Liberia and US Peacekeeping
Many in the US and around the world have called for the United States to send thousands of peacekeepers to Liberia in west Africa, to stop the current fighting between government troops and rebels. Many Liberian civilians are dying because of the fighting.
First of all, let's look at the term 'peacekeepers'. It implies maintaining an existing peace or ceasefire. Neither a peace or ceasefire exists in Liberia's capital. Hostilities continue to break out everyday. Liberian government troops will continue to fight as long as the current government leader Charles Taylor remains in power in the capital. As things stand, placing US or UN troops between the warring factions will only make them targets and result US and/or UN casualties. Unless the government and rebel troops are separated and hostilities cease permanently, there is no point in sending US or UN troops to be in harms way.
Until such time as Charles Taylor leaves - as oppose continuously planning to leave - and rebel and government troops implement a real cease fire, no US troops should enter Liberia except to provide protection and/or evacuation for the US Embassy. To do otherwise is foolhardy and places US troops in an unacceptably risky situation.
07/25/03 ( 553 )
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