How do you feel about the fact that the United States will only help and aide another country if in return, that country will generate some sort of profit or loyalty? For example: The US will aide a country if it has oil, therefore, the country will be obliged to offer resources to the US. In other words, the aide the US is strategic, which is not bad at all. But I feel that the only strategy the US utilizes is to gain something in the end. The strategy soon becomes almost opportunistic..."I'll help you, now give me something in return since I helped you out."

The reason I bring this up is because there are many countries in the world that are suffering. Yes, there are many missionaries and doctors and organizations that help out, but they cannot overturn the force of destruction caused by gang wars in Africa for example. There is simply not enough money to do more than just local aide.

You may or may not have heard of a NPO called Invisible Children, but in essence, they bring to light the sad truth that many children in the African country, Uganda are being kidnapped and converted to child soldiers. Their families are killed, they are forced to kill, rape, and burn villages. Children are forced to kill, rape, steal, and destroy. For years, I've wondered why the US has not done much to help these children and to stop the group known as the LRA(Lord's Resistance Army) which is led by Joseph Kony. Kony proclaims himself as a "spokesperson" of God and spirit medium. Now, why has he not been captured yet? His violent campaign has led to the abduction of an estimated 30,000 children and the displacement 1.6 million people, according to Wikipedia.

It is even more puzzling that Kony has been charged for crimes against humanity by the International Crime Court, yet he has not been arrested as of yet. Sure, there have been attempts by many people, and even negotiations have been proposed but there's a problem; he says that he will not stand trial because he has not done anything wrong. Of course he is going to say that, he was offered to be arrested and tried! The authorities ask a man, who believes he's a messenger of God, who abducts, rapes, and kills people if he would like to stand trial? Of course he is going to deny he ever did wrong; he is essentially out of his mind. After proposed negotiations and many attempts to speak with him and settle the war, Kony does the inevitable. On December 25th, 2008, the LRA allegedly massacred 189 people and abducted 120 children during a celebration sponsored by the Catholic church in Faradje, Democratic Republic of Congo. Kony massacred 189 people on Christmas Day! It is so angering that on a day of giving and joy and love, he leads his child soldiers, brainwashed by his twisted religion to kill more people and abduct children.

Imagine your family all together having a dinner celebration and a group of people, for no reason, come in, kill the adults, and take the children.

What did the US do? Nothing, according to my research. The US, I believe, sees no reason to aide Uganda in the fight against the LRA because there is nothing in Uganda the US wants. It upsets me how our government aides other countries but does not aide those who are truly in need of help not because they hold some resource or loyalty, but because we are humans and we strive to protect each other with love and friendship. Imagine the victims of such a massacre and how hopeless they feel because no one is here to rescue them.

So, back to the first question, how do you feel about the US only aiding countries in order to receive some sort of reward?