Stolen kids turned into terrifying killers

[Destino]

http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/africa/02/12/child.soldiers/index.html

CNN) -- Warlords are forcing children in conflicts around the world to become killing machines -- nothing more than what one child advocate calls "cannon fodder."

Some children are kidnapped from their schools or their beds, some are recruited after seeing their parents slaughtered, some may even choose to join the militias as their best hope for survival in war-torn countries from Colombia, and across Africa and the Middle East, to south Asia.

Once recruited, many are brainwashed, trained, given drugs and then sent into battle with orders to kill.

There is no escape for what the United Nations and human rights groups estimate are 250,000 child soldiers today. These children, some as young as 8, become fighters, sex slaves, spies and even human shields.

Sometimes their guns are taller than they are. But the child soldiers can be frighteningly cold and effective, according to CNN Africa correspondent Jeff Koinange. (Audio Slide Show: Koinange describes coming face to face with gun-wielding children)

This story is pretty disturbing so read it at your own risk. This IMO is evidence that the UN is a useless organization, too scared of it's own shadow to make an impact. There is talk about making progress and needing funds to combat these animals in hopes to bring pressure on them to stop via education and public attention.

Where is the rest of the free world on this? Why so much outrage when the US takes out a wedding party by accident and so much silence on this? Where are the armies and an iron will to exterminate these monters? Where is anything that resembles a plan to end this practice?

Not everything can be solved by a handful of non-profits and a educational pamphlet. These world "leaders" are too full of their own BS ideals to realize that some people need to be killed.

[zoony]

Where is the rest of the free world on this? Why so much outrage when the US takes out a wedding party by accident and so much silence on this? Where are the armies and an iron will to exterminate these monters? Where is anything that resembles a plan to end this practice?




If the WarLords opened an all-male country club, Sean Penn and Susan Sarandon would be there the next day protesting.



In all seriousness though, I think these are good questions, and I certainly don't have the answers. That was a disturbing article to read.


However, if the United States tried to help, it would just blow up in our face, and it would become a partisan issue. Is there any doubt of that?


But a very sad article. I can't imagine encountering a gang of 8 year olds with automatics, and having to address them as "sir" and "maam". The story about the girl who was forced to shoot and bury her friend is just sad.

[DjTj]

However, if the United States tried to help, it would just blow up in our face, and it would become a partisan issue. Is there any doubt of that?And that's the problem that every country faces - nobody likes to commit their own troops and resources solely to benefit another nation, no matter how sympathetic they may be.

The UN isn't the world's police force - they can only take action when member nations want to take action. If the UN can create pressure through the media by raising awareness, that is some measure of progress.

[zoony]

the UN can create pressure through the media by raising awareness, that is some measure of progress.


some measure, yes... but far from adequate, or even acceptable.


If the purpose of the UN is to raise media awareness, they will need to come up with a new charter... a "global media organization", for instance. But that might be a good thing, b/c then the world might see the UN for what it actually is.

...

[alexey]

However, if the United States tried to help, it would just blow up in our face, and it would become a partisan issue. Is there any doubt of that?
Unfortunately this does not sound like something United States gets involved in... if we do decide to get involved, well then I think that depends on how we go about it. Are we going to go after this specific problem or the root cause of it?

We cannot just go in there and start policing all these places. To stop this they have to become capable of policing themselves. This happens because of lack of economic development, lawlessness, etc... unfortunately in these kinds of situations we tend to be a non-factor at best, but more often we actually act as a desctructive force.

To effectively address this issue we have to do it in a larger framework of responsible economic activities around the globe. Unfortunately we are pretty far from that (if ever).

[zoony]

Unfortunately this does not sound like something United States gets involved in... if we do decide to get involved, well then I think that depends on how we go about it. Are we going to go after this specific problem or the root cause of it?



Somalia.


But I agree with your larger point, and I also agree that global economic prosperity/social stability will never happen.

I don't think it can by definition.

....

[Stophovr6]

And that's the problem that every country faces - nobody likes to commit their own troops and resources solely to benefit another nation, no matter how sympathetic they may be.

The UN isn't the world's police force - they can only take action when member nations want to take action. If the UN can create pressure through the media by raising awareness, that is some measure of progress.

I don't think that's always true. UN can't do much about a sovereign state unless they attack another country. It seems to be the problem with nations that are torn by civil war. The UN can not step in by law. It doesn't matter if member nations want to step in, the nation in trouble needs to give the ok.

[alexey]

Somalia.


But I agree with your larger point, and I also agree that global economic prosperity/social stability will never happen.

I don't think it can by definition.

....
Perhaps so, but that would mean the humanity is screwed... I am reluctant to accept that as a part of my belief system :)

The whole struggle for survival thing seems to be a struggle for energy, in a way. Compared to needs of humanity there is so much energy out there its not even funny. I like to believe that things will get a little better once energy stops being such a big problem. I also like to believe they'll event hover chairs by the time I get old... but that's off-topic...

[DjTj]

some measure, yes... but far from adequate, or even acceptable.


If the purpose of the UN is to raise media awareness, they will need to come up with a new charter... a "global media organization", for instance. But that might be a good thing, b/c then the world might see the UN for what it actually is.

...What does the world see the UN as now? Its charter doesn't claim to establish a world government or a world police force or a cure to all the world's ills ... it simply establishes an international organization with some laudable goals like peace and security and human rights. The actual powers of the UN are severely limited.

[Sarge]

And people call me a knuckle dragger when I say "Let the women and children (Up to about age 10) out of an area and plaster it

Any little ****er with a weapon gets it