Joseph Kony resolution introduced in House

CBS News

Two House lawmakers on Tuesday introduced a resolution supporting efforts to counter the Lord's Resistance Army, hoping to build on the momentum created by a viral YouTube video spotlighting the atrocities of LRA leader Joseph Kony.

The resolution, introduced by Reps. Jim McGovern, D-Mass. and Ed Royce, R-Calif., calls for, among other things, expanding the number of regional forces in Africa to protect civilians and placing restrictions on individuals or governments found to be supporting Kony.

Kony gained notoriety in the U.S. this month when a 30-minute video produced by the group Invisible Children went viral, picking up more than 50 million views in just four days. The video spotlighted how the Ugandan warlord has been accused of kidnapping up to 30,000 children in the past 26 years, using girls as sex slaves and boys as child soldiers.

Invisible Children has since taken heat for how much of its budget it spends on aid to Africa versus marketing. Additionally, some Ugandans have complained the video misrepresents and over-simplifies the issue.

Still, McGovern said in a statement that the new attention the African conflict is receiving is a good thing.

"I am hopeful that we can use this momentum as a force for change," he said. "We must do all that we can to protect innocent civilians -- especially children -- and end LRA violence once and for all."

Last year, McGovern and Royce introduced and helped pass into law "The Lord's Resistance Army Disarmament and Northern Uganda Recovery Act." Subsequently, President Obama sent 100 U.S. troops to Central Africa to serve as advisers in efforts to hunt down Kony.

[3o4Tittites]

Bring the troops home! Stop the nation-building and imperialism! These wars that we are getting ourselves involved in all of sudden have been going on for decades, in some cases centuries =!+

[Karonl6]

This is great news Now when is america going to hunt down that rebel army that killed 1 million iraqis to look for weapons that dont exist. Or maybe those criminals that killed 2 million in veitnam

[SarahTheGreen]

Kony is not in Uganda! He hasn't been in Uganda in more than six years!

[SarahTheGreen]

Kony is not IN Uganda! He hasn't been in Uganda in more than six years! How in the world can you people possibly call yourselves a NEWS outlet if you don't have clue about what is going on?

[stan290]

the article doesn't say he's in uganda. it calls him a ugandan warlord, which is accurate given his roots.

[lonestarwatchdog]

Kony is not an American problem. We have plenty of need around here that needs our attention. Let Uganda solve the Koby problem. It is not our problem. Until we stop the human trafficking of pimps exploiting teens here and take care of own. Leave Kony for Africa and stay out of Uganda

[DeclarationOfIndependence]

Agreed, lonestarwatchdog. Turn those Americans lose here who care about rescuing kids, to help the failed hunts for missing children by Oregon's Multnomah County Sheriff's Department with helpers from ICE and FBI. I guess they are busy filling 3-Ring Binders with the clues they receive and have to file. They are having a difficult time all by themselves, maybe need secretaries to help them punch holes in the clues and search reports and file them in their 3-ring binder libraries... that help might give them more time to hunt for missing kids, like around Portland Oregon and woodsy areas in northern California if there are any missing kids from or that might be found in those areas. Bet it wouldn't take them long to rescue the children who are missing, kidnapped, and being used in child porn and pedophile rings. They could be dedicated to the hunt and wouldn't have to take time to help power people who get in trouble arf arf.