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October 5, 2011

Obama Waives Curbs on Aid to Countries Using Child Soldiers 
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President Obama has decided to issue a waiver allowing continued U.S.
military aid to four countries that use child soldiers for the second
consecutive year. The Obama administration says it will waive penalties
under the Child Soldiers Prevention Act to prevent a cutoff of military
assistance to Chad, the Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan and
Yemen. According to Foreign Policy magazine, National Security Council
Senior Director Samantha Power had promised NGOs last year that the
waivers would not be renewed, saying the administration would exert
pressure by "[working] from inside the tent." President Obama has
decided to issue a waiver allowing continued U.S. military aid to four
countries that use child soldiers for the second consecutive year. The
Obama administration says it will waive penalties under the Child
Soldiers Prevention Act to prevent a cutoff of military assistance to
Chad, the Democratic Republic of Congo, South Sudan and Yemen. According
to Foreign Policy magazine, National Security Council Senior Director
Samantha Power had promised NGOs last year that the waivers would not be
renewed, saying the administration would exert pressure by "[working]
from inside the tent."



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