Liberian President Sirleaf Thanks U.S. Congress (Text Version, Good Read)

allAfrica.com ^ | March 15, 2006

[rightinthemiddle]

Speaking before a joint meeting of the United States Congress on Wednesday, Liberian President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf asked for American support to help her country  "become a brilliant beacon, an example to Africa and the world of what love of liberty can achieve."

"The people of Liberia and the people of the United States are bound together by history and by values," Sirleaf said. "But our ties greatly exceed the historical connection," she said. She thanked President Bush for his strong stand against the former Liberian ruler Charles Taylor and the Congress for appropriating $445 million "that laid the foundation for a durable peace" in 2003.

The 35-minute speech, to a full chamber and packed visitors' galleries, was interrupted 33 times by applause, including a dozen by standing ovation. One of the loudest and longest ovations came when she said: "I stand before you today as the first woman elected to lead an African nation."

[rightinthemiddle]

I highly recommend this read to Freepers. I listened to excerpts on Fox News. High praise for the United States, Bush, the American military, etc.

I'm not advocating massive aid for Africa. I do appreciate somone recognizing American's help. Read it before you judge it.

[rightinthemiddle]

It can be viewed here:

http://www.c-span.org/videoarchives.asp?CatCodePairs=,&ArchiveDays=100

[Peach]

An excellent read. Thank you for posting it. Brit Hume is the only person who reported this, to my knowledge.

[Philistone]

President Bush likes Liberians so much he married one!

(Sorry, couldn't resist.)

[sageb1]

chuckling...:)

[sageb1]

I also listened to the excerpts on Brit Hume's show last night. Her speech was wonderful and very much a breath of fresh air.

[nuconvert]

Education background......

"Johnson-Sirleaf graduated from the College of West Africa, a United Methodist high school. She received a B.B.A. in Accounting at Madison Business College in Madison, Wisconsin, USA in 1964, an economics diploma from the University of Colorado in 1970, and a master's degree in public administration from Harvard University in 1971."

(from Wikipedia)

[lesser_satan]

LOL!

[andy58-in-nh]

Not a word about this in today's New York Times. Not a word in the Washington Post, either. I'm deeply shocked. < /sarcasm >

[rightinthemiddle]

You can be if she was thanking a Dim congress and a Dim president, it we be above the fold in the NY Times.

[rightinthemiddle]

Keyboard is funky:

bet and would

[infidel29]

Thanks for posting, I heard this, this morning on Jim Quinn's show, but he didn't credit the source of the story.

I knew a freeper would be on top of it.