Never heard that, but I doubt were going to *liberate* liberia.

It seems more like a mission to establish a dominant foothold in Africa.

We may police the world, but I couldn't think of anyone more qualified than The U.S.A.

that nation was founded by freed US slaves in the first place, so i think if anything, we owe them somethin for the servitude they gave us. not they as in today, but an historical underlying. then again, they must not have been too happy with us at the time if they went and formed a nation in africa. all in all this is a very delicate situation.

It would be an absolute disaster. they've been fighting since Doe was bumped off in 1990 and they were fighting before that. America has next to no real connection with the place -indeed the US recognised Liberia rather later than other great powers of the 19th century. Other than the accident that the dreadful American Colonization Society having screwed up in Sierra Leone picked Liberia as second best the notion of any special connection is little more than "fiction" and the "Liberians" even argued with the ACS. Descendants of freed slaves are at best 5-10% of the population. There's little English spoken, next to no communiactions, appalling diseases and mortality rates, and a rather large number fo Muslims who won't be very happy.
there may be diamonds and gold..may be. America has wisely stayed far away from Africa for most of its history ("Shores of Tripoli" excepted) and should continue with this reluctance to get involved.


[Edited on 6-7-2003 by Estragon]

I suppose it's just possible, of course,that some madman in the Pentagon has recalled that Liberia's one sure-fire earner is issuing flags of convenience to lots and lots of big ships ("lots of oil super-tankers, Uncle Estragon?" "certainly, my child"); but that seems impossible.

[Edited on 6-7-2003 by Estragon]

is what liberia has written all over it. i don't know too much of american popular opinion in africa, but i'm sure it's probably as it is in most of the mideast. this taylor person seems to have his plan of resignation in good order though, at least he's going without a fight, but what he has let happened has been horrendous.

Sadly, its looking inevitable Pheonix that, indeed, the US is going to get involved. Remember though, we are being asked to do so, though I, and many others, don't feel it is really 'our' place to do so in the first place.

Personally, those countries that have been "crying foul" for the last 6 months or so, should be held to 'stay' and be just as much a part of the effort.

regards
seekerof