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2003-07-22 Africa: West

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Posted by TJ 2003-07-22 8:48:16 AM|| || Front Page|| [7 views since 2007-05-07] Top

#1 Read in the Chicago Trib this morning statements by Susan Rice, Clinton's DOState Africa honcho, and Salih Booker, head of Africa Action, bitching and moaning about Bush not taking action and "allowing" the situation to deteriorate. Whatever. This same type of B&M technique was the one that got Bush I to send troops to Somalia in '92. You know, "The US only cares about countries that have oil!" type of argument. Look how that turned out, although there WAS food sent in, and there WAS a large international contingent there before the Blackhawk Down incident. IIRC, the fact was that we had overstayed our welcome because civilians got killed in the crossfire between UN forces and warlords, plus there was friction in the C&C structure between various militaries (paks, Moroccans, Canadians, etc.)
So, here goes. If our 4,500 guys go in and some civilians get killed, or 15-year old fighters from ANY group get killed, Susan and Salih and their ilk will shut up, please. No micromanaging from think tanks in DC. Otherwise, providing C&C, communications and logistical support in support of ECOWAS is good enough for me. Let's not put our guys on the ground and then have them have to interview people with AK's and RPG's just to see on whose side they are. Ridiculous. And I don't care we've got some kind of special relationship with Liberia. It was never a colony. Plus this war has been going on for more than a decade, so now it's Bush's fault?
I wonder if Susan or Salih would mind a JDAM being delivered on Taylor's doorstep. That might start to solve the problem a bit.

Posted by Michael 2003-7-22 11:18:12 AM|| 2003-7-22 11:18:12 AM|| Front Page Top

#2 The Liberians blaming the US for the carnage does not give me a warm and fuzzy about intervention. It turns me against intervention because if they're blaming us now there will be no end to the blame later. I wonder if that's there intent.

Posted by Yank 2003-7-22 1:50:01 PM|| 2003-7-22 1:50:01 PM|| Front Page Top

#3 In the words of the BBC anchorwoman just minutes ago:"The US stands accused of squandering its chance to intervene."(Emphasis mine -EI)Catch-22,anyone?

Posted by El Id 2003-7-22 2:12:56 PM|| 2003-7-22 2:12:56 PM|| Front Page Top

#4 We committed major resources to Bosnia and Kosovo. We did Haiti and Somalia. It's somebody else's turn.

Posted by Zhang Fei 2003-7-22 2:26:32 PM|| 2003-7-22 2:26:32 PM|| Front Page Top

#5 I like the way Bush is handling the whole situation. Chuckie Cheese isn't gonna play Bush for a sucker.

Let's face it. They want us to end their civil war, rebuild their infrastructure (ahhh the American dollar) get them on their feet, tell us to leave when they have everything they want and then repeat the whole damn cycle of violence again because they're idiots consumed by greed and corruption (not to mention tribalism). Then they'll blame us for everything all over again. The problem with countries like this is that they believe they are entitled to a free lunch at America's expense. Well Joe Liberia, don't believe the hype.

As for the casualties JOE, they're caused by Liberians in Liberia. Why don't you give ole Coffee Ann Ann a call. I'm sure the rest of the world is in no hurry to help you either. (Remember Rwanda?) Then again that was the America's fault as well, wasn't it?

By the way, where are the dynamic duds? (Al and Jesse) What, are their capes still at the dry cleaners?

Posted by Paul 2003-7-22 2:28:57 PM|| 2003-7-22 2:28:57 PM|| Front Page Top

#6 No War For Chocolate! Or those weird Silver Dollar thingys we see on TV, either.

Honestly, there isn't even a way to do an altruistic good turn in Liberia. We have armed teenagers shooting the crap out of the country, and if the US intervenes we'll be "killing babies." What a load of steaming turds. Same thing goes for the US somehow having a "responsibility" for Liberia.
Not only was Liberia NOT founded by freed slaves, it WAS founded by a group of American citizens who felt that free black people had no business in the New World. The US didn't have formal relations with Liberia until after the war. So what part of this makes it our problem?

Posted by therien 2003-7-22 6:27:17 PM|| 2003-7-22 6:27:17 PM|| Front Page Top

#7 Where are the human shields who wanted to protest US intervention? I'll buy them a plane ticket to Liberia.

Posted by Dexter M. Duck 2003-7-22 8:04:14 PM|| 2003-7-22 8:04:14 PM|| Front Page Top

#8 Chuckie Cheese....LOL!!!! good one Paul.

Posted by Rafael 2003-7-22 9:55:57 PM|| 2003-7-22 9:55:57 PM|| Front Page Top

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