[Principled]

Some headed to the U.S. Embassy, pleading for rescue from the United States, which many Liberians still see as their country's big brother.

We need to give the UN a dozen or so years to sort this out.

[y2k_free_radical]

For this,i thank FRANCE.SAD,VERY SAD.

[sirshackleton]

Well, then I guess we're even for purging the Nazis from France?

[mikenola]

Liberia has a fascinating history:

In 1816, a group made up mostly of Quakers and slaveholders in Washington, D.C., formed the American Colonization Society (ACS). The Quakers opposed slavery, and the slaveholders opposed the freedom of Blacks, but they agreed on one thing: that Black Americans should be repatriated to Africa. The Quakers felt that freeborn Blacks and former slaves would face better chances for freedom in Africa than in the United States. They also saw repatriation as a way of spreading Christianity through Africa. The slaveholders' motives were less charitable: They viewed repatriation of Blacks as a way of avoiding a slave rebellion like the one that had taken place on the island of Santo Domingo, today's Haiti.

Despite opposition from many Blacks and from white abolitionists, the repatriation program, funded by ACS member subscriptions and a number of state legislatures, moved forward. In 1822, the first 86 voluntary, Black emigrants landed on Cape Montserrado, on what was then known as the Grain Coast. They arrived with white agents of the ACS who would govern them for many years. Many others followed, settling on land sometimes purchased, sometimes obtained more forcefully, from indigenous chiefs.

The first years were a challenge: The settlers suffered from malaria and yellow fever, common in the area's coastal plains and mangrove swamps, and from attacks by the native populations who were, at various times, unhappy -- unhappy with the expansion of the settlements along the coast; with the settlers' efforts to put an end to the lucrative slave trading in which some ethnic groups were engaged; and at the settlers' attempts to Christianize their communities. Despite these difficulties, the Black settlers were determined to show the world that they could create, develop, and run their own country. And so they kept arriving.

In 1824, the settlement was named Monrovia, after the American president (and ACS member) James Monroe, and the colony became the Republic of Liberia. Over the next 40 years, 19,000 African American repatriates, sometimes known as Americo-Liberians, settled in Liberia, along with some 5,000 Africans recaptured from slave ships, and a small number of West Indian immigrants.

[xrp]

I heard that the French troops tossed their firearms to the Americans and shouted, "Here, we know you can use these better than us! SAVE US!"

[Paradox]

Give credit where credit is due, I am sure that there are SOME Frenchmen out there who still have balls (what, 3% maybe?). Lets thank em when they show up!

[MoJo2001]

THE BTAM comes back to the forefront again. Marcus Garvey must be happy. Maybe not! The Back To Africa Movement obviously didn't expect fellow Africans to be brutal or insensitive, huh? Well, I'm sure they didn't expect Marcus Garvey to embezzle money from fellow blacks either.

[Gal.5:1]

When I was in Monrovia in 1988, we were just leaving (earlier than we planned, unfortunately) when the last installment of this ongoing civil war was just getting going: we left the day the coup started- that horrible war lasted at least 10 years. This government is so corrupt, but so was the one that preceeded it. So sad.

Maybe we will just have to forgive France and be friends with them again, for thier assistance...

[jpsb]

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

[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