‘Kony 2012’: Propaganda for Support of Obama’s Questionable Ugandan Actions

COMMENTARY | The “Kony 2012” video about Ugandan warlord Joseph Kony has become a viral hit, according to ABC News. The impact of the video, which points out the atrocities committed by Kony, has caused thousands of people to place a call to action against the man and his Lord’s Resistance Army. I see this as a propaganda video, which opens up a door for President Barack Obama to try to build more points with younger voters and cover-up his questionable actions.

In October, President Obama sent 100 troops to help the Ugandan government hunt down the LRA and Kony. This move stuck a negative chord with many in Congress who accused the president of sending troops into harm’s way without authorization and set up a potential long-term military conflict. As someone who studies politics, I see action standing out when placed against putting troops in the Middle East since Kony does not negatively impact the U.S. and is not a direct threat.

While the “Kony 2012” video can rally people behind the capture of the warlord, the masses are sure to not notice the other issues at play when dealing with Uganda. The United States is sending troops to help police a foreign country instead of using our forces for our defense. I believe this should be the job of the U.N. Peacekeeping force instead. President Obama should not be allowed the ability to decide our “moral obligations” without consulting Congress.

The world has been battling Uganda since 2009 about a government motion that would make homosexuality an executable crime in the country. The nation has also been rated as one of the most corrupt in the world since it is run by a singular dominant party that has been accused of atrocities against secondary political parties. President Obama should not be using the military to help criminals catch a criminal.

The “Kony 2012” video could not have come at a better time for President Obama. If he is able to “get Kony,” he can use the popularity of the video to rally up votes. At the same time, he can use the popularity to get the young to pressure their congressional leaders to support his questionable actions. While the atrocities committed by the warlord are horrible, it is not our responsibility to police corrupt countries or the president’s job to use the military for political gain.