EFL - Chuck’s Farewell... rriiigghhttt LOL - he still adds caveats - it won’t end until he’s dead
In a farewell address to his wartorn nation, President Charles Taylor declared Sunday he would "sacrifice my presidency’ to stop bloodshed in Liberia, but added "God willing, I will be back."
| Oh, Gawd! He thinks he's Arnold... |
Taylor, sitting solemnly with folded hands, recorded the address before a Liberian flag at his home. The Associated Press obtained a copy of the recording before its broadcast to the nation, expected later Sunday. He has pledged to resign as of Monday. "I love this country very much," said Taylor, wearing his standard dark safari suit. "This is why I have decided to sacrifice my presidency. As I look at people dying, I must stop fighting."
Conscience all the sudden huh? Call me a skeptic
The statement marked Taylor’s first formal word to Liberia’s people that he was quitting power. "I stop now, because above all else, you the people count," Taylor said. The 15-minute address made no sense mention of Taylor’s earlier acceptance of an asylum offer in Nigeria — and ended with a declaration: "I say, God willing, I will be back."
| You said that twice and it might be redundant, too. Also. |
Taylor also accused President Bush of forcing his departure. The United States and West African nations have demanded Taylor cede power in a bid to end 14 years of conflict he shares the blame for. "The solution to the problem in Liberia cannot be for the president of the United States to ask the president of Liberia to leave," Taylor said.
He really wasn’t "asking" Charles
"If that is a challenge, I challenge George Bush, with due respect as a president — please, you are a man of God. Do something for our people," he said. "If they could spend, or attempt to spend, $100 billion in Iraq, we need only a few here," he said.
| "And make it quick, because I'm leaving and I don't want to run short of cash..." |
Few in Taylor’s cut-off capital, under siege by rebels for two months, would be able to hear the address — with batteries, fuel for generators and all else, especially food, scarce on the government-held side of Monrovia. Late Saturday, Vice President Moses Blah told the AP that Taylor would make good on his pledge to turn over power at a ceremony Monday. Taylor has promised to cede power and go into exile but has backed off similar statements before. "President Taylor is relinquishing power for the sake of peace," Blah said. "Taylor is surely leaving; he’s leaving the country in my hands."
| "I get to be president! I get the keys to the treasury! Oh, frabjous day!" |
Blah appealed to rebels besieging the capital Monrovia to stop fighting and help restore order. The rebels vehemently oppose Blah’s succession, demanding that a neutral figure be appointed to preside over a transition government. "I am telling my brothers out there ... lay down your arms, leave the bushes and come let’s build the country," Blah said. Rebels remained skeptical of any promises from Taylor’s administration.
| "And we're telling you to pack your shit and get out! What part about 'rebels' don't you understand?" |
"Until Taylor resigns, I won’t believe it. He is a criminal," said a rebel civilian official, A.L. Hadjia Sekou Fofana. Fofana allowed that if Taylor indeed fulfills his vow to cede power, "it will be a step in the right direction." |