French troops rescue Americans in Liberia

Chicago Sun-Times ^ | 6/10/03 | Ellen Knickmeyer

[thoughtomator]

While I admire their idealism, I must fault their lack of common sense. Unless you are armed and prepared to fight you don't belong in a war zone, no matter what your mission.

[jpsb]

Thank you France, Good luck with Africa, you are going to need it.

[Gal.5:1]

well, most of them are not right in the middle of the fighting zones. Liberia and other countries have lots of little out of the way places. There are American(and from lots of other nations) missionaries all over this world, even in the nations that are currently in a civil war, or war between nations. The great commission (Matthew 28:18-20)does not stop when the going gets rough. Obviously, many do leave when they find themselves right in the middle of it, but many just move to out of the way areas, or return when things cool down. They are not there to fight but to teach , preach the gospel of Jesus Christ, and serve.

[archy]

If so, I will try to carry the "with the exception of the French Foreign Legion," disclaimer whenever I ridicule France.

I'd strongly urge you to include the French army paratroopers, including the Legion paras, and the French Marine Marsouins et bigours in your list of exceptions. And some of the regular French Army tank crews and cavalrymen I've known are no slouches either; neither are their Alpine mountain troops.

Don't mistake the weakness of their politicians for any failings in the ranks of some, perhaps much of the French military, no more than US forces should be judged on the basis of their political leadership during the previous administration.

You're welcome to disagree, of course, particularly if you're one of the Americans rescued by Colonel Erulin's 2 REP paras at Kolwezi in Zaire in May of 1978, while the American Rangers sat on the airstrip ramp at Hunter Airfield polishing their boots. But I think you'll find that those in Liberia now prefer to have their security provided by the French Army to depending on either the mercies of the LURD guerilla rebels... or the Liberian government troops.

[Khurkris]

Couldn't agree more re:the professionalism of the Legion Etrangere and certain Para groups of the overseas French military. Excellent troopies; well trained and experienced on the sharp end of the stick. However, your comment re:RANGERS bivvied on the ramp at Hunter Field polishing their boots as if they preferred that to a rescue mission was quite out of line. I was a RANGER in 1978, and while aware, very aware, of the goings on in Africa, we had no orders to put any unit boots on the ground for any reason. Of course there was the odd business in Angola and other parts, things like that. By the by, I found myself in Liberia helping with an evacuation in 1986(5?). Things had gone south there and there were executions on the beach front. Private group I was with evac'ed a number of civilians out of there.

Also wanted to say that the links from yr profile page are most excellent. Where did that last verse of VBL come from? RLTW

[Palladin]

What kind of Americans go to Liberia?

Americans like the five nuns pictured at this link:

http://www.the-liberian-group.com/murder_of_the_five_american_nuns.htm

[Paradox]

Paradox, you're living on the optimistic side, pal. Frogs are cowards and wimps.

LOL, perhaps I am. I suppose it IS entirely possible that the last Frenchman with balls was killed in WWII... maybe thats why genetically, they lack any fortitude, it just aint in em!

[Ligeia]

Navy ship Kearsarge could be diverted to Liberia
By JONATHAN PAYE-LAYLEH, Associated Press
© June 11, 2003
Last updated: 11:57 AM

The amphibious assault ship Kearsarge, which is in the Atlantic heading home to Norfolk, has been notified that it could be diverted to Liberia, where rebels are besieging the capital city, Pentagon officials said Tuesday.

The ship carries about 2,000 Marines as well as landing craft, helicopters and other gear for missions such as evacuating civilians from war-torn areas.

The Kearsarge deployed for the war with Iraq in January as part of Amphibious Task Force East.

Navy spokesman Lt. Cmdr. Rich Haupt, from the U.S. European Command in Germany, said that while the Kearsarge might be diverted, ``It is a pretty safe bet that we are not going to send the whole fleet down there.

``I can't say if the Kearsarge is going to be home on time or not,'' Haupt said.

The U.S. European Command also has sent a small military team to the area to enhance American abilities to monitor the situation in Liberia, officials said.

The Kearsarge was scheduled to return to Hampton Roads on June 26, after dropping off about 3,000 Marines in Morehead City, N.C. The amphibious assault ship is based at Norfolk Naval Station with a crew of 1,161. It can hold a landing force of 1,893 Marines and equipment and serves as a launch platform.

In Monrovia, Liberia, gunfire and explosions rattled the city Tuesday, as the weakened government bowed to international pressure and said it was ready to resume talks with the rebels.

The rebel offensive is the most intense yet in a three-year campaign to drive out President Charles Taylor, who now controls very little territory outside the capital.

Liberians fear a bloody battle for the city of 1 million, repeatedly overrun during seven years of devastating factional fighting from which Taylor emerged the strongest warlord and went on to win 1997 presidential elections.

Peace negotiations in Ghana between the Liberian government and two rebel groups were postponed Monday because of the fighting. But Liberia's defense minister, Daniel Chea, said he would return there on Wednesday to resume the talks.

His announcement came after repeated appeals by the United Nations, West African mediators and the United States for a cease-fire to allow negotiations to proceed. The Liberian government insists that rebels first withdraw to their previous positions.

U.S. Ambassador John Blaney met with Taylor on Tuesday to make clear the need for an immediate end to fighting in Liberia, a country founded in the 19th century by freed American slaves.

``I'm hopeful after this meeting and pretty confident that the government of Liberia is going to move forward now with alacrity and commitment at the peace table,'' Blaney said.

Frightened residents took advantage of a brief lull in fighting Tuesday morning to stock up on food. Bread, milk and sugar disappeared from the shelves as people lined up at tiny, ramshackle stores.

``It's no time to be choosy,'' said Sarah Menoh, 41, as she waited patiently for her chance at one store's dwindling stocks. ``Whatever can enter the stomach is good to have.''

Fighting broke out again in the afternoon, sending people racing back to their homes. Residents reached by telephone in Monrovia's northwestern suburbs said they could hear the rattle of small-arms fire and intermittent explosions.

``If we go on like this for more than two weeks, the suffering will become untold,'' said James Kollie, 35. ``Our actual plight seems to be unheard of outside of Liberia.''

On Monday, French helicopters swooped to rescue 535 Europeans, Americans, Lebanese and other foreigners who had gathered overnight at the European Union and U.S. Embassy compounds. They were taken to a French warship, which was headed Tuesday to neighboring Ivory Coast.

© 2003 HamptonRoads.com/PilotOnline.com

[Prodigal Son]

My question is, do they call themselves "American-Africans"? ;0)

LOL, sort of- Americo-Liberians. (but only those that are descended from the original American colonists)