Posted on 03/16/2006 6:02:38 AM PST by Diana in Wisconsin
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Liberia's new leader, the first woman elected president of an African country, urged American lawmakers Wednesday to help her make Liberia "America's success story in Africa."
In her speech to a joint session of Congress, Ellen Johnson Sirleaf compared Liberia's devastation from two decades of warfare to that done by the December 2004 tsunami in Asia and last year's Hurricane Katrina in the United States.
"Our country agonized with your citizens and the victims and families of these natural tragedies, and our country also agonized with itself over the effects of a senseless civil war," she said.
Sirleaf told an interviewer at the time of her election last fall that she once swept floors and waited tables at a drugstore restaurant in Madison, Wis., while attending a business college there. She later earned a masters degree at Harvard.
Immediately after Sirleaf's speech, Rep. Dennis Hastert, speaker of the House of Representatives, promised her the House would pass legislation on Thursday appropriating $50 million (euro41.6 million) "to help sustain peace and consolidate economic gains in Liberia."
Sirleaf mentioned her predecessor, Charles Taylor, only once. After speaking of developments toward repairing the country since her inauguration in January, she said, "While we seek national unity and reconciliation, we must not sacrifice justice." She thanked Nigeria for "accepting to host Mr. Charles Taylor" and added: "But I say here, as I have said before, Liberia has little option but to see that Justice is done in accordance with the requirements of the United Nations and the broad international community."
President George W. Bush interceded with Nigerian President Olusegun Obasanjo to remove the warlord-president, who had caused much of the horrors of Liberian and other West African nations. Taylor faces war crimes and other charges in a U.N.-backed tribunal in neighboring Sierra Leone.
Obasanjo has said he would extradite Taylor at the request of an elected Liberian president. Last week, Obasanjo's spokeswoman, Remi Oyo, said, "There are discussions going on with the Liberian government on the future of Taylor. If any decision is reached, it will be made public."
Rep. Ed Royce, vice chairman of the House International Relations subcommittee on Africa, has campaigned to have Taylor surrendered for prosecution. On Wednesday, Royce issued a statement that called Taylor "a threat to the region and an affront to justice. Many have been waiting for President Johnson-Sirleaf to call President Obasanjo on his commitment. We're still waiting."
In her emotional speech, interrupted 11 times by standing ovations, Johnson said she wants the two countries to work together, "but we do not ask for patronage. We do not want to continue in dependence."
After outlining what has been done since her January inauguration, Johnson got her loudest applause and cheers after she outlined her goals and ended with a promise: "Honorable members, I will succeed."
Establish a Democracy versus having a War Lord as a leader? Allow the people to vote and to govern themselves? That never works! /sarcasm
"I Hope She Succeeds" Ping. :)
She has a masters degree from Harvard? Oh well we all know you can still have that and be stupid. The Bush bashers say that about him all the time.
Anyway, it is refreshing to hear a foreign leader who is friendly to the US.
That headline was a little confusing though. I thought it meant a former WI resident was seeking aid by *becoming* the Liberian president. ;)
She's looking for a handout from the U.S. taxpayer. What's new? The only successful part of Africa was when DeKlerk was in charge. Put Mandella in charge and it all went to hell in a handbasket. It's the same as in americas big cities.
"Liberia's devastation from two decades of warfare"
All caused by the Bush policies....
Did you listen to her speech yesterday? I heard in on Fox News, on XM.
It almost brought tears to my eyes.
She's NOT looking for a handout. You should have heard her speech, it would have made you proud. She's trying to wean her country OFF US handouts by making it self-sufficient. This woman is strong and will succeed if they can keep the bad guys out of the country.
"She's looking for a handout from the U.S. taxpayer. What's new?"
Did you listen to her speech? It was very moving. She wants a truly independent country, but she's asking for some help to get started. I truly believe she'll make sure Taylor pays dearly for his crimes.
Oh, it won't matter. Someone will kill her anyway. Why does anyone bother to promote Democracy in this world? /sarcasm
No I did not hear her speech. I apologize to her for the knee jerk reaction. It's just so outside the norm for any foreign leader, especially one from Africa, not to come here with the intention of going home with our cash in hand. I will watch the speech thanks to the provided link.
I hope she succeeds, also. The speech was moving, and was nicely played on FOX's Special Report. I am willing to bet that it did not receive the same coverage on the alphabet stations, ESPECIALLY after she thanked George Bush.
Thanks for keeping an open mind. :) Hopefully, the media will follow her story, and we'll see some good results for her country.
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