Liberia Folly: NO US TROOPS!!

National Review ^ | 7/7/03 | Ted Carpenter

[KantianBurke]

Checked and didn't see this posted. Spot on analysis.

[KantianBurke]

"It is unsound strategically to send our military personnel in harm's way when there is no vital security interest at stake. Even worse, it is immoral to risk their lives in such ventures."

DAMN RIGHT bump!

[Gunslingr3]

[Paulus Invictus]

One Liberian politician said yesterday that Liberia is like a US colony! What? That's news to me and the UN too, I'd bet! No troops to Liberia to support yet another Liberian dictator/thief!

[cweese]

...why in the HELL aren't the UN doing something here? did i miss something? aren't they committed to peace in africa? what gives???...

[logician2u]

It is telling that National Review publishes Ted Carpenter's piece as "guest opinion."

In better times, similar opinions were held by most if not all of the magazine's editorial staff. They would no more go along with military intervention in a sub-Sahara African nation than, say, propose that the Medicare program be enlarged to cover prescription drugs.

On the bright side, at least the editors ran it.

[SMEDLEYBUTLER]

There is not even a peripheral, much less a vital, U.S. interest at stake in Liberia.

The author should do some research before flapping his gums.

"Voice of America maintains its largest transmission center in the world. Broadcasting with six 250 kW and two 50 kW transmitters, coverage is provided for the entire African continent, the Middle East, and southwestern Russia.24 Looking towards the sea from Monrovia, the U.S. keeps an Omega communications and navigation relay station to transmit and guide submarines in the Atlantic.25 Firestone runs the largest rubber plantation in the world outside of Monrovia, complete with a 200 bed medical facility."

source

[KantianBurke]

Actually Carpenter publishes pieces in NR more often than you think.

[Calpernia]

>>>There is not even a peripheral, much less a vital, U.S. interest at stake in Liberia.

Liberia is positioned on a nice water way. Plus, it is positioned strategically by S. America, Cuba, Central America and accessable to the USA. Security wise, I think this is a vital interest.

[KantianBurke]

and such a transmitter can't be relocated? A replacement can't be acquired? Nope gotta send in US forces into a turd world country for the next decade.

[KantianBurke]

Its a nation that's been having quite a brutual civil war for G-d knows how long. Since when has it been of any use to us?

[SMEDLEYBUTLER]

I take it that you were just as animated in 1990-1991 during Operation Sharp Edge when the Marines evacuated 2,600+ non-combatants from Liberia. Get a grip, Chicken Little.

[Calpernia]

I'm looking at a map. It has strategic positioning to new axis's of terrorism: Cuba, Colombia, finances available from Venezuelan, and Lula's Brazil.

We have also been hearing on and off about all the cargo ships OBL and SH seem to have. Liberia would be a port.

Based on those points alone, it seems to be vital interest. I'm sure there is more.

[logician2u]

So why would the US wish to put all those things in jeopardy by sending in troops?

Did the chairman of Firestone ask for them to protect his company's plantation? Do you think for even an instant that, should things go from bad to worse and the US (as is often the case in its interventionist foreign policy) bets on the wrong horse, the eventual replacement for the current dictator won't decide to "nationalize" American interests in Liberia?

The mere presence of American industries or a VOA transmitter is insufficient grounds to treat a nation as if it were a colony.

[TigerTale]

One Liberian politician said yesterday that Liberia is like a US colony! What? That's news to me and the UN too, I'd bet!

He said like a U.S. colony--what he actually said was that the Europeans see Liberia that way. And they have justification. Don't forget that Liberia is the only other country in the world founded by Americans.

[KantianBurke]

only a fool would be unable to see a BIG difference between an evac of American citizens to setting up shop in that hellhole for an undetermined amount of time for a questionable purpose.

[ASA Vet]

gotta send in US forces into a turd world country for the next decade

Are you proposing a

QUAGMIRE ALERT!

[SMEDLEYBUTLER]

So why would the US wish to put all those things in jeopardy by sending in troops?

Were those things jeopardized in 1990-1991? Sit up higher so the point doesn't fly so far over your head. The author made a mistake in claiming that There is not even a peripheral, much less a vital, U.S. interest at stake in Liberia. By the way, since you seem to be privy to intelligence briefings that the rest of the world isn't, how many American citizens are currently in Liberia and what are they doing there?

[OldCorps]

There is no reason to justify the loss of US soldiers or marines in this, yet again, deployment of US military forces. Frankly, I'm sick of everybody thinking its ok to send US forces here, US forces there, US forces everywhere. Our military forces are overcommitted and undermanned! Our soldiers are not robocops or terminators! They need a rest once in a while. All this tough talk about taking on Syria, Iran, perhaps N. Korea (that probably needs to be done) kind of makes me wonder if anyone gives a damn about what we are putting these guys through.

I smell domestic politics in all of this. Something along the lines of President Bush appeasing liberals, thus getting "centrist" votes, and accolades from the NY Times, by intefering in African affairs.

Why get invovled? Corruption is rampant and there exists no vital national interests to justify such folly.

[logician2u]

You forgot the </sarcasm> tag.