Should Liberia be evacuated?

[ordos45]

Well should Americans and other foreigners evacuate Liberia?

A Liberian diplomat in Washington told CNN that civilians were "dying in the hundreds," and residents of the chaotic capital had begun stacking the bodies of the dead in front of the U.S. Embassy

At least a dozen mortars were fired at the embassy compound. The U.S. Navy said one mortar round had hit the embassy's general store. Two Liberian policemen were injured when a mortar hit a building outside the embassy, U.S. officials said.

"[sunday] a bullet landed in the middle of our hospital's pediatric ward even as war wounded civilians continued to arrive. [Monday], we fear the fighting in the streets is so intense that the wounded cannot be transported to the hospital for treatment."

http://www.cnn.com/2003/WORLD/africa/07/21/liberia.intl/index.html

[Acriku]

I think it's a sticky situation. For one, if it doesn't involve terrorism then Bush's war on terror might take priority over the humanitarian crisis. Maybe the U.N. can round up enough troops to evacuate Liberia by themselves.

[Caid Ivik]

I would say the media are rather pushing against US intervention. But a small fleet was already sent, just what they'll do there is hard to say. I hope US will do their work there.

[Egeides]

If USA administration is obliged to move for public relations reasons, it will move since the Americans will make pressures. Exactly how it happened in Indonesia (after that M16-supported Suharto killed everyone). Oh, did I mentioned that USA REALLY put out Suharto that time? Yeah, for public image: all the other guys around Suharto now have power and Suharto is in a rich exile somewhere. Did I also mentioned that the journalist that first put out this story about Indonesia lost his job in the following month?

So, you can hope for an african country...

[ordos45]

Actually those ships have no orders but to head for the Mediterranean, they have not been given orders to head for Liberia yet. And the US is being pressured by the International Community and the United Nations on this.

[Caid Ivik]

Well, I say how our media show it: evil USA trying for second conquest.

[ordos45]

Well, I say how our media show it: evil USA trying for second conquest.

Ah, that makes sense. Our propaganda, foreign propaganda, somewhere in between lies something sensible...most likely...but given the nature of politics, maybe not.

The biggest morality play I've heard on our own media was the arguement "Our former slaves descendants, our problem". And why does CNN see fit to put pictures of bodies stacked in front of the US embassy on the website, but not TV, do they feel we don't have the stomach for it on television?

[Caid Ivik]

I would say CNN is one of those more serious. See our TV Markiza, it's hard to eat next hours after news...

[ordos45]

Oh...well maybe we are lucky for having a less graphic television one. But still, seeing the dead, it gives it a more human side for me.

[Edric O]

That article doesn't seem to mention the most important things:

What exactly are the rebels fighting for, and what is the government defending?

And most of all, on who's side are the people of Liberia?

[Dante]

Does it matter? ;)

[Dude_Doc]

The people were waving with the US flag not so long ago...

[ordos45]

That article doesn't seem to mention the most important things:

What exactly are the rebels fighting for, and what is the government defending?

And most of all, on who's side are the people of Liberia?

Question One: Supposedly to oust the corrupt government, led by Charles Taylor, indicted for war crimes by a UN Tribunal in Sierra Leone a neighboring country.

Question Two: Good question. At the moment most of the common people seem to just want the fighting to end, can you blame them after 14 years of civil war?

Anyhow, within five days several West African nations have announced they'll send in their peacekeepers, with or without US aid.

[ordos45]

Sorry thought this deserved its own post. Bush is ordering marines to Liberia to aid the West African peacekeeping forces. (Anyone not see that coming?)

[Edric O]

So far I don't see any reason to support the government against the rebels. More like the other way around, actually: If the government doesn't control anything outside the capital any more, the quickest way to end the war would be if the rebels finally took the capital.

[Caid Ivik]

Taylor get his power by same way as half of african "presidents" - by force. Who sews wind, harvests storm...

[Edric O]

Hmmm, I wonder who pays for all their weapons and equipment...

[Caid Ivik]

Western conspiracy, who else ;D

[Edric O]

Of course not. I'm sure that it's all perfectly "legal"... The warlords exploit their people to make various products, which they sell to transnational corporations. Then they use the corporate money to fund their wars.

If that's not true, then where exactly are the warlords getting all their money from?

[Caid Ivik]

From diamonds and gold. Black market is strong, whatever. But weapons are eastern, see, everyone fires from AK...

[Edric O]

Diamonds and gold? With the exception of South Africa and a few neighboring countries, I'm not aware of any other African countries holding any sizable reserves of gold or precious stones.

And even if they did, they'd still need to sell them to someone.

As for the AK-47's, remember that I'm not talking about where the weapons themselves come from (illegal arms dealers, no doubt). I'm talking about where the money for buying the weapons comes from.

[ordos45]

Neighboring Sierra Leone has good stores of diamonds (incidentally the country that wants the Liberian President for War Crimes), however last time I checked they can't sell "conflict diamonds", because that would be funding civil war.

[SurlyPIG]

Diamonds and gold? With the exception of South Africa and a few neighboring countries, I'm not aware of any other African countries holding any sizable reserves of gold or precious stones.

You mean avn't heard of the blood diamonds of western Africa? Do a Google Search for Sierra Leone and look at the images tab that comes up and it'll be quite self explanatory.

Is Charles Taylor one of the amputation guys that would cut off people's limbs to keep his "democracy" in line?

Whatever the side, the UN needs to get in there and pronto. This Charles Taylor guy sounds like he needs to sit before a tribunal in Switzerland and the rebels don't sound too trustworty either.

[ordos45]

Whatever the side, the UN needs to get in there and pronto. This Charles Taylor guy sounds like he needs to sit before a tribunal in Switzerland and the rebels don't sound too trustworty either.

Actually Ace, he was indicted in Sierra Leone by a UN-backed War Crimes Tribunal.

[SurlyPIG]

:O

Well what became of that? How did he end up in Liberia?