Bush: Liberia Force May Just Be Advisers (State Dept., UN and France Defeated)

AP ^ | 07/09/03 | TOM RAUM

[Pubbie]

"We won't overextend our troops, period," Bush said at a joint news conference with South African President Thabo Mbeki,"

Take THAT Europe!

[onyx]

"We stand together with millions of people throughout the world and say that the biggest weapon of mass destruction is George W. Bush," Salim Vally of the Anti-War Coalition said in a speech.

Yessiree and they'd better watch out!

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[Sir Gawain]

Liberia, a nation that was founded in the early 1800s by freed U.S. slaves

Wrong.

[OpusatFR]

"African nations want the United States to do more to end the bloodshed in the western Africa nation..."

Oh no, that would not do at all. After all, we are listening to your criticism with open ears and do not want to become imperialists ~in your eyes~. We can just let the UN do its work as peacekeeping and keep our hands out of it so that we don't offend you with an Imperial appearing move.

[Bahbah]

Wrong, indeed. But it gets repeated over and over.

[adam_az]

Both Bush and Mbeki suggested that the U.S.contribution might be mainly of a non-combat variety.

"We need a lot of support, logistics-wise and so on," Mbeki said.

Mbeki said that the military burden in Liberia peacekeeping "really ought to principally fall on us as Africans."

They need logistic support from the US, a country thousands of miles away across the Atlantic Ocean, to help them stage logistics to support their own troops on their own continent?

Are they sure this is a good idea with the US being the biggest threat there is to world peace? /sarcasm

[Coroner]

I've heard that and believed it. How was Liberia founded??

[Sir Gawain]

Here

[htjyang]

[quote]
While the Liberia project was never officially endorsed by the government, it was supported from time to time by the government in various ways, including armed support and subsidies for the transportation of Liberian emigrants, for generations. The question of responsibility for Liberia has come up time and time again and we have never disowned her before. We should not do so now after 150 years have passed, solely on the question of the legitimacy of her birth. It's a bit disingenuous.
[/quote]

There was never any responsibility to speak of. Pray tell, exactly which section of the US Constitution mandates US responsibility for other countries?

Liberia is not a significant interest of the US and the US should not touch it with a 10-ft. pole. Personally, I'm against even advisers (remembers the tens of thousands of "advisers" in Vietnam"?) and logistical support.

Both the Cato Institute and the American Conservative Union have come out against it. So should we. Foreign policy should be guided by self-interest, not some ephemeral notion of "responsibility".

[Redbob]

Liberia's a free country, and her problems are of her own making.
Not ours.

Let Liberia stew in her own juices. It's not worth one single drop of American blood.

[htjyang]

[quote]
The Constitution does not tell the wielders of power in the United States how they should execute the constitutional powers assigned to them. If the US wishes to take responsibility for a foreign nation founded by Americans with the support of the American government in the name of the American Revolution, then it's up to the US to decide. The Constitution allows this.
[/quote]

The Constitution expresses the intent of the Founders. It is instructive to study the actions of the Founders in discerning their intent.

Did George Washington declare war against revolutionary France because of its brutality? I don't know of anything said or done by the Foudners that would suggest they'd endorse a humanitarian crusade.

[quote]
As a nation, we have few filial interests. Liberia is the strongest of those.
[/quote]

"filial interests" = empty words, meaning absolutely nothing.

Tell me, suppose if the US doesn't intervene, how will it impact our GDP? As the late president Calvin Coolidge put it so well: The business of America is business.

The case for non-intervention is simple: There is no reason for action, therefore inaction is the default. Furthermore, intervention costs money and may very well cost lives.

[htjyang]

[quote]
Do take some time to review their thoughts on Indians and slavery. In particular, read of Adams.
[/quote]

Actions speak louder than words. Who instituted the 3/5 Rule?

[maxwellp]

Can you tell us the right story? Thanks. I have also read that it was founded by returned slaves from America.

[Bahbah]

Some American whites who, as I understand it, did not think that having free blacks in the country would work, formed a society to assist the settlement of free black Americans in Liberia. They raised money for transportation and assistance in getting started. There is some interesting information on some FR threads, and if I were a clever FReeper, I would find them for you.