The Case For Immediate Intervention In Liberia For American Africans

Many Americans are today coming to understand from fast breaking news there is an independent country in West Africa that has had a special relationship with America for more than 180 years. Tragically, for the past 20 years, the country of Liberia has lost its promise of the Asweet land of liberty@ envisioned by its founders. These founders were born free African Americans and then freed African American slaves who returned to Liberia beginning in 1821 under the auspices of the American Colonization Society. Declaring their independence in 1847, the country of Liberia has unfortunately gone from a land of promise to the conditions of today. Today, we can only term Liberia a Afailed state.@ There is no longer central electricity, no longer a central water supply, no longer modern medical care, no longer an educational system, no longer a food distribution system, no longer an economic system, no longer control of the country=s borders, and no longer peace. All these essential components of statehood existed 20 years ago.

Today, the country is in a state of anarchy with horrible events overtaking its peaceful common folk. Well-armed bands of Asmall boy@ units comprising children and teens who know nothing but bloodshed and loyal to one faction or another without any strong political beliefs roam the streets. Bullies lead them who flee at the show of strength. These fighters have no moral structure save that learned in more than twenty years of little formal education, political turmoil and civil war. The only safe enclave is the American Embassy compound guarded by a small contingent of U. S. Marines.

Today we are also seeing innocent Liberian civilians massing at the American Embassy begging for immediate American intervention. Without immediate American action this failed state, roughly the size of South Carolina, will spin further out of control doing irreparable harm to America=s vital interests throughout Africa. Friends of Liberia supports immediate American intervention through the deployment of US troops on moral, historical, political, and humanitarian grounds.

The historic roots of the current hostilities go back many years. What we must note is that Liberia has a long historic tie to America. It was even a declared ally of the United States in both world wars. Liberia provided a strategic airbase and natural resources during World War II for us and was an important ally during the postwar and post-colonial eras. In many ways, it was America=s staunchest supporter and our window into a post-colonial Africa from where we waged the Cold War on the African continent. It is a country of our making and now needs us more than ever. We must overcome our past failed policies (such as providing some $500 million to a corrupt dictator in the 1980's) that have contributed to the current state of affairs.

The problem now is that no faction can win and a true state of anarchy exists. The current president, Charles Taylor, has failed miserably in his promises made during the 1997 election that brought his Libyan backed rebel faction to power. Recently a special United Nations court in neighboring Sierra Leone indicted Taylor as a war criminal for his involvement in Sierra Leone=s internal strife. That war with Taylor=s help gave the world thousands of refugees with both their arms hacked off. They have accused him even of laundering money for al-Qaeda operatives. Taylor=s failed policies, traffic in Ablood diamonds@ and Ablood logging,@ and human rights violations in Liberia have resulted in widespread disease, starvation and displacement. Upwards of 200,000 people have died and more than half Liberia=s 3 million population has been uprooted since Taylor=s emergence in Liberia in 1989 (before this he escaped from an American jail in Massachusetts awaiting extradition to Liberia).

This state of affairs will only continue unless the US actively steps in. To date the United States has refused to intervene militarily fearing a repeat of Somalia. Just two weeks ago a strong enough force offshore that could immediately end the fighting sailed away back to America. We should all know Liberia is not Somalia. There are no true centuries= old ethnic and religious rivalries. Liberians generally are peaceful people with great respect for Americans. Liberians have even held rallies requesting active American intervention. America is currently the home of thousands of Liberian political refugees who could afford to flee back across the Atlantic.

There is now even a successful precedence for non-African military intervention in neighboring West African countries. The British in Sierra Leone and the French in the Ivory Coast have landed peacekeeping forces that have begun the essential nation building that can lead to democratic and functioning countries after civil wars. Unfortunately, there is no African country with the military capabilities of the US to restore order and sustained security that will allow the prerequisite conditions for future stability and eventual prosperity. There are African countries willing to lend troops to an US led intervention.

Friends of Liberia supports the following new approach for the United States Government to:

· Assume a leadership role in the international community through its membership in the International Contact Group for Liberia to help guide a cease-fire agreement and subsequent peace agreement, political transition and establishment of a sustainable democracy with good governance, and economic reconstruction processes and reconciliation initiatives in furtherance of an enduring solution to the ongoing crisis in Liberia through an all-inclusive process for these purposes, including the disarmament, demobilization, and reintegrating of militants into society;

· Facilitate the surrender of Charles Taylor to the Special Court of the UN in Sierra Leone to face the judgment of international law while demanding the departure of his immediate followers from Liberia;

· Help (with the UN, Economic Community of West African States, and the African Union) with negotiations leading to the establishment and deployment of an international stabilization force initially led by the US military that will first monitor the peace agreement between the parties and provide security for humanitarian relief efforts and subsequently monitor Liberia=s borders, to prevent the trans-border passage of arms and unauthorized persons;

· Establish as a matter of priority programs to meet the special needs of former child soldiers, including girls, paying particular attention to their psychological, social, and educational needs, and consult with all organizations available to decide the best methods for achieving this result;

· Support civil society reconciliation initiatives that seek to improve the capacity of grassroots and nongovernmental organizations in Liberia to promote conflict resolution and restore civil order in the reconstruction and future of Liberia;

· Commit fully to providing humanitarian assistance to the people of Liberia to save lives, alleviate suffering, and mitigate the impact of the emergencies stemming from the war, including providing emergency food, supplies, and commodities; and coordinate relief efforts with national and international nongovernmental organizations; to support efforts that advance the development of democratic civil institutions in Liberia and support the establishment of a broad based and fully representative government, in which all Liberians, without regard to their ethnicity, race, religion, or gender, can participate;

· Assist in the establishment of a Liberian government that respects the sovereignty, territorial integrity, and political independence of its neighbors that is fully engaged in the international efforts to help restore Liberia as a viable country in which present and future generations can live peacefully.

On March 25, 1998, then President Clinton visited Rwanda years after more than 800,000 people died in a genocidal civil war and said, "The international community must bear its share of responsibility for this tragedy.” He continued, "All over the world there were people like me sitting in offices who did not fully appreciate the depth and the speed with which you were being engulfed by this unimaginable terror." President Clinton concluded by stating, "Genocide can occur anywhere. It is not an African phenomenon. We must have global vigilance. And never again must we be shy in the face of the evidence."

So why should Americans really care? While the US cannot be the world=s policeman, Liberians are American Africans and bear surnames like Cooper, Walker, White, Avery, Bracewell, Hill and Moore. Some can trace directly their earlier descendants back to America, including York County, SC. The humanitarian answer is simply that kind and decent people are dying because of reasons beyond their ability to control. The historic answer is Americans made Liberia and Liberia has been loyal to America since the 19th century. The political answer is that Liberian warlords have stimulated regional instability in West Africa that threatens American foreign policy and security interests. The moral reason is that it is simply right and just to step up now in this small tragic place to project the ideals and values of America. All of Africa is looking to President Bush to see if his words of fulfilling America=s promise and ideal to the world rings true in Africa as well.

Frank P. Ardaiolo, Ed. D. Chair of the Board of Trustees, Friends of Liberia

July 4, 2003

Friends of Liberia is recognized internationally as a non-governmental organization leading in caring for Liberians' education, human rights, community development and good governance. Founded in 1986, FOL has approximately 800 members including returned Peace Corps Volunteers, diplomats, missionaries, scholars, business people, and Liberians.

Frank P. Ardaiolo is Vice President for Student Life and an Associate Professor at Winthrop University. He holds a doctorate in higher education, political science and African Studies.