Thousands of Liberians March to U.S. Embassy, Pleading for American Forces to Restore Calm

AP ^ | 7/3/03 | Jonathan Paye-Layleh

[Jean S]

MONROVIA, Liberia (AP) - Thousands of Liberians marched behind an American flag Thursday, imploring President Bush to send troops to help stanch years of bloodshed in their west African nation.

About 2,000 demonstrators walked to the U.S. Embassy chanting slogans praising Bush, whose administration Thursday repeated its call for Liberia President Charles Taylor to resign. Taylor, indicted by the United Nations for war crimes, is battling a three-year insurgency to unseat him from power.

A few demonstrators stoned cars and brawled with police patrolling the rally, but there were no immediate reports of arrests or injuries. Across town, 300 Taylor supporters said his departure would set a precedent for Washington to topple any African leader it dislikes.

As the anti-Taylor crowd shouted, "No more Taylor! We want Bush! We want peace!," demonstrator Andrew N'golo expressed his desperation in the wake of recent fighting between Taylor loyalists and rebels.

"We are prepared to give our bodies as living sacrifices if that's what it takes to bring peace to Liberia," N'golo said.

Rebels last month launched their strongest-ever offensive against Taylor, with the main insurgent group eventually laying siege to Monrovia, the capital city of 1 million residents and hundreds of thousands of refugees.

The fighting killed hundreds of people.

In Washington, defense officials said the U.S. military commander in Europe has been ordered to begin planning for possible American intervention. The options being discussed ranged from sending no troops to sending thousands, defense officials said.

National Security Adviser Condoleezza Rice said Bush has made no decision on how the United States will address the Liberian crisis. But she reiterated Thursday that Taylor "needs to leave because Charles Taylor is the problem."

"And Charles Taylor is, by the way, not just a problem for Liberia; he's a problem for the region," Rice said. "One of the reasons that the president is concerned about the situation in Liberia is that Charles Taylor has been a source of insurrection and insurgency in surrounding countries."

U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan would like to see the United States lead a multinational peacekeeping force. African nations have offered 3,000 troops for any deployment.

Secretary of State Colin Powell said he was consulting the United Nations and leaders in Africa, and Bush's National Security Council struggled with the issue for a third day.

Powell spoke of "a severe humanitarian crisis emerging" in Liberia as well as the safety of American diplomats there, and said, "All of these factors are being taken into consideration."

On Thursday, former President Carter also said the United States should intervene in Liberia.

"U.S. leadership can and should extend to the deployment of U.S. forces," Carter said in a statement released by his foundation, the Atlanta-based Carter Center. "American leadership now is critical to create the security on which long-term stability for Liberia and the region can be built."

Sporadic fighting has continued despite a June 17 cease-fire agreement between the warring parties in this country founded in the 19th century by freed American slaves.

Rebels began fighting three years ago to oust Taylor, who won contested elections and took the presidency in 1997 after the end of a 1989-1996 civil war that he launched.

On June 4, a U.N.-backed court indicted Taylor, whose gun trafficking supported Sierra Leone rebels in their vicious 10-year terror campaign, where rebel atrocities included hacking off victims' limbs. He also is accused of plundering that nation's rich diamond reserves.

AP-ES-07-03-03 1717EDT

[ModernDayCato]

Thousands of librarians are marching? Where?

[MJY1288]

Notice they aren't hollering for Chirac to come save them :-)

[AdamSelene235]

Oh, for Pete's sake.

Alright, alright send in the troops and sign everybody up for Social Security and Medicare while we're at it.

[TrebleRebel]

On Thursday, former President Carter also said the United States should intervene in Liberia. "U.S. leadership can and should extend to the deployment of U.S. forces," Carter said in a statement released by his foundation, the Atlanta-based Carter Center. "American leadership now is critical to create the security on which long-term stability for Liberia and the region can be built."

Hypocrite.

[zarf]

On Thursday, former President Carter also said the United States should intervene in Liberia.

Mr. Peanut takes his head out of his anus for a fleeting suck of wind.

[Political Junkie Too]

Thousands of librarians are marching?

They're complaining that all the books were looted.

-PJ

[sticker]

"On Thursday, former President Carter also said the United States should intervene in Liberia."

I didn't realize that Charles Taylor was an anti-communist. That is the only type of leader that jimmy-the-jerk thinks should be thrown out of office.

[TrebleRebel]

Hey, we can use his help in re-construction -- I hear he wields a wicked hammer and paint brush.

[zarf]

I though he was best with a Hammer and Sickle?

[TrebleRebel]

As long as it builds a house.....

[TheSpottedOwl]

Until I got to the part about Jimmy Carter and the UN, I was all for it.

[zarf]

Stupid person, didn't you hear it takes a village to...etc...etc..

[TrebleRebel]

Yeah, it had me too.....the man gives me the heaves.

[TheSpottedOwl]

Mr. Peanut takes his head out of his anus for a fleeting suck of wind.

ROTF, excellent!!!

[TrebleRebel]

Sometimes it takes an intern to etc. etc......

[RetiredArmy]

Probably a leftist book burning lead by McKissass of the Klinton Klan.

[gaijin]

Haiti, Somalia, and now THIS...

Seldom have I seen a deployment more urgently AVOIDED...

Is anyone on FR crazy enough to imagine that US interests are at stake in all this?

[rontorr]

there are some who view them as ex- Americans

[doug from upland]

People in an African nation recognize the world leader who is the best hope of freedom for mankind. They are not asking for Susan Sarrandon. They are not asking for Tim Robbins. They are not asking for Martin Sheen. They are not asking for Babs Streisand. They are not asking for Harry Belafonte. They are not asking for Danny Glover. Leftist America haters, traitors in our own midst, you can shove it.

[xrp]

Huh? Pretty stupid.

[Sparta]

A simple solution to the Liberian crisis, let the rebels win decisively. Let them string up Charles Taylor from a lamppost. This is the way wars have been won and peace has been achieved for thousands of years.

[bart99]

"On June 4, a U.N.-backed court indicted Taylor, whose gun trafficking supported Sierra Leone rebels in their vicious 10-year terror campaign, where rebel atrocities included hacking off victims' limbs." ------------------------- And has Taylor borken 17 UN reolutions too? Why is the UN waiting on the USA? Why don't they get their group together and go get him. Are we the only ones in the world with a military? This is ludicrous. Let the UN do something right for a change.

[TN4Liberty]

I misread and thought the whole Libertarian Party must be in Washington.

[bart99]

OK..... I agree with all your points. But why is it that the USA must go there. Don't we sorta have our hands full now? And if Kofi, excuse me..... the UN..... so intent on doing something, where are all the other countries in that hemisphere - including France, Germany, even Russia and china.

And if we do go there, do we have to stay and be "peacekeepers" and establish a democratic liberian government that can withstand the rebel insurgency surely to come after we leave?

I'm not sure I'm for this. There is a time for the "world" to act and countries other than the UK and the USA can do something right for a change.

[kiriath_jearim]

"On Thursday, former President Carter also said the United States should intervene in Liberia.

Mr. Peanut takes his head out of his anus for a fleeting suck of wind."

LOL. He should start a national campaign: "Goobers For Liberia".

[Prodigal Son]

Seventh, although Liberia is not technically a former U.S. colony

I would go so far as to say that "technically" is only the case if we look at the strict letter of the law. In every "real" sense of the word, Liberia was, indeed, an American colony. People say it was founded by freed slaves. I say it was founded by Americans. Those freed slaves were just as much American as were their masters. They were born on American soil. Americans drew up the Liberian Constitution. Raised the funds for its creation. Nurtured it. Cared for it. Ensured that an American style gov't was in place. This constitutes a colony in my way of thinking.

[Aaron0617]

where are all the other countries in that hemisphere - including France, Germany, even Russia and china

I'm not sure but don't the majority of Liberians speak english? I doubt all soldiers of those listed countries do.

That could be a reason along with they are carring/waiving American flags. Unfortunately we're stuck with this country.

[Aaron0617]

Its not so bad. Bush's plan is to put U.S. peacekeepers in after Taylor leaves. Which it doesn't look like he will.

If Taylor doesn't go our troops stay home. I can live with that. I doubt Bush would order troops to remove Taylor. No, he wouldn't do that.

[appalachian_dweller]

Hey Liberia! YOU made the mess, YOU clean it up.

The US Military is here to defend the USofA. Period.

[Drango]

WTF? Tell it to the UN and the French....

[baxter999]

Why don't the "thousands" march on Taylor and take him out themmselves? I guess it's much easier and cheaper to let American lives and treasure buy the Liberians freedom.

Just curious, but where in the Constitution does it say that the President has the power to choose sides in every political squabble and send troops and money?

[livius]

I don't think that constitutes a "colony." We do have ties with Liberia, but they haven't been close for quite some time.

That said, I think we should look at this entirely from the US perspective: What is most likely to halt the advance of militant Islam?

Taylor is a hideous dictator, and so are his predecessors, and so, no doubt, will be his successors.

But who is most able to stop militant Islam? So far, I haven't heard anybody address this most crucial issue.

[Frankss]

Thats right, we have plenty to do! What is it with the UN? They are just against the USA. If we want to take out terrorist after we were attacked they say no. Some third world hell hole has an ongoing civil war,unrest,revolution, and THAT they want us to get involved. I say let the mighty french take care if it. Or the Belgians

[rep-always]

That is funny.

[rep-always]

IDIOTIC HYPOCRITE.

[Prodigal Son]

I don't think that constitutes a "colony."

What would you call a colony?

[Hank Rearden]

Why don't the mobs go trick-or-treat for troops at the Belgian embassy? It's their turn.

[Paulus Invictus]

Or the Germans or Russians. You remember them. They were totally opposed to the Iraq incursion. Now Kofi and the rest of those UN idiots want us to do for Liberia what we did for Iraq--stop the killing of innocent Iraqis.

Will the UN pay the tab for the cost of a Liberian peace-keeping move by our troops? Will US blacks remember Bush and vote for him if we help Liberia? Let's be serious! They are 95% RATS and will vote for any RAT but Bush, no matter what he does or fails to do.

[Howlin]

On Thursday, former President Carter also said the United States should intervene in Liberia.

Well, now I'm having second thoughts.

[McGavin999]

On Thursday, former President Carter also said the United States should intervene in Liberia.

Just SHUT UP you stupid, incompetent old man. Haven't you destroyed enough lives yet? Just stay out of this.

[hoosiermama]

Notice they aren't hollering for Chirac to come save them

Nor are they asking for the UN's help! I guess they recognize leadership!

[Smogger]

Is anyone on FR crazy enough to imagine that US interests are at stake in all this?

Hell Yeah! Places like Liberia are where Al Quaida breeds. Charles Taylor has actively support Al Quaida. It's Islam that sews chaos and ruin in these countries. If we don't go in there now we'll just have to win Al Quaida sets up shop there. If they haven't already.

[FourPeas]

That's putting it much too politely.

[Smogger]

Don't punish the Liberian's because the France, Germany, the UN, and Jimmy Carter are *ssholes. They are asking for our help directly.