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| Africa: West | ||
| U.S. Ground Forces Quietly Depart Liberia | ||
| 2003-10-01 | ||
| Al-Guardian and the AP together - watch the spin! The last few U.S. ground forces quietly departed this war-ruined nation, with many Liberians saying they were grateful for the U.S. help but sorry they didn’t get to say goodbye. "I had a necklace made of kidney stones to give them as thanks" About 30 members of a U.S. military liaison team flew out of Liberia’s main airport Tuesday on military planes and helicopters, ending their work with a West African-led peace mission. More like white western guilt assuagement The USS Iwo Jima was no longer visible from Monrovia’s shore by Tuesday afternoon, and was due to leave the region within hours. "Let’s get the hell outta here" The Iwo Jima was the last of three U.S. warships deployed in early August off Liberia’s capital, Monrovia, where fighting killed more than 1,000 civilians in June and July as rebels besieged the city. The mission of Joint Task Force Liberia Mission ``has been accomplished,’’ a U.S. military spokesman said on condition of anonymity. "My name? I can say no more" The presence of the U.S. troops helped drive President Charles Taylor into
they left you cab fare on the dresser and a note to lock up... what more do you want? ``To leave without a ceremony to bid them goodbye is to present Liberians as an ungrateful people,’’ Tingeh said. ahem..... U.N., African and European leaders had argued the United States had a special responsibility toward Liberia, a country founded by freed American slaves in the 19th century. Liberia had remained a leading African trade and strategic partner of the United States up to the end of the Cold War. "Give us money to rebuild... we’re just as important as Iraq.... except for the oil..." President Bush ultimately agreed to a Marine deployment, but disappointed many Liberians by saying it would be limited to backing up the African peace force - and would be finished by Oct. 1. "time’s up" Liberians’ hopes were diminished further when most of the Marines who went ashore stayed behind high walls at an airport well outside Monrovia, out of sight to almost all Liberians. Those Marines, members of a rapid-reaction force, pulled back to their ships by Aug. 25. couldn’t take potshots at em The 30 or so other Marines acting as liaisons with the African force received warm smiles and greetings from Liberians as the troops moved about Monrovia. Many Liberians said they felt safer with the Marines onshore, saying their own ill-trained and often drunk and drugged fighters wouldn’t dare take on U.S. forces. Others called the onshore deployment a token force - and overdue since it didn’t come during the deadly heights of the rebel sieges. what was that "ungrateful" thing again? ``We did not have a say in the coming of the Americans. We just saw them in the Liberian waters,’’ said Romeo Sorsor, a 35-year old plumber. ``So they say they’re leaving. There’s no point in telling us.’’
Unbelievably balanced article for a joint AP/Al-Guardian story...maybe regime change is continuing? | ||
| Posted by:Frank G |
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| Posted by: Superhose 2003-10-1 4:21:09 PM |
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| Posted by: TJ 2003-10-1 8:50:32 AM |