of belief or practice

      Report Post »  
    • Walkabout
      Posted on March 8, 2012 at 10:06pm

      Unbothered & JZS

      Take your hatred somewhere else.

      “In 1988, Alice Lakwena established the Holy Spirit Movement, a resistance movement claimed to be inspired by the Holy Spirit of God. She portrayed herself as a prophet who received messages from the Holy Spirit of God. She expressed the belief that the Acholi could defeat the government run by Yoweri Museveni by casting off witchcraft and spiritualism embedded in their culture. According to her messages from God, her followers should cover their bodies with shea nut oil as protection from bullets, never take cover or retreat in battle, and never kill snakes or bees.[21]

      Joseph Kony would later preach a similar superstition encouraging soldiers to use oil to draw a cross on their chest as a protection from bullets.

      During an interview Alice Lakwena DISTANCED herself from Kony, claiming that the spirit DOESN’T want them to kill civilians or prisoners of war” -wiki

      Of course we know that Museveni was installed via military force by Tanzania. & that he treated all peoples with dignity.

      “The election results were disputed by both the European Union and the opposition. “The electoral process was marred with avoidable administrative and logistical failures”, according to the European Union election observer team.” -wiki

      Muswveni is an el presidente for life.

      Report Post »  
    • jzs
      Posted on March 8, 2012 at 11:06pm

      Walkabout, that’s good research, and thanks for the schooling, but I don’t see your point. Are you saying they aren’t “really” Christian? Are you saying it’s okay for them to kill Muslims?

      Seriously I read your multiple posts, but I don’t know where you are coming from. Are they Christians or not? If they are Christians, is it okay for Christians to slaughter Muslims or other people? If they are not Christians in your opinion, then how do you distinguish someone who says they are Christian, prays to the Christian God, and claims Christianity for the basis of all their actions, from a “real” Christian?

      Report Post » jzs  
    • sWampy
      Posted on March 8, 2012 at 11:07pm

      We should just stay out, I’ve seen frist hand the harm our “good will” does. We send food, the government steals it. Give them seeds and tractors, if some miracle happens and the government doesn’t take them, they use the gas and radiators to distill mash made from the seeds. If miracle of miracles, neither of these happen, and they actually get the food, they breed even more, and you have even more starving kids the next year. We need to stay out, let them duke it out, or go in and clean house. If we are going to clean house, we don’t need to make the mistakes of the past, and clean it up hold it for 50 years and then turn it back over for it to slide into a quagmire again.

      Report Post »  
    • Jeff65
      Posted on March 9, 2012 at 4:27am

      @JZS

      Are you being thick headded to stir up trouble? If a black man said he was white, would you not question his assertion? When a Christian says that Mormons are not Christians, we do have good explanations for reasons why we think that, but I could understand you questioning how we are defining what a Christian is in that case.

      When we are talking about the LRA there is no need to try to explain to you why they are not Christian. You should be able to look at the LRA and declare without any help that they are not Christian.

      You are playing the fool.

      Report Post »  
    • Walkabout
      Posted on March 9, 2012 at 6:34am

      JZS

      You are one big *******. I would say that Kony is not a christian; he is a hijacker. He hijacked the movement. I would say that Alice Lakwena is partially Christian or if one is is into the concept of Christianities that she is one. Kony is not. That you want to say that he is says more about your poor character than ours.

      That you felt the need to reply means that you felt compelled to because you were thoroughly discredited & felt the need for some sort of comeback.

      Let’s state the obvious. It is not okay to kill Muslims. I have to state the obvious because you seem confused. Just as an aside I would like to ask you a few questions. Prior to 2000 or 1992 did you know what the 5 pillars of Islam are? Do you own a Qu’ran? Have you talked to an Iman? Do you have any Muslims friends? Do ever intend to have any conversation where you don’t first attempt to roll in a grenade to stir things up because you are acting juvenile again?

      Report Post »  
    • Walkabout
      Posted on March 9, 2012 at 6:44am

      jzs

      Christian pastors from different denominations do get together. They do discuss what it means for a person or a denomination to be Christian. They generally come up with 3 criteria. Maybe you should talk to a pastor. It might do you some good.

      I generally do not consider syncretic religions to be either one religion or another but a new religion. I don;t consider the Druze to be Christian. Nor do I consider them to be Muslim. i consider them to be something new. I don’t consider them necessarily bad, merely something new. Druze is a blend of Christianity & Islam; so it is neither. That much I know. I don‘t consider it bad I just don’t know. I do know that the RCC is not telling them that they are going to Hell. Maybe he should read Vatican II. Maybe you should not read Vatican II, but you should have it explained to you by a RCC pastor.

      I listen to Michael Savage. He is Jewish by birth. If being Christian meant that I was so uptight that I thought he was going to Hell, then why would I listen to him? Well if I sincerely listen to him & I consider myself a Christian, then maybe the problem is not with me or other Christians. Maybe the problem is with you.

      Savage has some belief in the wheel theory of religions. That is that they all lead to the truth (to God). I know that some posters here listen & like both Beck & Savage. Now you tell me how that is possible.

      Report Post »  
    • Walkabout
      Posted on March 9, 2012 at 6:58am

      JZS

      Getting back to the wheel theory on religions that Savage espoused to believe at various times, I would point out that it is not in conflict with Vatican II. Some Protestant denomination might have a problem with it, but the key word there is some. That means not all of them believe that. BTW That wheel theory is not his original ideal & he did not claim it was. It means that the ideal is not a one off or rare.
      I am married to a Buddhist something something. I like some aspects of Buddhism, but ultimately it is a crock. It is nihilistic. So for my part I go with Vatican II. I would suggest that you do the same & stop being such an irascible pugnacious curmudgeon.

      I also don’t like how you use an odd Bible verse. You take them out of context & it is getting old. I have seen several attempts from the liberal playbook to play gotcha or to try to checkmate Christians with Bible verses. Well it is old & not even Wiki supports you taking verses out context. There are reasons that there are seminaries & people don’t usually become pastors by fishing out a piece of paper out of the proverbial ******* Jack box.

      You might try some Christian. The following site might dissuade you from trying to play gotcha with Bible verses siteshttp://www.religioustolerance.org/. You might try some gay pastors. I don’t agree with gay theory, but they could persuade you that you are obnoxious & ignorant/ Just a thought.

      Report Post »  
    • jzs
      Posted on March 9, 2012 at 3:59pm

      Walkabout, I know what the right wing definition of “Christian” is. If the person says he’s a Christian and you agree with him politically, then he’s a Christian. If you don’t like his politics, or when he murders people in the name of Christianity, then he’s not a “real” Christian.

      Funny, that’s exactly what the general Muslim attitude is about terrorists. The are violating Muslim laws and therefore are not “real” Muslims.

      Funny how easy it is for those on the right to declare that someone is not a real Christian, but how impossible it is for them to say that radical Muslim terrorists are not only “real” Muslims, but that the other billion Muslims in the world are exactly the same as them.

      Michael Savage is your idea of an intellectual heavyweight? Seriously? He’s banned from the UK for hate speech you know. But then again, all good Christians are renowned for hate speech and being banned from other countries.

      Report Post » jzs  
    • tallguyjgg
      Posted on March 9, 2012 at 4:08pm

      http://youtu.be/DCvGL_sfxOM
      Maching Gun Preacher Sam Childers on this issue.

      Report Post »  
    • Kaoscontrol
      Posted on March 13, 2012 at 3:08pm

      And if the mission is accomplished– Kony is killed and/or brought to justice, will Invisible Children shut down since the problem is solved? I doubt it. Too many incomes depend on keeping the problem alive. Like so many politicians, these guys don’t SOLVE the problems, they LIVE on them.

      Report Post » Kaoscontrol  
  • Syngpibear
    Posted on March 8, 2012 at 1:59pm

    I think my biggest problem with this whole Kony campaign is the double standard at work re: American intervention policies. We are either the world’s police, in which case we should be in EVERY country where artocities are happening, hunting down evil people who commit them; or, we are interfering thugs and bullies, forcing our views on countries that don’t want them, and we need to keep our noses out of it. With this campaign, it seems as though the very people who never wanted us in the Middle East, when the evil people were plotting directly against us, now want us to step in and intervene with one evil man who, at the end of the day, has nothing to do with us.

    So which is it? Are we thugs and bullies, or are we the world’s police? Because we can’t have it both ways, but that is EXACTLY what is happening now. And that is why I can’t get behind the KONY 2012 campaing – the hypocrisy at work here among celebrities and the MSM (I know, I know, nothing new) is absoluting mind-numbing.

    Report Post »  
    • Better Dead Than Red
      Posted on March 8, 2012 at 3:46pm

      100% agree with your comment. Couldn’t have said it better- thank you!!

      Report Post » Better Dead Than Red  
    • RejectFalseIcons
      Posted on March 8, 2012 at 4:16pm

      Psy-Ops. Trust me. This is the laying of groundwork for Vietnam 2: Congo.

      Report Post » RejectFalseIcons  
    • Walkabout
      Posted on March 8, 2012 at 5:28pm

      Syngpibear

      “Which is it?”

      It is okay when a Democrat does it, but not okay when a Republican does it.

      Aidid stole U.N. Provided Food supplies to use food as a weapon against other clans. President George Herbert Walker Bush put American ground forces to stop it.

      We lost 19 good men, many more were wounded, & the left blames us. I read the international Socialist Reviews take on Somalia.

      If we let them starve, it is our fault. If we intervene, it is our fault.

      Report Post »  
    • sixdogman
      Posted on March 8, 2012 at 8:15pm

      yep,these same people that screamed and yelled that we had no business going to war with Iraq are so eager to send our troops into harms way all over the world. which way do you liberals want it? oh, the government can do no wrong when your guy is in, but how you change when a conservative gets in. explain yourselves.

      Report Post »  
    • tallguyjgg
      Posted on March 9, 2012 at 4:15pm

      I agree whole heartily and it angers me those who support this movement but turned a blind eye to the Sudan, Burma, Ethiopia, and a LOT of other nations that have dealt with this and other similar issues. I can tell you when I saw the movie “Tears of the Sun” i about cried when I saw the atrocities that were committed in that movie. The sad part is that those that were portrayed in the movie were probably a small fraction of what really happened in those countries. Where is the outrage for those people who use children as human mine detectors? Where is the outrage of the Genocide sweeping across many countries? Liberals are fools who only support movements like this when it is one of their own bringing it to light.

      Report Post »  
  • caleejr
    Posted on March 8, 2012 at 1:47pm

    just like a David Baldacci book I read “THE WHOLE TRUTH” – a heart ripping story goes around the globe – the world is in an uproar, demanding action, and the reality of the situation was no where close to the truth that was fabricated.

    Report Post » caleejr  
    • Walkabout
      Posted on March 8, 2012 at 5:39pm

      Revenue was double program expenses in 2011. Saving up for big projects.
      Their program expenses were 80%. While not bad that is no where near stellar.
      A person could donate money to other NGOS & feel better about how their money is being spent.

      http://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=search.summary&orgid=12429

      Personally I don’t like their macho man poses with guns. Their excuse about how the picture came about is lame.

      Report Post »  
  • MexicanConservative
    Posted on March 8, 2012 at 1:46pm

    Step 1 – Get boots on the ground. http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics/2011/10/us-special-forces-mission-to-africa-planned-for-more-than-a-year/

    Step 2 – Raise awareness about Kony and get EVERYONE to hate him.

    Step 3 – Kill or capture Kony in October 2012.

    Step 4 – Obama comes out smelling like roses and boosts his chances for re-election.

    Report Post »  
    • Hannibal_32
      Posted on March 8, 2012 at 3:44pm

      Interesting timeline proposal. It is feasible since all of sudden this story is getting an unusual amount of play, and we all of a sudden put troops in there. Inhofe’s involvement would seem to temper that assessment though, unless he is being used as well. If this story gets further amplified between now and election day, watch out.

      Report Post »  
    • JohnGaltsmentor
      Posted on March 8, 2012 at 5:39pm

      brilliant analysis!!!

      Report Post »  
    • doomytram
      Posted on March 8, 2012 at 7:16pm

      Is this an Oblamer manufactured crisis? Is Oblamer going to take over control of Africa for the Oil?

      Report Post » doomytram  
    • Malapert
      Posted on March 8, 2012 at 7:45pm

      Surely I wasn’t the only one who felt this was a re-election promo video, was I? The big poster of O’s hope poster, saying that they tried the govt for years and only now did O send assistance…..i told my husband yesterday that there is a lot of propaganda in that video. From what I see, the ‘republicans’ involved are progressives and therefore it‘s ridiculous to say it’s bipartisan in my book.

      Report Post »  
  • Master_and_Commander
    Posted on March 8, 2012 at 1:40pm

    Does this remind anyone of that whole ‘Change your profile pic on Facebook to stop child abuse” Scam? I remember everybody else bought into that too. I’ve always been hesitant to throw my support behind anything or anyone without knowing the full context of the situation…

    Report Post »  
  • GoodStuff
    Posted on March 8, 2012 at 1:32pm

    The guy is just trying to make money selling bracelets.

    Report Post »  
    • jds7171
      Posted on March 8, 2012 at 1:48pm

      You know, “Haha – they have bazookas in their hands but they’re actually fighting for peace.” The ironic thing about this photo is that I HATE guns. I always have. Back in 2008 I wanted this war to end, like we all did, peacefully, through peace talks. But Kony was not interested in that; he kept killing. And we still don’t want war. We don’t want him killed and we don’t want bombs dropped. We want him alive and captured and brought to justice.

      This guy is definitely a liberal. he jokes that they have guns but are fighting for peace.. What the hell do people fight for? Peace. This is why liberals are so screwed up.

      Report Post »  
  • GoodStuff
    Posted on March 8, 2012 at 1:31pm

    Young people are naive and will easily fall for emotionally-driven propaganda.

    How else do you explain Obama’s election?

    Report Post »  
  • Kathleen
    Posted on March 8, 2012 at 1:23pm

    I’m a bit torn. If this group hadn’t initiated this, would these poor children have gotten any attention? What the hell do the United Nations do anyway?

    Report Post »  
  • Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}
    Posted on March 8, 2012 at 1:20pm

    Once more we see the manipulation of the heart so others can carry forward crime and graft; now we have our own facrical POTUS preparing for one or more wars when the country is about to implode.

    Report Post » Snowleopard {gallery of cat folks}  
    • NOKOOLAIDDRINKER
      Posted on March 8, 2012 at 3:34pm

      Snow, et al. There is even more to this story. More money to follow. I remembered something I read last fall regarding those special forces troops Obama sent to Africa; whose purpose was to assist various African military units to hunt down and arrest Kony. At that time I also found who requested those troops—- Leo Gerard, President of the United Steel Workers.
      He has direct ties with Vale Mining Co. Guess who has mining interests in Africa? Vale and they want to expand into (guess where?). Central Africa and plan to invest $12 billion by 2016 which includes railroad investments/construction through central Africa. African mining info obtained from mining weekly.com.
      So, in light of the info from the blaze and what I read its possible the “interests” in Africa want more US military involvement; and are using a “sympathetic crisis” involving innocents “we” didn’t want to help until now for their own monetary gain.

      Report Post »  
    • Razorhunters
      Posted on March 8, 2012 at 4:51pm

      NOKOOLAIDDRINKER,

      nice , i remeber reading about that and is the truth.
      is all about the money.

      Report Post » Razorhunters  
  • MammalOne
    Posted on March 8, 2012 at 1:16pm

    “The Invisible Children’s newest video (which has been seen millions and millions of times and even has the support of Anonymous)”

    Why are you surprised Anonymous is supportive of a humanitarian issue like this? Their MO is being against government corruption, of course they’re against this… I guess when you decided to become a journalist, you also decided to throw out the concept of objective reporting.

    Report Post » MammalOne  
    • NOKOOLAIDDRINKER
      Posted on March 8, 2012 at 6:00pm

      Anonymous is part of the whole family of radicals. I’m pretty sure we will eventually will find out that anonymous like OWS, et al is funded by the unions and the Soros machine. EVIL ATTRACTS EVIL!!!

      Report Post »  
  • SpankDaMonkey
    Posted on March 8, 2012 at 1:16pm

    .
    Democrats are some of the most disgusting humans on the planet. Out of one side of their mouths, “Oh my God! Look what they are doing to the CHILDREN”. While out the other “Rip that Non-Human wad of Meat right outta your Womb, I Care About Your Right’s”……

    You can try to dress that up like Wasserman-Schultz with Racoon Eye Liner, Red LipStick & Crisco that Hair down a little. But you still wind up with a Lying, Stinking Democrat. What’s wrong with you people?

    When I say the things I do it’s just my lame attempt at being funny and a little Tacky. These People do the things they say……………

    Report Post » SpankDaMonkey  
    • UNBOTHERED
      Posted on March 8, 2012 at 3:35pm

      You’re still an idiot I see.
      Stop being such an idiot. And my gracious, stop being some infatuated and consumed by Democrats.

      You look foolish

      Read all of your posts.

      You probably masturbate to your HATE POSTS.

      UNBOTHERED  
    • SpankDaMonkey
      Posted on March 8, 2012 at 4:28pm

      .
      UNBOTHERED, I’m UNBOTHERED

      Report Post » SpankDaMonkey  
    • BOMUSTGO
      Posted on March 8, 2012 at 8:19pm

      Unbothered seems to be very bothered!..Why does he bother himself with “The Blaze.” Go to the Huffington Post where you can be with your fellow kool-aid drinking sheeple.

      Report Post » BOMUSTGO  
  • kwhiteis
    Posted on March 8, 2012 at 1:14pm

    If you want to get a realistic, unbiased picture of what is happening to the children of Uganda read Kisses from Katie. It is a remarkable story about a young women who went to Uganda right out of high school and upon completion of her book in 2011 at the age of 20 had adopted 20 young girls and her ministry supports over 400 other children. Also look at her blog: http://www.kissesfromkatie.blogspot.com. No reason for her to lie.

    Report Post »  
  • JTThrasher
    Posted on March 8, 2012 at 1:13pm

    When has throwing money at or even sending food ever helped African or African run countries/ communities? From the continent itself to Haiti to Detroit we have done nothing but waste our resources trying to bring these people some kind of morality. It is mind boggling.

    Where is the press about the South Afrikans who are being murdered, raped and having their land stolen and redistributed to Africans who for some reason cannot work them and then when they fail it leaves their own people hungry? Seriously..thousands of South Afrikans have been murdered, butchered, beaten and raped and no one gives a damn. Google the South African Farm Murders. Why do we give every other backward nation‘s immigrants asylum but we won’t protect or take the civilized?

    Report Post »  
  • theninthplanet
    Posted on March 8, 2012 at 12:57pm

    Glad you posted the update. When I first read about this, I immediately thought (RED). Then in another forum, someone posted the tumblr link, which confirmed my suspicions.

    Doesn’t it suck that you have to vet charities? That someone would be so evil to scam people when they’re trying to do good in the world? It’s like stealing a bible from a hotel room or a church.

    Report Post » theninthplanet  
  • lukerw
    Posted on March 8, 2012 at 12:53pm

    There could be a Planet… where the worse atrocities imaginable occur… but that would be their Planet and their problem to fix!

    Report Post » lukerw  
  • YUP YUP
    Posted on March 8, 2012 at 12:52pm

    If you pay for HBO then you are a HBO sponsor. You therefore are sponsoring Bill Mahr. Stop sponsoring Bill Mahr. Cancel your HBO.

    Report Post »  
    • Clive
      Posted on March 8, 2012 at 2:32pm

      try to stay on topic yup yup. bill sux for sure, but HBO has fantastic programming.
      think about how you are spending your time, crusading for rush. A 5 times divorced, heroin addict, millionaire, he doesn’t need your help.

      Report Post »  
  • The Eleventh Doctor
    Posted on March 8, 2012 at 12:50pm

    Yeah, it’d be great if we could get rid of Kony. He’s a horrible person, but this organization is not the right way to do it.

    Report Post » The Eleventh Doctor  
    • Clive
      Posted on March 8, 2012 at 2:35pm

      agreed. kony has been a most wanted target for 30 years, he has killed tens of thousands of children. its a fact. no matter what you think of “invisible children”, kony needs a bullet in the head.

      Report Post »  
    • Jeff65
      Posted on March 9, 2012 at 4:46am

      Agreed. My small church has been supporting a mission group financially and with actual time on the ground in Uganda for close to 20 years. This mission group has been restoring rescued children back into society, which has been quite a task considering what these children have gone through. Now that these grown up rescued children are helping with the task, they can do much more.

      Christians have also been helping the military successfully in Uganda to reduce the problem. Unfortunately they have just moved to another African country. Still there affectiveness has been reduced some.

      Government intervention is not the way to go. Someone else should not be forced to give up their life or money for someone else’s cause. If this is a cause that you believe in then support it with either your money or your life. This way each of us can decide if something is propoganda or not and if the cause should be supported.

      Report Post »  
  • marthasusan40
    Posted on March 8, 2012 at 12:48pm

    You can put lipstick on a pig in a money making scam and in the end , its still a pig in a money making scam.

    Report Post »  
  • JimL
    Posted on March 8, 2012 at 12:40pm

    Slavery ( of the worst kind) exists. The West that sponsors Global Planned ParentHood prefers “forced labor”.

    Report Post »  
  • spstainers
    Posted on March 8, 2012 at 12:34pm

    If it smells like a (blank), it must be a (blank).

    Report Post » spstainers  
  • JACKTHETOAD
    Posted on March 8, 2012 at 12:34pm

    I watched the movie in the earlier story. It tugs at the heartstrings, yes. It’s a good cause, yes. On the surface. Go deeper and you’ll find a communist/socialist recruiting tool aimed at young, impressionable people via Facebook, an omnipresent internet sight. The mere fact that Fairey, the man responsible for the Obama ‘Hope and Change’ red/blue posters is a red flag in itself. Call me skeptical, but it looks like another recruiting attempt at the ‘world’s’ children for a NWO, using a ‘good cause’ as a cover. Oooooh! With a kit and bracelets and everything.

    Report Post » JACKTHETOAD  
  • SpankDaMonkey
    Posted on March 8, 2012 at 12:33pm

    .

    I said this about the first story;

    Nothing has changed in Africa for the last 3000 years. Black Africans still raping and killing each other and selling Child Slaves to the highest bidder…….

    Locked, looks like I was Right after all. Nothing has changed except now the Democrats lie about it to make money. And make Whitey out to be the bad guy………….

    Report Post » SpankDaMonkey  
    • Locked
      Posted on March 8, 2012 at 1:03pm

      ‘Fraid not Spank. You’re still a racist who says blacks attack everything they get near, and every single point I raised in the last one was repeated here (although The Blaze left out that Visible Children did a 180 degree turn and commends IC for their efforts now. Funny, isn’t it?)

      Report Post »  
    • Locked
      Posted on March 8, 2012 at 1:09pm

      To those of you wondering why I’m calling Spankdamonkey a racist, it’s from his comments yesterday:
      “I always thought the Devil was Red. But Black is his color. I stand corrected……..

      Why does it seem every thing Black is a Hazard to either your Religion, Health or your Wallet?”

      (Topic for those who don’t believe it: http://www.theblaze.com/stories/cardinal-dolan-obama-admin-lectured-bishops-to-listen-to-enlightened-voices-on-contraceptive-mandate/)

      Report Post »  
    • Balthazor
      Posted on March 8, 2012 at 1:35pm

      @Locked

      You do realize that Spank was referring specifically to Obama and that Obama is, in fact, black. Are you suggesting it’s racist now to point out that black people are black?

      Report Post » Balthazor  
    • SpankDaMonkey
      Posted on March 8, 2012 at 1:38pm

      .
      This is Fun. Ok I’m a Racist now come over here and mow my grass…….

      And everything Black, Brown & White Trash in color, plus PC White Trash Obama Voting Moron is a Direct Threat to Your Religion, Your Health & Your Damn Wallet. How’s that? I got all colors cover now!!!……..Call Me a Racist I’ve Been Called Worse……LMAO……..

      Sometimes it’s just too easy……Way too much plastic phallic symbol…….

      SpankDaMonkey  
    • Locked
      Posted on March 8, 2012 at 1:44pm

      @Balthazor

      “You do realize that Spank was referring specifically to Obama and that Obama is, in fact, black. Are you suggesting it’s racist now to point out that black people are black?”

      Whoa, hold up a second. So, when he says that black is evil, and black is attacking everything we hold dear, he actually meant to say Obama? Now, that’s quite the mistake to make! So when a white guy, or an Asian guy, or a Latino guy does something we don’t like, it means White, Yellow, and Brown are what’s wrong with the country and messing everything up?

      Jeez man, get a head on your shoulders.

      @Spank

      I’m glad you accept your racism. Acceptance is the first part of recovery!

      Report Post »  
    • s0ck_monkey
      Posted on March 8, 2012 at 1:52pm

      I’m with you Spank…but you forgot yellow, tan, and red! ;)

      Report Post »  
    • SpankDaMonkey
      Posted on March 8, 2012 at 2:16pm

      .
      Locked I love you for trying, but you kill’in me. You just don’t get it. And it’s really not that hard. I’ll send the Short Bus over to pick you up…..LMAO……..You must have went to public school….

      You just need to stop with your Racism and your Hate, long enough to open your eye’s.

      Cause I see Nuanced Humor is evidently lost on one such as yourself…

      Report Post » SpankDaMonkey  
    • Locked
      Posted on March 8, 2012 at 2:39pm

      @Spank

      You’re a hoot too! “Haha guys, it was just a joke! I don’t really mean blacks are only good for raping and killing each other! Oh, and when I said they ruin everything they touch? Totes kidding! See? Hilarious!”

      You’re fooling no one but yourself, Spank.

      Oh, and your sock puppet.

      Report Post »  
    • Razorhunters
      Posted on March 8, 2012 at 4:49pm

      sorry ,
      but the racist bs does not work anymore…
      might want to come up with a new word to try…

      the pc bs is over.

      Report Post » Razorhunters  
    • Walkabout
      Posted on March 8, 2012 at 5:40pm

      Spank did seem to have a racist comment on another post.

      Report Post »  
  • ChiefGeorge
    Posted on March 8, 2012 at 12:31pm

    Sure! Its another media campaign to push the USA into yet another War. Then what about the slaughter of Christians worldwide and White South Africans?

    Report Post » ChiefGeorge  
  • HorseCrazy
    Posted on March 8, 2012 at 12:29pm

    something was fishy about this to me the first time I saw it…it was featured on al jazeera. that single fact with the added bonus of this being a film shown in colleges over and over again made me highly suspicious. I am not one to believe things at face value especially when they inject massive amounts of heart wrenching seens cue that humane society commercial and sarah whats her face with that angel song. I pray for the kids and yes social network movies etc are great tools to start using for these atrocities but has anyone seen a mainstream feature on boko haram targeting school children etc? no. I am led to believe the fact that this guy can be tied to a cult like form of what he thinks is Christianity is the leading cause of this movement.

    Report Post »  
  • Baddoggy
    Posted on March 8, 2012 at 12:21pm

    It is a money making scam…PERIOD!

    Report Post » Baddoggy  
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