(Pat) Robertson defends Liberian president; blames US State Department

MSNBC / Washington Post ^ | 7.10.03 | Alan Cooperman

[mhking]

July 10 — Charles Taylor, the Liberian president who has been indicted by an international court for crimes against humanity, has few remaining supporters in the United States. But one prominent American who has stuck with the West African leader is religious broadcaster and Christian Coalition founder Pat Robertson.

IN RECENT BROADCASTS of his cable TV show “The 700 Club,” watched by an estimated 1 million households, Robertson has defended Taylor as a fellow Baptist and Liberia’s “freely elected” leader. The “horrible bloodbath” taking place in Liberia, he has repeatedly said, is the fault of the State Department.

“So we’re undermining a Christian, Baptist president to bring in Muslim rebels to take over the country. And how dare the president of the United States say to the duly elected president of another country, ‘You’ve got to step down,’ ” Robertson said to his viewers on Monday.

[mhking]

Just damn.

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[warchild9]

Keep in mind that Pat also has very deep business interests and contacts in communist China. He's long since sold out.

[Norse]

There is nothing wrong with having business interests in China.

But, Pat is way off here. Bush isn't selling out Christians, Bush realizes that Charles Taylor is a horrible leader and needs to go.

[MineralMan]

Well, Falwell has some pretty interesting ties to Liberia and its President, involving Falwell's gold and diamond mining operations.

One wonders whether Liberia hasn't been helping Falwell get his conflict diamonds out of Africa. I don't know the answer to this question, but will do some research.

Falwell, IMO, is a money-grubber and far from being a credit to his faith.

[smith288]

But, Pat is way off here. Bush isn't selling out Christians, Bush realizes that Charles Taylor is a horrible leader and needs to go.

I dont agree with Robertson but do you know how odd this sounds coming from a conservative website? I dont know all the facts but my take is Taylor isnt threatening the United States one iota. Bush has no real right to remove him considering the threat level Taylor poses to us.

[EggsAckley]

Somebody, PLEASE, shut this senile ignoramus UP!!

[trebb]

Bush has no real right to remove him considering the threat level Taylor poses to us.

The key here is that Bush isn't removing him - he merely suggested that if he wanted aid and support for his country, he had to step down. Otherwise, they could try to figure it out themselves...

[beckett]

One more indication of this cynical, greedy man's total corruption. Robertson is as untrustworthy a person as there is in public life.

[Theo]

Falwell? I thought we were talking about Robertson. Or are "they" all a blur to you, my prejudiced friend?

[beckett]

You wrote Falwell but you meant Robertson, correct? Robertson has the diamond interests in Liberia, not Falwell.

[MineralMan]

"You wrote Falwell but you meant Robertson, correct? Robertson has the diamond interests in Liberia, not Falwell.
"

You're right. Falwell is involved in a gold mining venture, where the President of Liberia is due to get a bunch of shares if the company ever goes public.

[Theo]

cynical, greedy man's total corruption ...

You know nothing about Pat Robertson. He's a man who does good, and does bad. Just like you and me. The only thing is that his actions affect more people. He's done REALLY good things, as well as things that have hurt people and confused people. Don't knee-jerk against this person.

[MineralMan]

"Falwell? I thought we were talking about Robertson. Or are "they" all a blur to you, my prejudiced friend?
"

My apology. I mistyped. However both Robertson _and_ Falwell have interests in Liberia. You are correct, though...I did err.

[dead]

I dont know all the facts but my take is Taylor isnt threatening the United States one iota. Bush has no real right to remove him considering the threat level Taylor poses to us.

Taylor has accepted millions to shelter senior Al Qaeda operatives.

Al Qaeda is also laundering and stashing money via black market Liberian diamonds, under Taylor’s protection.

He needs a bullet in his head.

[Theo]

I can't find any reference to Falwell being involved ina gold mining venture in Africa. Do you have the source?

[tallhappy]

I'm not sure what Bush is doing. I'm not sure Taylor is worse than whoever would be next.

[MineralMan]

"You're right. Falwell is involved in a gold mining venture, where the President of Liberia is due to get a bunch of shares if the company ever goes public."

I erred again. It is only Robertson who has these mining interests. I read a web page incorrectly. I stand corrected, and apologize for my error.

[tallhappy]

Where's the info coming on Taylor and al Qaeda?

[MineralMan]

"I can't find any reference to Falwell being involved ina gold mining venture in Africa. Do you have the source?"

My error. I was reading a page after a search for "Falwell Liberia" on Google, and jumped to a paragraph that detailed _Robertson's_ interests in this venture. The paragraph didn't have Robertson's name in it and I jumped to conclusions.

I was seriously in error, and apologized to all, and Falwell especially, for my mistake.

It is Robertson who has these ties to Liberia through gold and diamond mining ventures, not Falwell.