Momentum Builds for Liberia Intervention Force

Reuters ^ | June 28, 2003

[sarcasm]

MONROVIA (Reuters) - Momentum was building on Sunday for an international force to deploy to Liberia in a bid to end fighting that has left hundreds dead and a war that has spread chaos in West Africa for more than a decade.

The United States, because of historic ties to a country founded by freed American slaves, is under most pressure to lead a mission demanded by U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan, Britain, France and legions of tired and frightened Liberians.

Liberia said Saturday it was already talking to the United States and West African countries about sending troops. Annan, a Ghanaian, said the U.N. Security Council should meet immediately to approve a force to seal a shaky truce on the ground.

Even that news brought some relief for the tens of thousands of terrified Liberians packed into Monrovia with little idea where to turn for refuge and without adequate food or water.

``Well, at least someone out there has been able to listen to our cries. When the U.N. speaks, we know something will happen. That is why we decided to go back home,'' said Bokar Samoki.

Liberia has known little but violence for the past 14 years, but two failed and bloody rebel assaults on the capital, Monrovia, left at least 700 dead in 10 days and brought home the danger of far greater blood-letting.

Two rebel factions control 60 percent of the ruined land and want to get rid of President Charles Taylor, a former warlord indicted for war crimes by an international court.

Taylor has joined calls for the United States to step in, despite the fact that President Bush urged him to quit last week and save his country of three million further pain.

``I think the U.S. ought to come now, using my strength, my popularity and my legitimacy and work to bring peace in Liberia,'' Taylor told reporters Saturday, dressed in dark suit and sunglasses on a visit to troops in the field.

U.S. RELUCTANT

So far, the Bush administration has not decided on sending any force, although the issue is under discussion. Britain's U.N. ambassador, Sir Jeremy Greenstock, publicly urged the United States last week to lead a multinational force.

``There are at least talks of further intervention, whether that's necessary or appropriate. I don't know at this point,'' State Department spokesman Richard Boucher said Friday.

Daily marches to the U.S. embassy in Monrovia since the latest rebel attack have demanded intervention to save Liberians from forces on both sides who inspire little confidence they could bring peace.

France joined calls for foreign intervention and said it was in talks with the United States on how to help the Liberia quickly.

French Foreign Minister Dominique de Villepin said a U.S. lead was natural given that France was helping end civil war in Ivory Coast and Britain had played a big role in Sierra Leone -- both wars offshoots of the Liberian conflict..

Negotiations in Ghana were adjourned for a week Friday because of the fighting in spite of a cease-fire that neither side really respected.

U.S.-educated Taylor emerged as the dominant faction leader from a war that left 200,000 dead in the 1990s and he went on to win 1997 elections, but the country has stayed on its knees while he is accused of spreading war to the region.

He has offered to step down for a transition government at the end of his elected mandate in January, but he also wants Sierra Leone's war crimes court to drop its indictment.

Regional diplomats said that if any intervention force was sent to Liberia, it would have to be made clear that it had no mandate to arrest Taylor to bring him before the U.N.-backed tribunal.

[StormEye]

"Momentum Builds for Liberia Intervention Force"

Intervene and do what? Rule your country?
Rebuild Liberia and provide jobs and proseperity?
Make Liberia secure so that the minute the US leaves
the whole mess starts up again?

[Servant of the Nine]

We founded Liberia with repatriated freed slaves. We have a moral responsibility to clean up the mess.

So9

[sarcasm]

We have a moral responsibility to clean up the mess.

When are you departing for Liberia to help?

[Enemy Of The State]

Didnt we liberate liberia once before?

[Enemy Of The State]

"We founded Liberia with repatriated freed slaves. We have a moral responsibility to clean up the mess."

No we dont, we liberated them once before. They got themselves into the mess....let them get themselves out.

[Enemy Of The State]

"When are you departing for Liberia to help?"


ROTFLMAO!!

[Night Hides Not]

When the U.N. speaks, we know something will happen. That is why we decided to go back home,'' said Bokar Samoki.

It's obvious this guy never spoke with any Rwandans.

This has me a little PO'ed: Kofi wants us to rush into Liberia, but he let Saddam spit in his face for a dozen years.

I know I'm missing something, and I just can't put my finger on it...

[StormEye]

"We founded Liberia with repatriated freed slaves.
We have a moral responsibility to clean up the mess."

The "freed slaves" don't run the country anymore.
They were all machine gunned when Liberia had its
"revolution." And the "freed slaves" were just as
corrupt as the native African regimes over there.
America has no reponsiblity for anything occuring
in Africa. By your reasoning America should be
responsible for France's problems since we "freed"
them in WW2.

[RightWhale]

When the U.N. speaks, we know something will happen.

Riiight.

[Servant of the Nine]

By your reasoning America should be responsible for France's problems since we "freed" them in WW2.

I would have no objection to a quick strike on Paris.

So9

[nuconvert]

This is disgusting. They had Taylor in their grasp after he was indicted and literally let him walk away. THOSE people should be arrested. It's so damn frustrating when the rest of the continent is so screwed up, they can't help each other. It looks like someones's going to have to go in there and get rid of this b*st**d . Who knows after that. They need to have another election.

[singletrack]

If you'd like maybe we here at FR could start a fund drive to get you started.Plane tickets are reasonable right now and if your passport is in order you could be there before the end of summer.My 2 sons, non-slave owners, will be passing on the opportunity to fix this mess.I didn't found Liberia with repatriated slaves and I have no more resposibility in this fight than Britian did in our Civil war.We have enough fronts going now. By the way, if there were 200,000 dead in the '90s why didn't the UN drop this in Bills lap?

[danmar]

The United States, because of historic ties to a country founded by freed American slaves,

Now, let me see if I get this thing right,...we all get in the Press/TV/Radio, courtesy of the likes of Jessie Jackson, crazy Al, Maxine Waters, S Jackson Lee add nausiam, that the blacks need to have their own country, own rules and laws based on the "African" heritage.
So, they have formed "Liberia" by freed slaves and a few volunteers, and lo and behold, they now need the help from WHO?...The former slave Master if you will.

I will suggest to the Liberian's to go to the afore mentioned illuminati's, to figure this mess out, since based on their daily rhetoric, they know every thing best.
Let Jessie Jackson and his RainbowPush RICO org. go in and fix the problem. Let's see how much deliverance he can afford in real life, versus the daily rhetoric we are forced to swallow every day.

[DeuceTraveler]

That and I have this impression that I can't shake: It seems to me Africa will always be messed up since Africa will always be Europe's social activist playground.

[Prodigal Son]

that the blacks need to have their own country, own rules and laws based on the "African" heritage.
So, they have formed "Liberia" by freed slaves and a few volunteers

Are you describing Liberia's actual history or a fictional one for your own devices?

Liberia was founded pretty much on rules and laws of American heritage. They even based their flag upon our own:

Of course, this doesn't mean we ought to get involved with the country at this point, but the way you describe it is skewed just a bit.

Liberia has a fascinating history and they've always maintained close ties with the US. Their initial republic was very similar to our own. They were at the height of their success in the late 1970s before the civil wars began. Interestingly enough, I believe Charles Taylor is of American lineage. Americo-Liberian I believe they are referred to there. The fellow that overthrew the first republic back in 1979 was a non-American descent Liberian.

[Prodigal Son]

Also, I might add that of the original agitators in the US for the establishment of an African colony- some were American whites who were of the "put 'em all on a boat and ship 'em back to Africa" brand of racism. Their motives were perhaps mean spirited but they saw common cause with the whites and blacks who wished to establish the colony. So, again, it is unfair to characterize the original colony founding movement as Reverend Al's, Jesse's etc.

[graycamel]

As long as the French aren't "helping" us.... What would we do? Bomb the palace and take it over until a democracy can be established?

[DAnconia55]

France joined calls for foreign intervention and said it was in talks with the United States on how to help the Liberia quickly.

Well, for starters the French Army could join the other side and help them 'fight'.