Seven-Member Marine Team Lands in Liberia

apnews.myway.com ^ | Aug 6th, 2003 | By GLENN McKENZIE

[Gabrielle Reilly]

MONROVIA, Liberia (AP) - U.S. military helicopters landed a seven-member Marine team in Liberia on Wednesday, marking the first U.S. troops on the ground to support a West African peace force.

Excited children on Monrovia's Atlantic beaches waved at the three helicopters as they swept in from ships far off shore and disappeared behind the U.S. Embassy's high walls. Minutes later, the Marines rolled out and sped away to meet with West African military officials at their temporary base at Liberia's main airport.

The U.S. team arrived as Nigerian troops at the airport - the vanguard of a West African peacekeeping force - prepared to enter the capital for the first time. U.S. officials have said the Marines will work only as liaisons between the West African force and U.S. commanders on the three American warships off Liberia.

Authorized by President Bush on Tuesday, the team could grow as large as 20 in coming days but is not the beginning of a larger deployment, said a senior Bush administration official, speaking on condition of anonymity.

[Gabrielle Reilly]

Ping.

[RightWhale]

Only seven? How can they possibly expect just seven to pacify the country? The original plan was for ten Marines. The expeditionary force is severely undermanned with only seven.

[lilylangtree]

7? That should send Charles Taylor a message, huh?

[kellynla]

I still don't like it. Beirut or Somalia redux.

[ken5050]

Concur...they're gonna get shot at by all sides...I hate to think it..but the current Dem chorus to send troops into Liberia is almost like they're hoping for a Somalia-like quagmire..

[ibbryn]

7 US Marines against the country of Liberia? Hardly sounds fair. Maybe our guys will have to operate under some highly restrictive rules of engagement that will keep it a fair fight.

[vin-one]

I agree, they probably limited our marines to only hand guns,
that would make it a fair fight.

[anymouse]

As long as they don't run into any Orange County gang members. ;)

[steplock]

"Only seven? How can they possibly expect just seven to pacify the country? The original plan was for ten Marines. The expeditionary force is severely undermanned with only seven."

Well ... they DO have better weapons now-a-days...

:>)

Sepmper Fi!

[FateAmenableToChange]

Only seven? How can they possibly expect just seven to pacify the country? The original plan was for ten Marines. The expeditionary force is severely undermanned with only seven.

You all sound like a bunch of lily-livered, good-fer-nothin' democrats. Seven marines? Come on, the country is only the size of massachusetts or something like that. The Liberian rebels were surrounded and soundly defeated - although they might not know it yet - when the first one or two hit the ground. Chaz Taylor might want to start worrying a little, too. Whining about only having seven. I'm ashamed of you all. If we put the whole ten in there, people'd start calling us the aggressors.

Jokes aside, I will pray that God watches over them.

[FateAmenableToChange]

Only seven? How can they possibly expect just seven to pacify the country? The original plan was for ten Marines. The expeditionary force is severely undermanned with only seven.

You all sound like a bunch of lily-livered, good-fer-nothin' democrats. Seven marines? Come on, the country is only the size of massachusetts or something like that. The Liberian rebels were surrounded and soundly defeated - although they might not know it yet - when the first one or two hit the ground. Chaz Taylor might want to start worrying a little, too. Whining about only having seven. I'm ashamed of you all. If we put the whole ten in there, people'd start calling us the aggressors.

Jokes aside, I will pray that God watches over them.

[archy]

I agree, they probably limited our marines to only hand guns, that would make it a fair fight.

It doesn't look like the Marines are so limited, and I hope they don't entertain the slightest thoughts of fighting fair.

They're Marines. If they have to fight, they fight to win.

-archy-/-