Bush may send 500-1,000 troops to Liberia

[thedrifter]

Bush may send 500-1,000 troops to Liberia

Wednesday, July 2, 2003 Posted: 7:36 PM EDT (2336 GMT)


WASHINGTON (CNN) -- President Bush could announce later this week that he is sending 500 to 1,000 peacekeeping troops to Liberia, two senior officials told CNN.

Facing mounting international pressure to have the United States lead a Liberia mission that also would include West African peacekeepers, Bush discussed such a deployment Wednesday, the officials said.

U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan and others have talked of a U.S. deployment of 2,000 troops, but U.S. officials told CNN any deployment would be no more than half that. (Full story)

The officials said the timing of the announcement could be slowed by efforts to get Liberian President Charles Taylor, who faces war crimes charges by a U.N. court in neighboring Sierra Leone, to step down and leave the war-torn country.

The White House official line is that Taylor should leave now and face war crimes trial later. But Bush used different language Wednesday regarding Taylor, saying simply that he should leave the country.

Many analysts read the new Bush language as a sign the president was prepared to accept Taylor going into exile in a country that would not extradite him to Sierra Leone.

Bush has been reluctant to commit U.S. troops to Liberia, which was founded in 1822 as a settlement for freed American slaves, and hoped West African peacekeepers would be enough, with the possible exception of Marine reinforcements at the U.S. Embassy in Monrovia. (Full story)

But Secretary of State Powell has been arguing in favor of a U.S. commitment, sources said -- citing recent peacekeeping commitments by France in the Ivory Coast and Great Britain in Sierra Leone.

Bush leaves this weekend for his first trip to Africa, and the Liberia issue has become a test of his promise to make a commitment to promoting peace, democracy and economic development in Africa, administration officials said.

One senior official said, "There will be a U.S. role, but the details are still in somewhat of a flux."

Another senior official said "it is not sealed" but a force of 500 to no more than 1,000 Army troops was under serious discussion and that there were "strong indications" a final decision in favor of a deployment "will be sooner rather than later."

Despite suggestions by some administration officials to the contrary, neither Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld nor Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Richard Myers has expressed reservations about involving U.S. troops in Liberia, key aides to both men told CNN.

An aide to Rumsfeld said the defense secretary believes the mission would fit into the category of "lesser contingencies" the Pentagon is prepared to handle. Sources close to Myers said the general shares that view.

Pentagon officials acknowledged forces are stretched thin overseas -- in Afghanistan, Iraq and the Balkans -- but said the small number of troops required for Liberia would not create problems.

But other administration officials said the Pentagon is wary in part because of the humiliating memories of the last major U.S. deployment in Africa -- to Somalia -- which ended in retreat 10 years ago after 18 Americans were killed.

Several senior officials said reports that Bush had already signed orders authorizing a deployment were inaccurate.

But these officials said planning was intensifying, including detailed conversations with the United Nations and with West African nations that would be part of a peacekeeping mission.

Pentagon sources told CNN a unit of 50 U.S. Marines known as a FAST team -- for Fleet Anti-terrorism Security Team -- was on standby in Rota, Spain, for possible deployment to reinforce security at the U.S. Embassy.

Several hundred Americans remain in Liberia, where intense fighting between Taylor's government and rebel forces has continued despite a June 17 cease-fire. (Full story)

Nigeria had been working with Taylor on a possible deal for him to take refuge in that country. One problem, however, is that Taylor has agreed to deals before, then backed out.

Officials said the United States was working closely with members of the Economic Community of West African States on diplomatic efforts, particularly Ghana and Nigeria. (Full story)

Comments Tuesday by White House press secretary Ari Fleischer that Bush was considering sending troops provoked a nearly instantaneous reaction in Monrovia, where thousands of people gathered outside the U.S. Embassy to cheer a possible American presence.

"We feel America can bring peace because they are the original founders of this nation, and secondly, they are the superpower of the world," one man said.

CNN correspondents John King, Jamie McIntyre, Barbara Starr and Jeff Koinange and producer Elise Labott contributed to this report.


http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/africa/07/02/us.liberia/


Sempers,

Roger

[btrogu]

The U.N. want's the U.S.A. there as peacekeeprs, but when it came to Iraq and it's weapons of mass destruction and it's human rights polices, we were wrong. I say let France,Germany, and Russia handle this one.

[Sgt Sostand]

Screw the UN let France or Germany go their

[Lock-n-Load]

I agree with my comrades-in-arms above...No Marine FMF Shock Troops for Liberia....right on...let the Frogs, the Krauts and the Russkies get bloodied up in that hell-hole full of deadly virus'...like monkey/pox and who knows what else in that slaughterhouse...the VA will not give healthcare to any Vet coming down with that Rat/driven ..monkey/pox virus...let's stay at home on this caper and make sure those Muslim oil fields pay for Iraq's freedom and sustenace to keep those Arabs in line...I love our CIC telling those Ragheads, "Come on; Bring 'em on"...you want more ass-kicking??...."Come on; Bring 'em on".

[firstsgtmike]

Uncle Sam to the Rescue

Thursday, July 03, 2003

By Neil Cavuto



So let me see if I have this right: Now the United Nations needs us. Not in Iraq, where it argued, we shouldn't go. But in Liberia (search), where it argues, we should go.

Liberia is a mess and needs to be stabilized, the U.N. says. Funny, Iraq was a mess but apparently didn't need to be stabilized, the U.N. said.

But why quibble over the details. The administration is indeed sending at least 1,000 G.I.s to Liberia -- maybe double that number down the road.

It’s part of a global peacekeeping force that needs some clout and we just provided it.

We could have bickered and dithered and ignored. We could have said, to hell with your request. But we didn't.

We could have ignored the desperate pleas from Liberians looking to end a civil war that's already claimed hundreds of lives. But we didn't.

We could have been vindictive and said to the French and Germans, who led this request by the way, "You didn't do diddly for us, we ain't doing diddly for you." But we didn't. No, we recognized the greater good by doing some good. So it’s Uncle Sam to the rescue… again.

You know, there are a lot of people who criticize this country, but we're always there when they need this country.

Yes, we do a lot of things wrong, but when everything hits the fan, we do one thing right: We calm, protect and save people.

Sometimes I wonder why we do anything for fair weather friends, who hate us one moment and then dizzily come running to us the next.

Then I look back in our history and I realize the answer: It’s because we've done the exact same thing before, time and time again.

That’s not bad for a country the world loves to hate, until the world is too scared to move.

[FREDDY]

I see times have not changed I was in liberia in 1990 and 1991 under operation sharp edge. Taylor had just had the old president ears cut off and had him eat his own ears with a bowl of rice then had him killed and left in the down town square. From what I remember they had cut off his fingers and he had bled to death as well as they had cut alot of his skin off and had eaten it. Supposedly to absorb his power vodoo is still a big thing there OH man they memories MAMBA STATION, bullets flying, birds singing yea right .

[Devildogg4ever]

I agree with everyone else, "NO WAY"!

[Irish]

I read where Bush is pondering sending troops to Liberia... maybe 1,000 to 5,000... these chickenhawks that are trying to run these operations had better wake up!

We don't need to be sending anyone to Liberia or anywhere else... we need more support in Iraq or we should get the hell out. We're losing guys everyday... for what?

This "bring'em on" BS is for kids on the corner... not snipers!