aria
Former Moderator
- Joined
- Dec 4, 1977
- Posts
- 39,546
First of all, the news relayed before has been building for over a year, so this isn't a sudden development.
Pres. Bush gave a speech last week urging peace in the region, but obviously it was more to just acknowledge that the US is aware of the situation.
Liberia itself has been in chaos for the last, oh, decade or so. The US Embassy there has even taken the occasional stray bullet and had its own snipers shoot back before.
So now, the rest of region is saying, "Hey Sheriff, now that you took out Iraq, why not come here and clean up this town." Of course, this time the UN is also saying "come and lead our forces", too.
There is some historical extra element to this: Liberia was founded by the US for former slaves that wanted to return to Africa. So we actually parented this place.
Here's a sampling of current news:
-----------------------------
W. African Leaders Want U.S. in Liberia
Tue Jul 1, 8:19 AM ET
By JONATHAN PAYE LAYLEH, Associated Press Writer
MONROVIA, Liberia - Pressure built Monday on the United States to contribute to a peacekeeping force in Liberia, with West African leaders asking for 2,000 U.S. troops — and seeking a response from President Bush before his July visit to the continent.
In Washington, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld said the Bush administration and State Department were "looking at a range of options" in Liberia but had made no decision on whether to supply troops.
Rumsfeld did not reveal his personal view on whether U.S. forces should be deployed, though he seemed to suggest that African nations could handle it largely by themselves, noting that U.S. forces have trained Nigerian and other African armies for regional peacekeeping operations.
"They've been well-trained. We've helped equip them, and to the extent they've been deployed I've been told they've handled themselves well," he said.
Bush is scheduled to make a five-day visit to Africa starting July 7. West African leaders said they hope for a commitment on U.S. troops before his arrival.
U.N. Security Council ambassadors and West African leaders were in Ghana on the third stop of a West African mission, which has focused on assembling a 5,000-strong force to separate rebel forces and those of Liberian President Charles Taylor.
Rebels have waged a three-year campaign to unseat Taylor, an indicted U.N. war-crimes suspect blamed for much of the conflict that has roiled West Africa in recent years.
France, Britain, U.N. diplomats and both sides in Liberia's fighting have pushed for an American role in a peace force for the country, which was founded by freed American slaves in the 19th century and a longtime regional U.S. ally and trade partner.
African nations have offered 3,000 troops to the force, with the rest to come from the United States, diplomats said on condition of anonymity.
U.N. Ambassador Martin Chungong Ayafor of Cameroon, a Security Council member, suggested a U.S.-backed mission could win goodwill for the United States.
"This could be a good face-saving measure for them, and show that they intervene for the sake of peace and security," Ayafor said.
U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan has also suggested the United States take a leadership role in a peacekeeping force. "Of course that is a sovereign decision for them to take — but all eyes are on them," Annan said in Geneva.
At U.N. headquarters Monday, U.S. deputy ambassador James Cunningham told the Security Council during closed-door consultations that the United States wanted three conditions met for further discussion about the nature of a peacekeeping force.
According to diplomats, who spoke on condition of anonymity, Cunningham said Washington would insist on Taylor giving up power, on a political agreement among the parties and international support for a peace process. The council decided to continue discussion after the mission it dispatched returns from the region and West African leaders meet over the weekend.
Liberia's rebels joined the calls Monday for U.S. military involvement.
"The Americans can lead the force, and the West Africans can play a supporting role," Charles Bennie, a rebel envoy, said in Ghana.
The rebel official promised his side would not target Americans troops if they are sent to enforce a truce. A previous cease-fire unraveled last week.
In Monrovia, a small crowd rallied outside the U.S. Embassy on Monday to appeal for American military action.
The few dozen picketers were a fraction of the thousands of panicked Liberians who surrounded the U.S. Embassy and nearby compound last week, seeking protection from rockets and mortars as rebels laid siege to the capital.
Western authorities, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Monday that two mortar shells hit the U.S. Embassy compound during the siege — contradicting previous American statements that explosives hit only within the walls of the U.S. residential compound across the street.
The end of the siege left doctors to treat hundreds of wounded and victims of disease sweeping the capital, which is crowded with refugees who have filled schools, homes and a sports stadium and have inadequate supplies of water.
People used wheelbarrows to haul cholera victims to the main John F. Kennedy hospital, where workers have logged at least 600 cases of the disease.
------------
Washington not ready to join Liberia peacekeepers
Mon Jun 30, 2:58 PM ET
WASHINGTON (AFP) - The United States has not decided whether its troops will join peacekeepers in Liberia, a State Department spokesman said.
"We've been looking more broadly at the overall situation to see what contribution we could make and how we might help work with others to calm that situation somewhat for the sake of the people of Liberia," Richard Boucher said.
"I don't have a final answer at this point on what the prospects are or what steps we might choose."
Boucher added that Washington had opted to take a seat on an international commission to oversee a cease-fire accord reached between the Liberian government and rebel forces on June 17 in Accra, Ghana but which has since fallen through.
On Saturday UN Secretary General Kofi Annan asked the Security Council authorize deployment of a multilateral force in Liberia. He said Monday that US participation was welcome.
"There are lots of expectations that the US may be prepared to lead this force, of course that is a sovereign decision for them to take, but all eyes are on them," Annan told reporters.
On Saturday the UN chief called in the UN Security Council in a letter for the urgent deployment of a multinational force to the West African state to prevent a "major humanitarian tragedy."
Pres. Bush gave a speech last week urging peace in the region, but obviously it was more to just acknowledge that the US is aware of the situation.
Liberia itself has been in chaos for the last, oh, decade or so. The US Embassy there has even taken the occasional stray bullet and had its own snipers shoot back before.
So now, the rest of region is saying, "Hey Sheriff, now that you took out Iraq, why not come here and clean up this town." Of course, this time the UN is also saying "come and lead our forces", too.
There is some historical extra element to this: Liberia was founded by the US for former slaves that wanted to return to Africa. So we actually parented this place.
Here's a sampling of current news:
-----------------------------
W. African Leaders Want U.S. in Liberia
Tue Jul 1, 8:19 AM ET
By JONATHAN PAYE LAYLEH, Associated Press Writer
MONROVIA, Liberia - Pressure built Monday on the United States to contribute to a peacekeeping force in Liberia, with West African leaders asking for 2,000 U.S. troops — and seeking a response from President Bush before his July visit to the continent.
In Washington, Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld said the Bush administration and State Department were "looking at a range of options" in Liberia but had made no decision on whether to supply troops.
Rumsfeld did not reveal his personal view on whether U.S. forces should be deployed, though he seemed to suggest that African nations could handle it largely by themselves, noting that U.S. forces have trained Nigerian and other African armies for regional peacekeeping operations.
"They've been well-trained. We've helped equip them, and to the extent they've been deployed I've been told they've handled themselves well," he said.
Bush is scheduled to make a five-day visit to Africa starting July 7. West African leaders said they hope for a commitment on U.S. troops before his arrival.
U.N. Security Council ambassadors and West African leaders were in Ghana on the third stop of a West African mission, which has focused on assembling a 5,000-strong force to separate rebel forces and those of Liberian President Charles Taylor.
Rebels have waged a three-year campaign to unseat Taylor, an indicted U.N. war-crimes suspect blamed for much of the conflict that has roiled West Africa in recent years.
France, Britain, U.N. diplomats and both sides in Liberia's fighting have pushed for an American role in a peace force for the country, which was founded by freed American slaves in the 19th century and a longtime regional U.S. ally and trade partner.
African nations have offered 3,000 troops to the force, with the rest to come from the United States, diplomats said on condition of anonymity.
U.N. Ambassador Martin Chungong Ayafor of Cameroon, a Security Council member, suggested a U.S.-backed mission could win goodwill for the United States.
"This could be a good face-saving measure for them, and show that they intervene for the sake of peace and security," Ayafor said.
U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan has also suggested the United States take a leadership role in a peacekeeping force. "Of course that is a sovereign decision for them to take — but all eyes are on them," Annan said in Geneva.
At U.N. headquarters Monday, U.S. deputy ambassador James Cunningham told the Security Council during closed-door consultations that the United States wanted three conditions met for further discussion about the nature of a peacekeeping force.
According to diplomats, who spoke on condition of anonymity, Cunningham said Washington would insist on Taylor giving up power, on a political agreement among the parties and international support for a peace process. The council decided to continue discussion after the mission it dispatched returns from the region and West African leaders meet over the weekend.
Liberia's rebels joined the calls Monday for U.S. military involvement.
"The Americans can lead the force, and the West Africans can play a supporting role," Charles Bennie, a rebel envoy, said in Ghana.
The rebel official promised his side would not target Americans troops if they are sent to enforce a truce. A previous cease-fire unraveled last week.
In Monrovia, a small crowd rallied outside the U.S. Embassy on Monday to appeal for American military action.
The few dozen picketers were a fraction of the thousands of panicked Liberians who surrounded the U.S. Embassy and nearby compound last week, seeking protection from rockets and mortars as rebels laid siege to the capital.
Western authorities, speaking on condition of anonymity, said Monday that two mortar shells hit the U.S. Embassy compound during the siege — contradicting previous American statements that explosives hit only within the walls of the U.S. residential compound across the street.
The end of the siege left doctors to treat hundreds of wounded and victims of disease sweeping the capital, which is crowded with refugees who have filled schools, homes and a sports stadium and have inadequate supplies of water.
People used wheelbarrows to haul cholera victims to the main John F. Kennedy hospital, where workers have logged at least 600 cases of the disease.
------------
Washington not ready to join Liberia peacekeepers
Mon Jun 30, 2:58 PM ET
WASHINGTON (AFP) - The United States has not decided whether its troops will join peacekeepers in Liberia, a State Department spokesman said.
"We've been looking more broadly at the overall situation to see what contribution we could make and how we might help work with others to calm that situation somewhat for the sake of the people of Liberia," Richard Boucher said.
"I don't have a final answer at this point on what the prospects are or what steps we might choose."
Boucher added that Washington had opted to take a seat on an international commission to oversee a cease-fire accord reached between the Liberian government and rebel forces on June 17 in Accra, Ghana but which has since fallen through.
On Saturday UN Secretary General Kofi Annan asked the Security Council authorize deployment of a multilateral force in Liberia. He said Monday that US participation was welcome.
"There are lots of expectations that the US may be prepared to lead this force, of course that is a sovereign decision for them to take, but all eyes are on them," Annan told reporters.
On Saturday the UN chief called in the UN Security Council in a letter for the urgent deployment of a multinational force to the West African state to prevent a "major humanitarian tragedy."
