Who Are We to Decide Liberia's Civil War?

Newsday.com ^ | 7/29/2003 | James P. Pinkerton

[Angel]

In Liberia, will Americans on the ground there be peacekeepers, or targets? And for that matter, do Liberians need us to keep the peace - such as it might be - or do they need us to help the better side win the civil war? As the United States proved way back in 1865, sometimes it's better to settle things through final victory, not temporary compromise.

Moreover, the politico-military situation is complicated. There are, in fact, two rebel movements seeking to gain control of the country.

So here's a question: If the United States wants Taylor to leave immediately, why fool around with peacekeeping? Why not, as in the case of the American civil conflict 140 years ago, give war a chance?

[Arpege92]

Is Liberia a direct threat against the United States? No, take this issue to the UN and let them handle it.

[TexasRepublic]

Why do we have to get in the middle of every dogfight? Sometimes both mongrels would do the world a favor to bleed to death.

[freeeee]

The American people have got to understand that we're a blessed country

"We're on a mission from God."

LOL

[wardaddy]

Idi here....still kicking.

Wardaddy? so that was his name!

I ate him.....pretty tasty actually....tough on the outside but tender on the inside.

Btw....I've never had native american flesh...where do you live?

[southern cross forever]

Bush noted today that we are a privlaged nation, we must aid those in need.

Do you want to go over there? Go right ahead . I have 2 sons and i would not want them to be the ones going into that hellhole to fight for a bunch of Africans. I'm sorry but the lives of my children are worth more than all those bloated bellied ,fly infested people. They have been killing each other for generations , THEIR NOT GOING TO STOP !!! Liberia isn't even a national security risk. I hate to sound like a heartless b*****d, but what difference would it make to us if that whole country killed each other off? I really get sick of the U.S trying to play mommy to all these third world dumps. Let them solve their own problems.And NO i am not a racist.

[discostu]

One of the things that did help decide our Civil War was alliegances, the North had them the South didn't. This kept the South from getting the raw materials they needed to fight an industrialized war like the North which eventually was the what determined who won that war. Nothing happens in a vacuum.

[CyberCowboy777]

Plenty of outside influence on the Civil War.

Glad the French and Jews did not bail on us during our Revolution.

Liberty is for everyone and we should do what we can to foster it everywhere.

[CyberCowboy777]

Precisely because we tend to avoid cesspools and sewers such as France, England, Poland, Eastern Blocs, Viet Nam, Korea, Philippines, Columbia, Nicaragua?

Liberty in other nations secures our own.

[KantianBurke]

Sorry. Liberia ain't France and the current thug at the top isn't any sort of national security threat as Hitler or Stalin were. Once could further argue that some of the countries you mentioned, Columbia for instance, we shouldn't be involved in either but thats a separate issue. Our liberty is and will be sustained regardless if the Loch Ness monster jumps out of the sea and attacks the Liberian coast.

[CyberCowboy777]

Right or wrong we used a dictator (Doh) in the fight of the Cold War. For that reason alone we should help reestablish the Republic of Liberia.

[SERE_DOC]

Evil happens when good men do nothing -Burke

History dictates that something has to be done see "famine + Ethiopia". and half a dozen other countries in Africa where nothing was done and the genocide that was carried out there.

"Who Are We to Decide Liberia's Civil War?"

Who are we to stand by and do nothing?

Maybe the UN will step up & do something!

UN do something, Yea right... when pigs fly out my butt singing "like a virgin" (ooh bad visiual)

[CyberCowboy777]

Your outlook is the same as those before Pearl Harbor.

Sometimes you fight the small battles to avoid the larger war.

Millions could have been saved if we would have attacked Hitler before he built his war machine. But we had no dog in that fight....till it came knocking at our door.

Only shortsightedness is to blame for the length and severity of WWII.

[CyberCowboy777]

The UN has proven it is not capable of handling any world issue.

The US needs to back a coalition force to reestablish the Republic of Liberia.

The oil imports established after and settling of the region alone present a unique opportunity. Between Russia, ANWR, West Africa coast and South America we can eliminate the need for Saudi Oil.

[Sparta]

Awww....that's cute.

Now why should we get involved in another country's civil war again?

[Sparta]

How is Liberia a threat to the United States? How many planes can they use to launch air raids on the US? How can they get an army of any size over here to invade? How can they get terrorists in America?

[Sparta]

BTTT