Posted on 07/21/2003 10:35:29 AM PDT by truthandlife
U.S. forces to protect the American embassy and U.S. interests in the war-torn west African nation of Liberia and would work with the United Nations to help restore a cease fire.
"We're concerned about our people," Bush said.
At the same time, Bush indicated that he had not yet made up his mind on the size of a U.S. force that might be sent to help peacekeepers from west African nations already in Liberia.
"We continue to monitor the situation very closely," Bush said during a joint news conference on his Texas ranch with Italian Premier Silvio Berlusconi.
Bush spoke as heavy fighting engulfed the Liberian capital on Monrovia on Monday, killing at least 60 people in an all-out battle between rebels and forces of President Charles Taylor.
A shell hit an American diplomatic compound across the street from the U.S. embassy, where at least 10,000 refugees have taken refuge. Some 4,500 more American sailors and Marines have been ordered to position themselves closer to Liberia to be ready for possible duty in the embattled West African nation, U.S. officials in Washington said.
On another subject, Bush accused the governments of Syria and Iran of continuing to harbor terrorists.
"This behavior is completely unacceptable," Bush said. "States that continue to harbor terrorists will be held completely accountable."
Speaking through a translator, Berlusconi said he would return to Italy and Europe strengthened in his belief of the need to" develop the culture of union not nurture the culture of division" between the United States and Europe
"We need to revive the huge strength of cohesion," he said. "And this has to be a vital force, able to plan and build something. And this is the message which I'm going to bring back to my European allies as president of the European Union."
Bush also urged allies to act under U.N. authority to help rebuild Iraq. "The more people involved in Iraq the better off we will be," he said. "A free Iraq is a crucial part of winning the war on terror."
He thanked Berlusconi for Italy's support for the U.S.-led war in Iraq.
Bush called Berlusconi a "good friend and a strong ally."
"Defending freedom requires cost and sacrifice. The United States is grateful for Italy's willingness to bear the burdens with us," Bush said.
For his part, Berlusconi talked of the importance of healing the rift between the United States and many European nations that the war caused.
"We really need to support and develop a culture of union and cohesion and certainly not nurture the culture of division," he said. "Selfishness, narcissism and division shall never win."
Italy holds the current rotating presidency of the 15-nation European Union.
Bush reiterated his view that China, South Korea and other U.S. allies need to pressure North Korea to drop its nuclear ambitions and return to the negotiating table.
"I believe we can solve this issue diplomatically by encouraging the neighborhood ... to tell Kim Jong Il that a decision to develop a nuclear arsenal is one that will alienate you from the rest of the world," he said.
North Korea told U.S. officials in early July that it had completed reprocessing 8,000 reactor fuel rods, enough weapons-grade plutonium for about five or six nuclear bombs in addition to the one or two U.S. officials believe Pyongyang may already have.
On Iraq, Bush urged allies to act under U.N. authority to help rebuild the country. "The more people involved in Iraq the better off we will be," he said. "A free Iraq is a crucial part of winning the war on terror."
Bush and Berlusconi answered reporters' questions after giving their statements.
On the increasing violence in Liberia, Bush said, "We just sent a group of troops in to protect our interests. And we're concerned about our people in Liberia. We'll continue to monitor the situation very closely."
"We're working with the United Nations to affect policy necessary to get the cease-fire back in place," he added.
He said his administration was also working with a bloc of West African nations that is preparing to send peacekeepers into Liberia.
Bush reiterated his earlier promise to contribute peacekeeping troops to the operation. But, as in the past, he did not specify how large a force the United States would commit.
Berlusconi's visit to the ranch on Sunday and Monday gave the president a chance to show the world that not all Europe is cool to his policies, and that trans-Atlantic relations remain strong even though France and Germany didn't back the war effort.
For Berlusconi, the stay was a reward from Bush for joining with Britain and Spain in support of the war.
The two leaders talked about stopping the spread of nuclear arms, achieving peace in the Middle East, fighting terror and mending fissures in U.S.-European ties.
Berlusconi is among the few world leaders to be invited both to Bush's ranch and to the presidential retreat at Camp David, Md.
Others included Iraq war allies British Prime Minister Tony Blair and Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar.
Owl_Eagle
”Guns Before Butter.”
After that, time to go home. We do not have any strategic US interest in Liberia. Liberia has not attacked us. Liberia hasn't funded Al Qaieda(sp). Libertia hasn't threatened to nuke us.
We can not be the world's cop. I opposed this under Bush I. I opposed it under Klinton. I will oppose it under GHWB as well.
We also still have the Iraq situation as well. Let's put that fire out before starting another.
Besdies, we can't afford this financially.
Key word: YET.
Go home, and al-Qaeda's likely to move in. They've targeted Central Africa for years.
I'm worried about becoming bogged down in yet another country, especially one that is not of vital interest to the United States, like Liberia.
BTW: I supported Operation Iraqi Freedom and I support our continued presence in Iraq.
2) Why would they want that pissant country?
3) There's not much of an Islamic militant presence in the region, outside of Nigeria.
Duly noted. It's still in the region coveted by al-Qaeda.
2) Why would they want that pissant country?
Why'd they want Afghanistan? Answer that question, and you'll answer your own.
3) There's not much of an Islamic militant presence in the region, outside of Nigeria.
Nigeria's got too much government for al-Qaeda's taste.
Then they have a new base.
Could they cause much more terror than there is already?
They didn't cause much terror in Afghanistan.
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