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thedrifter
08-20-03, 05:35 AM
Bush Sees U.S. Marines Out of Liberia by Oct. 1

By Christina Ling

CRAWFORD, Texas (Reuters) - President Bush (news - web sites) said U.S. troops would be out of Liberia (news - web sites) by Oct. 1 after a limited mission aimed at clearing the way for humanitarian aid to the war-weary population, according to an interview released on Monday.


"I said ... we will have a limited mission, of limited duration and limited scope," Bush told Armed Forces Radio and Television in an interview, which was recorded on Aug. 14 and released by the White House.


"We'll be out of there by October 1. We've got U.N. blue-helmeted troops ready to replace our limited number of troops," Bush said.


About 200 U.S. troops arrived in Monrovia last week, including a Marine "quick-reaction" force, to back up West African troops sent to secure peace after pariah leader Charles Taylor left the country for exile in Nigeria.


The Pentagon (news - web sites) has said that the Marines from a 2,300-strong task force on three warships off Monrovia will deploy to help peace efforts in the region, riven by nearly 14 years of war.


"We have a special obligation in Liberia to help with humanitarian aid. And, therefore, we will," Bush said.


He said the Marines were helping to secure an airport and a port "so food can be off-loaded and the delivery process begun to help people in Monrovia," the capital of Liberia, a country founded by freed American slaves.


The White House later welcomed a peace deal signed on Monday between rebels and the government of Taylor's successor, Moses Blah. The deal aimed at creating a transition administration to take over from Blah and rule the country for two years while preparations are made for elections.


Taylor's old allies and former foes agreed in the interests of peace to share power with other political parties starting in October and to sacrifice their own claims to rule Liberia.


"The United States expects all parties to abide by the terms of the agreement and to live up to their commitments to stop all hostilities, to fully support the formation of the new government, and to ensure full humanitarian access," White House spokesman Scott McClellan said in a statement.


"This historic agreement provides the people of Liberia and its new leadership an unprecedented opportunity to begin the process of healing and reconciliation toward a peaceful, stable, and prosperous Liberia."


But as rebel leaders and a government representative signed the agreement in Ghana, accusations flew of fighting near Monrovia.


Also in the Aug. 14 interview, Bush defended U.S. operations in Iraq (news - web sites) and said U.S. troops would soon receive help from other nations and the new Iraqi army.


He said the Iraqi army would eventually be deployed to prevent looting and protect the country's power grid.


"This fall you'll see a lot of protective load, kind of the guarding role being taken off the shoulders of U.S. troops and shared by coalition forces," Bush said.


http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=584&ncid=584&e=3&u=/nm/20030818/pl_nm/liberia_usa_dc

Sempers,

Roger
:marine: