[kesg]

Subsequently I saw that Howard Dean supported the idea of sending troops to Liberia, which sharply reduced my confidence even further that this move promotes a vital interest of the United States.

[evad]

..which sharply reduced my confidence even further that this move promotes a vital interest of the United States.

When that confidence level drops to ZERO, then you'll be at my level.

Even the slixter in Bosnia/Serbia went under the pretense of vital national interest. Bush in Kuwait under the vital interest of oil stability.

Whether these interests are real or perceived we can debate, but.... LIBERIA. What national interest do we have there?

Now if we want to sent humanitarian aid, that's something else althought I personally would take the position that some type of interest or gain to us must be a part of the package.