The shit going on in Liberia....

[richierich]

What if anything should the U.S. do??? A lot of what goes on in Africa period is overlooked by the U.S....Rwanda, Congo, Zimbabwe, Sudan, Ethiopia, these places are going through a lot of turmoil and I was wondering .. does our government care?? Should they leave Africa alone or intervene? It hurts my own heart when I see the stuff going on over there.

[Koffy Brown]

I was just thinking about this yesterday...

I would like to know exactly what's going on...

How should we intervene is probably more my issue...I am definitely going to try to research what's the problem over there...

[upliftdisco365]

Originally posted by richierich:
What if anything should the U.S. do??? A lot of what goes on in Africa period is overlooked by the U.S....Rwanda, Congo, Zimbabwe, Sudan, Ethiopia, these places are going through a lot of turmoil and I was wondering .. does our government care?? Should they leave Africa alone or intervene? It hurts my own heart when I see the stuff going on over there. Well, there's no oil on which to strike deals and the people who require assistance don't have any liquid capitol to hand over, so I s e r i o u s l y doubt that the US will be lending a democratic hand.

[jimmymack-2000]

Just out of interest, do you know the history of Liberia? It was actually created for the benefit of former slaves from the U.S. by admittedly misguided white liberals in 1821 (yes, they existed back then). The American Colonization Society, a predominantly white anti-slavery group, thought it would be better if African-Americans could be reunited with their "Motherland"...

[Koffy Brown]

I know right, I briefly heard them skip over this in the news and they made it loud and clear that it would be a precise agenda...in other words we ain't doing a whole lot...it's obvious that the reason why we haven't intervened any sooner is because their is nothing the US deems viable...it's sad...

[upliftdisco365]

Originally posted by jimmymack-2000:
Just out of interest, do you know the history of Liberia? It was actually created for the benefit of former slaves from the U.S. by admittedly misguided white liberals in 1821 (yes, they existed back then). The American Colonization Society, a predominantly white anti-slavery group, thought it would be better if African-Americans could be reunited with their "Motherland"... Abraham Lincoln was an ACS advocate. His objective wasn't to necessarily free the slaves, he simply wanted an end to the North/South conflict, even if it meant sending the slaves back to Africa.

[mdpm99]

The "info" drifting thru the air is that if the US
gets involved then both sides are more than willing to put down their arms.

About 150 years ago, I believe, the US colonized that country. Also you have the British and the French involved in the two different bordering countries.

The Defense Dept. according to Dumsfield - opps! I mean Rummy, is that we are already to spread out. Would it make a difference if Oil was part of the equation?

Peace on Earth,

d

"oily to bed, oily to rise"

[Koffy Brown]

Major Events in Liberian History
Tue Jul 1, 6:08 PM ET

By The Associated Press

Key events in Liberian history beginning with independence in the 19th century:



_ 1847: Country gains independence; draws up U.S. type constitution.


_ 1926: Firestone Tire and Rubber Co. opens plantation; rubber becomes the


backbone of the economy.


_ 1943: William Tubman is elected president; promotes foreign investment and


local participation in government.


_ 1971: Tubman dies and William Tolbert Jr. succeeds him.


_ 1981: President William Tolbert Jr. is assassinated in a coup led by Master Sgt. Samuel Doe, who suspends the constitution.


_ 1984: Under pressure from the United States, Doe allows return of political parties.


_ 1985: Doe is elected president.


_ 1989: National Patriotic Front of Liberia, led by Charles Taylor, begins an uprising against the Doe government.


_ 1990: Doe is executed by an offshoot of Taylor's movement.


_ 1995: Economic Community of West African States brokers a peace treaty between two warring movements.


_ 1997: Taylor is elected president.


_ 1999: Britain and the United States threaten to suspend aid after Liberia is accused of supporting militants in neighboring Sierra Leone.


_ September 2000: Liberian forces launch offensive against rebels in the country's north.


_ March 2001: United Nations (news - web sites) imposes arms embargo to punish Taylor for trading weapons for diamonds from rebels in Sierra Leone.




_ November 2001: Government forces start new offensive against rebels.

_ January 2002: More than 50,000 Liberia and Sierra Leone refugees flee.

-2003

_ April: New rebel group, Movement for Democracy in Liberia, makes gains in southeast.

_ June 4: Taylor is indicted for war crimes committed during his involvement in Sierra Leone civil war.

_ June 6: Rebels clash with government forces outside Liberian capital Monrovia; refugee camps fall into rebel hands.

_ June 17: Taylor says he will step down under a cease-fire agreement.

_ June 20: Taylor renounces his peace pledge to cede power in Liberia, announcing he will serve to the January 2004 end of his term — and might run again.

_ June 23: The main rebel group in Liberia — Liberians United for Reconciliation and Democracy — says it's pulling out of peace talks.

_ June 27: Taylor's forces claimed to have driven rebels out of Liberia's capital after a four-day artillery battle that killed hundreds.

_ June 28: U.N. Secretary-General Kofi Annan (news - web sites) asks the Security Council for an international peace force for Liberia.

_ June 30: West African leaders ask for 2,000 American troops to head a predominantly African force to stop the turmoil and keep the peace.

_ July 1: Taylor turns down a secret deal to give him safe haven in Nigeria, senior U.N. diplomats say. Annan steps up pressure on Bush administration to take leading role.

[DJ76]

There's a 15 pages long indictment against the president Charles Taylor. The indictment was issued by the Special Court for Sierra Leone. It was unsealed on 4 June 2003, but for some reasoned was pulled back from the website.

I learned that after President Bush asked Taylor to step down, the latter made reference to the said indictment and affirmed he will not step down if there's a chance he's arrested and trasfered to the court.

I had the chance to end up getting a copy of the indictment. Taylor is accused of 17 counts of:

- terrorizing the civilian population and collective punishments

- unlawful killings

- sexual violence

- physical violence

- use of child soldiers

- abductions and forced labour

- looting and burning

- attacks on UN peacekeepers

Let's see what happens.

[richierich]

Yeah I did know that Liberia was a place for former slaves. But thewhole Africa thing puzzles me anyways.. Thw whole international community seems to kinda be lukewarm on getting things together over there. I know there have been relief efforts made by various agencies U.S. included but how come this continent seems to always be going thru turmoil and suffering. And then when I see pictures they all look like my cousins and stuff and I have actually cried especially when the Rwanda situation jumped off between the Hutu and Tutsi tribes.

[Koffy Brown]

Originally posted by richierich:
Yeah I did know that Liberia was a place for former slaves. But thewhole Africa thing puzzles me anyways.. Thw whole international community seems to kinda be lukewarm on getting things together over there. I know there have been relief efforts made by various agencies U.S. included but how come this continent seems to always be going thru turmoil and suffering. And then when I see pictures they all look like my cousins and stuff and I have actually cried especially when the Rwanda situation jumped off between the Hutu and Tutsi tribes. The only way to begin to understand part of the turmoil that this country goes through is to know a little history about colonialization...Africa kind of remind me of Black people in America...actually it's very similar...outside influences, money, power, materialism, no spiritual connection, politics, assimilation, integration..etc...it is very saddening...

[Cheddar]

Funny, people request 9-11 documents and investigations into acts committed by this administration and things get sealed. But it is very easy to have the Bush termed "irrelevant" UN sanction someone else.
Just for the Record.

[mdpm99]

Ps.

IMO:

What irony! The absolute worst president in the history of the United States of America has the GALL to suggest another president resign!

opps! there I go again......

graemlins/cool_shades.gif

d

[ July 03, 2003, 09:29 AM: Message edited by: david mancuso ]

[richierich]

If it's not AIDS it's hunger, famine, civil war, islam vs christianity all types of brutality and it just makes me sad.. why this continent??

[Koffy Brown]

Originally posted by richierich:
If it's not AIDS it's hunger, famine, civil war, islam vs christianity all types of brutality and it just makes me sad.. why this continent?? That is such a good question...why them? I kind of look at Africa as the center of the world...where it all began...and I believe it's where it all will end...kind of the alpha and omega...I just think we're struggling to get back what we've lost and what's been taken...traditions, culture etc...while at the same time improving life...but my personal opinion is that it won't be done by them alone...some how some way...We'll all have to unite at some point...kind of like a world movement sort of thing....

You ain't neva lied Mr. Mancuso...

[Koffy Brown]

Originally posted by richierich:
If it's not AIDS it's hunger, famine, civil war, islam vs christianity all types of brutality and it just makes me sad.. why this continent?? But also Richie, Blacks all over the world are basically suffering from these things...we're suffering in heaps and droves with AIDS here...also, religion I tell you...that is going to keep us seperated yet....

[richierich]

Originally posted by WhyYouNeedToKnow:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by richierich:
If it's not AIDS it's hunger, famine, civil war, islam vs christianity all types of brutality and it just makes me sad.. why this continent?? But also Richie, Blacks all over the world are basically suffering from these things...we're suffering in heaps and droves with AIDS here...also, religion I tell you...that is going to keep us seperated yet.... </font>[/QUOTE]Sad but true and it hurts.

[mdpm99]

Originally posted by richierich:
If it's not AIDS it's hunger, famine, civil war, islam vs christianity all types of brutality and it just makes me sad.. why this continent?? Greetings richierich:


How this country can just abandon Africa in the US foreign policy and news after what we did to her people is just obscene. Every day on the news we hear something about Israel and the Palestinians because both Arabs and Jews in the US have more political power than Africans. Israel and the Palestinians is nothing compared to the Congo, where 3 MILLION people have been killed in that war, or Liberia, or Sierra Leone before 2002. Not only that, in much of Southeastern Africa there's a famine right now, and most Americans don't know about it, and there seems no effort to get food from Europe or the US over there. What people don't know about African nations is that they are the fastest growing economy and fastest progressing societies on earth. If we were run by intelligent and non-racist leaders, we would be taking advantage of that opportunity by building up those countries economies. One thing about Africans-they love to work, they love to make money, and they will be the first ones to take advantage of an opportunity.

d

[DJ76]

they love to work? You've never been to Morocco! graemlins/rofl.gif

[mdpm99]

Originally posted by DJ76:
they love to work? You've never been to Morocco! graemlins/rofl.gif As a matter of fact, I haven't....

d

[Koffy Brown]

For some reason I'm not remembering Liberia being founded by America, but I thought it was founded by Freed Slaves with an American type of Democracy...I could be wrong...I can't seem to find any history of Liberia on the net...will continue to research...

[DJ76]

Originally posted by david mancuso:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by DJ76:
they love to work? You've never been to Morocco! graemlins/rofl.gif As a matter of fact, I haven't....

d </font>[/QUOTE]I have smile.gif
the last thing they wanna do is work.
WEEEEEEEEERRRRRRKKKKKKK!

[mdpm99]

Originally posted by WhyYouNeedToKnow:
For some reason I'm not remembering Liberia being founded by America, but I thought it was founded by Freed Slaves with an American type of Democracy...I could be wrong...I can't seem to find any history of Liberia on the net...will continue to research... I think you got it right.....

Please let us know.

Thank you,

d

[Koffy Brown]

_ 1926: Firestone Tire and Rubber Co. opens plantation; rubber becomes the backbone of the economy.

There is something about this that make me think that the US has some type of interest in this country and government...other than...I guess it would be important to know exactly how disposable the US think these people are and would it be economical feasible to America in some fashion to intervene....

[mdpm99]

Originally posted by DJ76:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by david mancuso:

Originally posted by DJ76:
they love to work? You've never been to Morocco! graemlins/rofl.gif As a matter of fact, I haven't....

d </font>I have smile.gif
the last thing they wanna do is work.
WEEEEEEEEERRRRRRKKKKKKK! [/QUOTE

graemlins/bolt.gif

d

[ July 03, 2003, 10:06 AM: Message edited by: david mancuso ]

[JoeB]

Originally posted by david mancuso:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by richierich:
If it's not AIDS it's hunger, famine, civil war, islam vs christianity all types of brutality and it just makes me sad.. why this continent?? Greetings richierich:


How this country can just abandon Africa in the US foreign policy and news after what we did to her people is just obscene. Every day on the news we hear something about Israel and the Palestinians because both Arabs and Jews in the US have more political power than Africans. Israel and the Palestinians is nothing compared to the Congo, where 3 MILLION people have been killed in that war, or Liberia, or Sierra Leone before 2002. Not only that, in much of Southeastern Africa there's a famine right now, and most Americans don't know about it, and there seems no effort to get food from Europe or the US over there. What people don't know about African nations is that they are the fastest growing economy and fastest progressing societies on earth. If we were run by intelligent and non-racist leaders, we would be taking advantage of that opportunity by building up those countries economies. One thing about Africans-they love to work, they love to make money, and they will be the first ones to take advantage of an opportunity.

d </font>[/QUOTE]wouldn't ALL people around the world LOVE to work to survive? it kills me what is going on over in africa but where do we draw the line?! we have people here on this board(myself included) that state that the U.S. MUST NOT be the police of the world or be prepared to feel the backlash of resentment and/or terrorist attacks for ALWAYS intervening in other countries' affairs. but now we should do something? NOPE. i don't think so. i have NO doubt in my mind that our armed forces would go in there and take care of business but then what? continue to stay and try to rebuild ANOTHER country?!!! or leave and have taylor's opponents continue where he left off? the reason i say that last statement was because i seriously doubt that those at war with taylor are not any better than him but then again, i don't really know too much about his opponents. i am not really offering any kind of solution because i don't know of one. but going in there is NOT the answer and i will not go against MY stance to oppose actions where the u.s. must take on the roll of nation-builder. the funny thing is that it took a recent movie to remind me of the horrors going on in that country. i recently saw "tears of the sun" and was going to start a thread requesting info about the genocide going on in africa but it looks like i'll get my info regarding that subject by taking a look at this country's history.

[mdpm99]

Originally posted by WhyYouNeedToKnow:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by richierich:
If it's not AIDS it's hunger, famine, civil war, islam vs christianity all types of brutality and it just makes me sad.. why this continent?? But also Richie, Blacks all over the world are basically suffering from these things...we're suffering in heaps and droves with AIDS here...also, religion I tell you...that is going to keep us seperated yet.... </font>[/QUOTE]Greetings WhyYouNeedToKnow:

Organized religion, I believe, is the "great separator."

d

[Koffy Brown]

Originally posted by david mancuso:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by WhyYouNeedToKnow:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by richierich:
If it's not AIDS it's hunger, famine, civil war, islam vs christianity all types of brutality and it just makes me sad.. why this continent?? But also Richie, Blacks all over the world are basically suffering from these things...we're suffering in heaps and droves with AIDS here...also, religion I tell you...that is going to keep us seperated yet.... </font>[/QUOTE]Greetings WhyYouNeedToKnow:

Organized religion, I believe, is the "great separator."

d </font>[/QUOTE]I forgot to throw in there "organized" exactly DM

[Koffy Brown]

How this country can just abandon Africa in the US foreign policy and news after what we did to her people is just obscene. Every day on the news we hear something about Israel and the Palestinians because both Arabs and Jews in the US have more political power than Africans. Israel and the Palestinians is nothing compared to the Congo, where 3 MILLION people have been killed in that war, or Liberia, or Sierra Leone before 2002. Not only that, in much of Southeastern Africa there's a famine right now, and most Americans don't know about it, and there seems no effort to get food from Europe or the US over there. What people don't know about African nations is that they are the fastest growing economy and fastest progressing societies on earth. If we were run by intelligent and non-racist leaders, we would be taking advantage of that opportunity by building up those countries economies. One thing about Africans-they love to work, they love to make money, and they will be the first ones to take advantage of an opportunity.

d [/qb][/QUOTE]wouldn't ALL people around the world LOVE to work to survive? it kills me what is going on over in africa but where do we draw the line?! we have people here on this board(myself included) that state that the U.S. MUST NOT be the police of the world or be prepared to feel the backlash of resentment and/or terrorist attacks for ALWAYS intervening in other countries' affairs. but now we should do something? NOPE. i don't think so. i have NO doubt in my mind that our armed forces would go in there and take care of business but then what? continue to stay and try to rebuild ANOTHER country?!!! or leave and have taylor's opponents continue where he left off? the reason i say that last statement was because i seriously doubt that those at war with taylor are not any better than him but then again, i don't really know too much about his opponents. i am not really offering any kind of solution because i don't know of one. but going in there is NOT the answer and i will not go against MY stance to oppose actions where the u.s. must take on the roll of nation-builder. the funny thing is that it took a recent movie to remind me of the horrors going on in that country. i recently saw "tears of the sun" and was going to start a thread requesting info about the genocide going on in africa but it looks like i'll get my info regarding that subject by taking a look at this country's history. [/QB][/QUOTE]

will be back with comments

[JoeB]

Originally posted by david mancuso:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by WhyYouNeedToKnow:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by richierich:
If it's not AIDS it's hunger, famine, civil war, islam vs christianity all types of brutality and it just makes me sad.. why this continent?? But also Richie, Blacks all over the world are basically suffering from these things...we're suffering in heaps and droves with AIDS here...also, religion I tell you...that is going to keep us seperated yet.... </font>[/QUOTE]Greetings WhyYouNeedToKnow:

Organized religion, I believe, is the "great separator."

d </font>[/QUOTE]and secularism is what brings people together?


hmmm...i have to disagree but i do not also believe that all religion is good but it's done wonders for myself(recently) and for my family.

[JoeB]

Originally posted by WhyYouNeedToKnow:
How this country can just abandon Africa in the US foreign policy and news after what we did to her people is just obscene. Every day on the news we hear something about Israel and the Palestinians because both Arabs and Jews in the US have more political power than Africans. Israel and the Palestinians is nothing compared to the Congo, where 3 MILLION people have been killed in that war, or Liberia, or Sierra Leone before 2002. Not only that, in much of Southeastern Africa there's a famine right now, and most Americans don't know about it, and there seems no effort to get food from Europe or the US over there. What people don't know about African nations is that they are the fastest growing economy and fastest progressing societies on earth. If we were run by intelligent and non-racist leaders, we would be taking advantage of that opportunity by building up those countries economies. One thing about Africans-they love to work, they love to make money, and they will be the first ones to take advantage of an opportunity.

d wouldn't ALL people around the world LOVE to work to survive? it kills me what is going on over in africa but where do we draw the line?! we have people here on this board(myself included) that state that the U.S. MUST NOT be the police of the world or be prepared to feel the backlash of resentment and/or terrorist attacks for ALWAYS intervening in other countries' affairs. but now we should do something? NOPE. i don't think so. i have NO doubt in my mind that our armed forces would go in there and take care of business but then what? continue to stay and try to rebuild ANOTHER country?!!! or leave and have taylor's opponents continue where he left off? the reason i say that last statement was because i seriously doubt that those at war with taylor are not any better than him but then again, i don't really know too much about his opponents. i am not really offering any kind of solution because i don't know of one. but going in there is NOT the answer and i will not go against MY stance to oppose actions where the u.s. must take on the roll of nation-builder. the funny thing is that it took a recent movie to remind me of the horrors going on in that country. i recently saw "tears of the sun" and was going to start a thread requesting info about the genocide going on in africa but it looks like i'll get my info regarding that subject by taking a look at this country's history. [/QB][/QUOTE]

will be back with comments [/QB][/QUOTE]

mkay. biggrinangel.gif

[mdpm99]

Greetings JoeB:

All I am saying is that we are of one world. In that we should help each other as neighbors. I am not talking about occupying a country per se and get in nation building in that respect. But we must find a ways to help one another.

35,000 children die daily in this world from things that could have been prevented. :(

We as a whole (the human race) need to reach out to one another without hidden political or religious agendas and make this a better world for the children.

Peace on Earth.

your neighbor,

graemlins/grinyes.gif

d

[mdpm99]

Greetings JoeB:

All I am saying is that we are of one world. In that we should help each other as neighbors. I am not talking about occupying a country per se and get into nation building in that respect. But we must find ways to help one another.

35,000 children die daily in this world from things that could have been prevented. :(

We as a whole (the human race) need to reach out to one another without hidden political or religious agendas and make this a better world for the children.

Peace on Earth.

your neighbor,

graemlins/grinyes.gif

d

[ July 03, 2003, 10:26 AM: Message edited by: david mancuso ]

[JoeB]

Originally posted by david mancuso:
Greetings JoeB:

All I am saying is that we are of one world. In that we should help each other as neighbors. I am not talking about occupying a country per se and get in nation building in that respect. But we must find a ways to help one another.

35,000 children die daily in this world from things that could have been prevented. :(

We as a whole (the human race) need to reach out to one another without hidden political or religious agendas and make this a better world for the children.

Peace on Earth.

your neighbor,

graemlins/grinyes.gif

d i hear you, d. and that was my bad on you for putting words in your mouth. i should not have done that but i sometimes don't agree with the whole religion is evil thing because it has done wonders for my father after i left for the corps and now it seems to leading me in a right direction but i respect where you are coming from.

[djLesCole]

I'm glad to see that there is an interest in what's going on over in Liberia. I have so much information I could share but being that I'm at work right now, I can't share it all. My father is Liberian, and he grew up with President Charles Taylor, and is still in close contact with him; although he criticizes Taylor on MANY of his ways. Taylor has even been to my house here in Jersey on more than one occasion, his ex-wife and daughter were over just two weeks ago to discuss this whole mess.
Anyway, right now in Liberia, there are just so many obstacles to overcome. Taylor stepping down is necessary, but will not solve everything. Just as in other areas of the world, there are various factions and ethnic groups striving for power over the other groups. And if that's not enough, the leaders of these groups, for the most part, have no real education. But they intend to lead and improve a country? Poverty and greed is another obstacle. The highest paid police are making about $5.00 per month, needless to say, they gladly "look the other way" if offered some extra money by anyone.
These are just a few of the problems, but I hope you do get the idea that having a country like the US intervene may be one of the only ways of getting this country back on track.

[mdpm99]

Originally posted by JoeB:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by david mancuso:
Greetings JoeB:

All I am saying is that we are of one world. In that we should help each other as neighbors. I am not talking about occupying a country per se and get in nation building in that respect. But we must find a ways to help one another.

35,000 children die daily in this world from things that could have been prevented. :(

We as a whole (the human race) need to reach out to one another without hidden political or religious agendas and make this a better world for the children.

Peace on Earth.

your neighbor,

graemlins/grinyes.gif

d i hear you, d. and that was my bad on you for putting words in your mouth. i should not have done that but i sometimes don't agree with the whole religion is evil thing because it has done wonders for my father after i left for the corps and now it seems to leading me in a right direction but i respect where you are coming from. </font>[/QUOTE]Greetings Joe B:

This is all good, as we are having a great discussion.

My only prob with religion is "when it becomes organized." I believe and respect in the higher power. Even tho' I was raised as a Catholic (last time I went to confession at the age of 12, I fainted and fell out of the booth graemlins/rofl.gif -- true story) it is hard for me to support some of the things that are attached to religion and therefore it is where I draw the line i.e. "organized religion. Hope I am making some sense here.

True vision comes from the heart.

My very best to you and your family.

graemlins/respekt.gif

d

There are believers, and there are non-believers...

Stevie Wonder

[ July 03, 2003, 10:44 AM: Message edited by: david mancuso ]

[JoeB]

Originally posted by djLesCole:
I'm glad to see that there is an interest in what's going on over in Liberia. I have so much information I could share but being that I'm at work right now, I can't share it all. My father is Liberian, and he grew up with President Charles Taylor, and is still in close contact with him; although he criticizes Taylor on MANY of his ways. Taylor has even been to my house here in Jersey on more than one occasion, his ex-wife and daughter were over just two weeks ago to discuss this whole mess.
Anyway, right now in Liberia, there are just so many obstacles to overcome. Taylor stepping down is necessary, but will not solve everything. Just as in other areas of the world, there are various factions and ethnic groups striving for power over the other groups. And if that's not enough, the leaders of these groups, for the most part, have no real education. But they intend to lead and improve a country? Poverty and greed is another obstacle. The highest paid police are making about $5.00 per month, needless to say, they gladly "look the other way" if offered some extra money by anyone.
These are just a few of the problems, but I hope you do get the idea that having a country like the US intervene may be one of the only ways of getting this country back on track. would love for you to share some of the info you when you can.

[Insert pseudonym here]

Originally posted by richierich:
What if anything should the U.S. do??? .... does our government care??... I apologize in advance for not having any book titles available... it has been awhile.

For those that follow the theories surrounding the "New World Order"... there is a believable (I'm not saying it's true, but it could be plausible) theory as to why the US never intervenes when Africa is in turmoil --- the US and European government want to see the demise of the African population, so they can re-pilage (sp?) the continent. Again, with all the theories surrounding the New World Order issue --- it is mere speculation.

Yet, as you sit and watch the genocide and suffering run rampant in the country... with the US only dropping lbs of rice in areas of Africa with no irrigation --- it causes one to wonder.

I share your sadness, though I don't have a direct connection with the continent... I don't wish for its demise. In the end, for me it will always be a small part of who I am.

[richierich]

Back in '87 I worked with a young lady named Marca Stubblefield and I was like "So you came from Liberia huh".. her response was "I escaped from Liberia." Even then she had horror stories that she shared with me .. I was shocked!!

[ July 03, 2003, 10:50 AM: Message edited by: richierich ]

[mdpm99]

Originally posted by djLesCole:
I'm glad to see that there is an interest in what's going on over in Liberia. I have so much information I could share but being that I'm at work right now, I can't share it all. My father is Liberian, and he grew up with President Charles Taylor, and is still in close contact with him; although he criticizes Taylor on MANY of his ways. Taylor has even been to my house here in Jersey on more than one occasion, his ex-wife and daughter were over just two weeks ago to discuss this whole mess.
Anyway, right now in Liberia, there are just so many obstacles to overcome. Taylor stepping down is necessary, but will not solve everything. Just as in other areas of the world, there are various factions and ethnic groups striving for power over the other groups. And if that's not enough, the leaders of these groups, for the most part, have no real education. But they intend to lead and improve a country? Poverty and greed is another obstacle. The highest paid police are making about $5.00 per month, needless to say, they gladly "look the other way" if offered some extra money by anyone.
These are just a few of the problems, but I hope you do get the idea that having a country like the US intervene may be one of the only ways of getting this country back on track. Greetings djLesCole:

Yes it is so very important that interest be taken regarding this. What goes around comes around.

I eagarly await any insight that you can offer us.

In the meantime, I hope that the countries of the world will start weeding their gardens and mending their fences, and channel energies for the
good so that we may begin to help one another.


I/we await your post.

Thank you,

d

[ July 03, 2003, 10:57 AM: Message edited by: david mancuso ]

[Bold Soul]

Inclusion is the way of sages. A notion of "elsewhere" is what is leading to the destruction of man.

[Bill Blake]

Originally posted by richierich:
If it's not AIDS it's hunger, famine, civil war, islam vs christianity all types of brutality and it just makes me sad.. why this continent?? Actually more than anything else its simple health care/problems.

Disease ravages the continent due to the rampant poverty.

The sad thing is most of the fatal deseases can be treated and for hardly any money. Im talking way less than like 3 dollars a person.

Look up the statistics of how many children, just in the last 10 years, have died from diarrhea. The number is probably bigger than you could ever imagine.

This is what Bill Gates is putting billions of dollars into for stopping this senseless shit.

[Oak Pk, IL's Best Bedroom DJ, serge]

Originally posted by Bold Soul:
Inclusion is the way of sages. A notion of "elsewhere" is what is leading to the destruction of man. True dat.

[mdpm99]

Originally posted by Jamie Lennox:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by richierich:
If it's not AIDS it's hunger, famine, civil war, islam vs christianity all types of brutality and it just makes me sad.. why this continent?? Actually more than anything else its simple health care/problems.

Disease ravages the continent due to the rampant poverty.

The sad thing is most of the fatal deseases can be treated and for hardly any money. Im talking way less than like 3 dollars a person.

Look up the statistics of how many children, just in the last 10 years, have died from diarrhea. The number is probably bigger than you could ever imagine.

This is what Bill Gates is putting billions of dollars into for stopping this senseless shit. </font>[/QUOTE]Greetings Jamie:


Just poppin in to say hello!

d

[ July 03, 2003, 12:09 PM: Message edited by: david mancuso ]

[Koffy Brown]

Originally posted by Insert pseudonym here:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by richierich:
What if anything should the U.S. do??? .... does our government care??... I apologize in advance for not having any book titles available... it has been awhile.

For those that follow the theories surrounding the "New World Order"... there is a believable (I'm not saying it's true, but it could be plausible) theory as to why the US never intervenes when Africa is in turmoil --- the US and European government want to see the demise of the African population, so they can re-pilage (sp?) the continent. Again, with all the theories surrounding the New World Order issue --- it is mere speculation.

Yet, as you sit and watch the genocide and suffering run rampant in the country... with the US only dropping lbs of rice in areas of Africa with no irrigation --- it causes one to wonder.

I share your sadness, though I don't have a direct connection with the continent... I don't wish for its demise. In the end, for me it will always be a small part of who I am. </font>[/QUOTE]I've heard of some of the theories of the New World Order as they apply to Black People all over the world...but this one dealing directly with Africa is very interesting...if you could please post some book titles it would be highly appreciated...thank you

[Discogoddess]

Mama Africa, your children are weeping for you...

Now, what are we gonna do about it, yall? One first, immediate step: contact your elected officials TODAY, and let them know you want to see the government doing something meaningful and helpful re: making HIV/AIDS drugs available; feeding, clothing and schooling children and investing money into the continent's still-fertile land/products. I do this, and if nothing else, it puts Emmanuel, Fitzgerald, Durbin and Bush on notice that their constituents gives a damn and that I am WATCHING THEM. Something else: educate yourself about the continent (first, it's NOT a country...there are 23 or 24 that make up the continent) and the issues (and opportunities) surrounding it.

Africa indeed has much the U.S. and the west is interested in: oil, diamonds, various minerals and huge potential markets of consumers and labor forces...but no one is making a market-driven (the only thing the west understands) pitch. We mainly see Africa discussed in terms of its problems, rarely its potential. Israel has U.S. Jews lobbying on behalf of its interests...who does Africa have lobbying on her behalf?????????

[ July 03, 2003, 12:40 PM: Message edited by: Discogoddess ]

[floorgasm]

there's gold in them thar hills (and diamonds, and timber and iron).

[lyot]

man, I don't see any end to all these bloody conflicts..There are too much people who want their piece of the pie (cf. Congo) and no interest whatsoever from the 'Great' powers.. If even 3 million dead people on a decade time isn't enough for the Western world to take the problems serious, what will?

[Jamie 3:26]

Originally posted by WhyYouNeedToKnow:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by Insert pseudonym here:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by richierich:
What if anything should the U.S. do??? .... does our government care??... I apologize in advance for not having any book titles available... it has been awhile.

For those that follow the theories surrounding the "New World Order"... there is a believable (I'm not saying it's true, but it could be plausible) theory as to why the US never intervenes when Africa is in turmoil --- the US and European government want to see the demise of the African population, so they can re-pilage (sp?) the continent. Again, with all the theories surrounding the New World Order issue --- it is mere speculation.

Yet, as you sit and watch the genocide and suffering run rampant in the country... with the US only dropping lbs of rice in areas of Africa with no irrigation --- it causes one to wonder.

I share your sadness, though I don't have a direct connection with the continent... I don't wish for its demise. In the end, for me it will always be a small part of who I am. </font>[/QUOTE]I've heard of some of the theories of the New World Order as they apply to Black People all over the world...but this one dealing directly with Africa is very interesting...if you could please post some book titles it would be highly appreciated...thank you </font>[/QUOTE]Check this book out.I read this some years ago.... http://www.houseofnubian.com/id-1343//ImgUpload/P_H09_619455.jpg

[djLesCole]

ok, here's the background of the problem in a nutshell.
1) Years ago, Taylor overthrough Pres. S. Doe, who belongs to the Krahn tribe of people. The Krahn would now like to return the deed and regain power and are getting help from the Madingo.
2) Taylor has supported the war in Sierra Leone in exchange for diamonds which has left THOUSANDS of people mutilated by the fighters. The people of Sierra Leone are now seeking revenge and are crossing the border to fight Taylor. They are joining one of two groups, L.U.R.D. or M.O.D.E.L.
3) A while back, Taylor had a hand in an attempt to destabilize the nation of Guinea (which the US has an interest in). Guinea is now helping to train/fund L.U.R.D. to fight Taylor.
4) Taylor has also has had a hand in the uprising in Ivory Coast, so they are now financing/training the soldiers of M.O.D.E.L.

Therefore, you have all of these people who have a personal grudge against Taylor - not Liberia - which is why as soon as he steps down, the bloodshed will be drastically reduced. However, he doesn't want to step down until the international charges against him (due to his part in the events in Sierra Leone) are dropped.


Interesting Note: oil has been discovered in Liberia but is not yet being produced. They are still exploring how they can best extract it.

[Koffy Brown]

Originally posted by djLesCole:
ok, here's the background of the problem in a nutshell.
1) Years ago, Taylor overthrough Pres. S. Doe, who belongs to the Krahn tribe of people. The Krahn would now like to return the deed and regain power and are getting help from the Madingo.
2) Taylor has supported the war in Sierra Leone in exchange for diamonds which has left THOUSANDS of people mutilated by the fighters. The people of Sierra Leone are now seeking revenge and are crossing the border to fight Taylor. They are joining one of two groups, L.U.R.D. or M.O.D.E.L.
3) A while back, Taylor had a hand in an attempt to destabilize the nation of Guinea (which the US has an interest in). Guinea is now helping to train/fund L.U.R.D. to fight Taylor.
4) Taylor has also has had a hand in the uprising in Ivory Coast, so they are now financing/training the soldiers of M.O.D.E.L.

Therefore, you have all of these people who have a personal grudge against Taylor - not Liberia - which is why as soon as he steps down, the bloodshed will be drastically reduced. However, he doesn't want to step down until the international charges against him (due to his part in the events in Sierra Leone) are dropped.


Interesting Note: oil has been discovered in Liberia but is not yet being produced. They are still exploring how they can best extract it. The note is extremely interesting...

I will never ever wear another diamond...I haven't for years...but I'm going to really keep my eye open and research the info of Liberia and what's going on now...this is extremely interesting....

[ July 03, 2003, 01:29 PM: Message edited by: WhyYouNeedToKnow ]

[richierich]

Yeah the shit that Diamonds have caused.. just so someone can wear it on their person befuddles me. The whole thing is DeBeers played on the notion that there was a shortage of this supposed rare and precious stone.. and there is no shortage. People getting limbs cut off, dying trying to find them.. you can still go to places in Africa and buy diamonds on the street thru the black market... I don't get it at times.. I digress.

[The Buddy Love Show]

why not africa?

nobody really gives a shit in the advanced countries...even the blacks who live in the US et al don't give a shit...cause on my planet people who care take part in the political process

why is there no African PAC in the US?

Why do folks in the US complain about what they see as undue Israeli/Jewish influence in gov't/finance/media...yet Jews are a smaller % of the pop. far outnumbered by blacks ad hispanics?...With their larger #'s shouldnt those folks be able to influence foreign policy?

And Africans themselves, whats up with them...Hutus killing Tutsis, civil wars yet they blame colonialism and the white man?..Is the answer to external repression then internal repression?...last time i looked they wer all Black...i haven't heard similiar arguments from indigenous oppressed peoples in S America, Australia and USA all who had differing tribal factions and all continents that have had European imposed territorial delieations applied to them

Maybe the answer is fascism or a national socialism of federated states (look at what happened to the German confederation)....maybe the answer is a nationalism of all industries and cutting off outside aid...or withdrawing from the IMF which has imposed austerity measures which leave countries with large amounts of natural resources at the mercy of outside creditors (Brazil has begun similiar measures by stating they won't observe international patent protections when it comes to the health of its people....as Mutabaruka said "aid travels with a bomb"

[Insert pseudonym here]

Originally posted by JAMIE 3:26:
http://www.houseofnubian.com/id-1343//ImgUpload/P_H09_619455.jpg 3:26 ---

I think a larger percentage of Black folks in Chicago have read that book. I think I still have that book with me now. I read that book my freshman year at UIC and then I read it again after I graduated.

That is indeed a good read.

[C hristian]

My wife is a liberian political refuge. Escaped back in 1975.

I never had to buy her a diamond. She would recoil at the sight.

Taylor is now on the receiving end of how he came to power.

In general, stop talking about an entire continent of people as though they are 1.

Get to know the people as members of their respective tribes. Africans see themselves primarily as members of a tribe. Always have, even after colonization came and enforced foreign constructs, borders, etc.

To know about how colonization fvcked up Africa, read "When Things Fall Apart". It's required reading, in the schools, in some parts of Africa.

D- You don't have an entire continent of people hard working and eager to make money. (which is, just playing the white man's game.) that is to gross a generalization. but i know what you are trying to say.

i'll ask my wife about giving some insight. in the meantime, ask people from africa to give thier point of view.

6 23?

[Insert pseudonym here]

Originally posted by C hristian:
...
In general, stop talking about an entire continent of people as though they are 1.

Get to know the people as members of their respective tribes. Africans see themselves primarily as members of a tribe. Always have, even after colonization came and enforced foreign constructs, borders, etc.

... Please don't get mad at me, keep a cool head before you finish reading this post.

I have some very important questions to ask:

IN LIEU OF THE HISTORY OF CONSTANT ASSAULT AND EXCLUSION OF PEOPLE OF AFRICAN DESCENT AND AFRICANS ALIKE; DON'T YOU THINK IT IS TIME THAT AFRICA START TO COME TOGETHER AS ONE CONTINENT.

I SHUTTER TO THINK HOW GREAT AFRICA COULD'VE BEEN IF THEY STOOD AS ONE...

WITH ALL THE HUNGER, PAINS OF AIDS AND MURDERS... ISN'T IT TIME NOW THAT AFRICA REALIZE THE POTENTIAL OF BEING A UNITED CONTINENT THAT HELPS IT'S FELLOW COUNTRY-MEN?

Now, I don't know all I should about Africa --- However, I'm willing to learn more. I just think that the world as shown itself for what it is and we as people from the "continent" will never truly achieve our equal rights; we will never be treated solely as human beings (the way we should be treated)... so shouldn't we all come together? And doesn't unity start at the home-base?

What's wrong with Africa re-evaluating how their tribal separations have aided in the Africa's own demise?

[C hristian]

so, do you mean, beat the white man at his own game rather than continuing to honor tradition?

hmmmm....


-------------------------------------------------
we're on a road to nowhere, come on inside.
taking that ride to nowhere, we'll take that ride.

[Insert pseudonym here]

Originally posted by C hristian:
so, do you mean, beat the white man at his own game rather than continuing to honor tradition?

hmmmm....No, beating the so called "white man" at his game is a bit passe'.

I'm talking about REAL unity.

If the keeping tradition is a variable playing a role in the demise of Africa, then why not look into the possibilities of unity and what a unified Africa could possible offer?

In this day in age,
the only game
worth playing
is staying alive
and finding happiness within yourself...

if some other productive options aren't
presented to the continent
who's gonna be alive in Africa
to keep up all these traditions?

... help me to understand ...

Maybe I'm missing something?
Maybe I'm not?

[ July 04, 2003, 08:35 AM: Message edited by: Insert pseudonym here ]

[Leslie]

July 4, 2003
Liberia's President Agrees to Quit, But Wants International Force
By REUTERS


Filed at 9:02 a.m. ET

MONROVIA (Reuters) - Liberian President Charles Taylor, under U.S. pressure to quit, said on Friday he had agreed to step down but wanted to wait until an international force was in place before leaving office.

In Lagos, a senior Nigerian government official said Taylor had accepted an offer of asylum.

``He has accepted,'' said the official, who requested anonymity. ``Taylor asked to be given 40 days but Nigeria said it should be some time this month.''

Taylor said in a speech on Friday to religious leaders at the presidential mansion in Monrovia: ``I think it is important that peacekeepers come first. I can't understand why the U.S. wants me out before they arrive.''

U.S. officials said Washington was pressing through the United Nations and West African countries to persuade the former warlord, accused of masterminding more than a decade of tangled regional conflicts, to get out of Liberia.

Violence in the last month alone has claimed an estimated 700 civilian lives in and around Monrovia as rebels battled government troops for control of the capital.

The World Health Organization said more than 97,000 people displaced by the fighting were living in makeshift camps and cholera and other diseases were on the rise in Liberia.

President Bush, who visits Africa next week, said on Thursday he had made no decision on sending U.S. troops but that the ``first step'' was for Taylor to leave.

West African military chiefs of staff were to meet in Ghana on Friday to discuss a possible deployment of regional troops.

``Some countries have made pledges ... There are indications that South Africa is interested. We are also hoping that Morocco and the United States will contribute,'' said one official.

A Nigerian official said President Olusegun Obasanjo had agreed to ask Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, a close ally of Taylor, to help facilitate the asylum deal and possibly fund his stay in Nigeria.

U.N. diplomats said this week that Taylor had rejected an earlier Nigerian exile offer because authorities could not guarantee that he would not be extradited to face trial in Sierra Leone at a U.N.-backed court for war crimes.

Taylor is accused of backing rebels in Sierra Leone's civil war.

Taylor's fate is key to ending 14 years of almost non-stop war that have created a generation of drugged-up Liberian fighters quick to cross borders to kill and loot.

Rebels control nearly two-thirds of Liberia after launching a war to oust Taylor three years ago. Taylor won 1997 elections after emerging as the dominant faction leader after a war that left 200,000 dead in the 1990s.

There is no clear successor to Taylor in Liberia. U.S. officials have not said who they want to fill his shoes, and most regional analysts say the rebels are not an option as they lack political maturity. Liberia's opposition is also weak and fragmented.


Copyright 2003 Reuters Ltd. | Home | Privacy Policy | Search | Corrections | Help | Back to Top


On the Scene: J. Kelly McCann
From CNN.com

The White House is considering sending a peacekeeping force to Liberia, where the latest wave of fighting between rebels and government troops has left hundreds of civilians dead, senior officials told CNN. President Bush, preparing for his first African trip, has called on Liberian President Charles Taylor, who faces war crimes charges, to leave the country.

CNN security analyst J. Kelly McCann spoke to anchor Miles O'Brien on Thursday about the need for such a mission.

O'BRIEN: Let's talk about the numbers, first of all. The number of troops. What's an appropriate number? Between 500 and 1,000 troops seems like a thin force to me.

MCCANN: Well, usually, you have got to remember that the initial force that goes in is likely to be a Marine Expeditionary Unit, which uses a Marine battalion as kind of a platform to task-organize and that task-organization has to do with the mission. If it's just to disarm, run checkpoints that would disarm some of these rebel factions and use fixed point sites to kind of direct the kind of movement of troops, that's one thing. If it's combat patrols that will reach out beyond the urban areas that's another thing.

Again, what is the right number? The only people who will make that call are the planners who have all the [intelligence.]

O'BRIEN: I suppose another thing to throw in the mix there is if there is, in fact, a need to pursue and perhaps arrest Mr. Taylor. Mr. Taylor has not left the country, as President Bush has requested. Of course, that brings up all kinds of possibilities and thoughts of Somalia when you start thinking about it and would that increase the numbers required?

MCCANN: Well, again, it depends. What I've noticed about the past decade [is that] we've gotten focused on one person and every time, if you've noticed a trend that we say we're going to go after one person, ultimately, people find out it's much more difficult than they may have thought to begin with. I think more what this might be like is [ousted military leader Raoul] Cedras, out of Haiti. He was allowed to leave. Basically, the U.S. wanted to see [Haitian President Jean-Bertrand] Aristide brought back in, and Cedras was allowed to leave and he ended up in Panama. I think that that is the first door that's been opened to him. Now if he doesn't take that door, we'll have to see.

O'BRIEN: Of course, he is facing the possibility of war crimes. I guess immunity might have to be offered to Mr. Taylor before he'd leave.

MCCANN: And who would take him? Who would want him in their country? Remember that [Guinea], Sierra Leone -- that region, [those] neighboring countries -- they're all having problems right now ... so it's not likely that they would accept him. In fact, it's been said [that] there are rebel factions from both those countries who are mixing the pot in Liberia. So it's interesting.

O'BRIEN: Another important thing is when the troops get on the ground, the rules of engagement -- how they operate and how they are supported -- it's another way of asking how do you avoid another Mogadishu?

MCCANN: I'll tell you even more than that. The rules of engagement, because we've got more veterans now than we had previously, is the cultural issue and the aloofness to your target. It's one thing when you fight men and you see a male as your target, a man who is a combatant. It's another thing when you see a 14 or 13 or 15-year-old boy and that is significantly different and that will have an impact on the U.S. troops. But there are other reasons to go to Liberia. They run the maritime registry out of there and we know that's kind of linked to terrorism and the movement of drugs that supports terrorism. Conflict diamonds, that's one of the regions that the U.N. put the resolution on that they couldn't sell their diamonds. So, there's many reasons, moral and pax Americana to go into Liberia.

O'BRIEN: And a final thought here, the big picture with forces engaged in Afghanistan and Iraq and other places around the world where there are boots on the ground, is this asking too much of U.S. military forces?

MCCANN: I don't think it's asking too much of the military forces. I think it begs the question about the U.N. and I think that this administration knows that. In other words, here is another case where the U.N. is saying please send some troops here to this region and the administration can turn around and say, but you are supposedly the world army and can't. So there may be other reasons afoot.

[Leslie]

Originally posted by Lobo Tomi, a man who fell to earth:

Maybe the answer is fascism or a national socialism of federated states (look at what happened to the German confederation)....maybe the answer is a nationalism of all industries and cutting off outside aid...or withdrawing from the IMF which has imposed austerity measures which leave countries with large amounts of natural resources at the mercy of outside creditors (Brazil has begun similiar measures by stating they won't observe international patent protections when it comes to the health of its people....as Mutabaruka said "aid travels with a bomb" Interesting...maybe they can get it to "work". Would cutting off all outside aid include in the areas of healthcare (though they are not getting much help at all)? Just want to understand the extent of "all outside outside aid" meant in your comment.

[Fletch]

I'm torn on this. The Liberian people need help, but at the same time, I don't support the US continuing to police anyone else. Them body bags are gonna have some Black soldiers in them (some people on this board, if I'm correct, have fought in Desert I and II, and can elaborate better). Oh, yeah, see what's going on in "peacetime" Iraq right now.

And please don't go there with Firestone!!!! If they made f***** up tires here, I don't want to think about what they did over there. graemlins/jpshakehead.gif

[C hristian]

Originally posted by Insert pseudonym here:
</font><blockquote>quote:</font><hr />Originally posted by C hristian:
so, do you mean, beat the white man at his own game rather than continuing to honor tradition?

hmmmm....No, beating the so called "white man" at his game is a bit passe'.

I'm talking about REAL unity.

If the keeping tradition is a variable playing a role in the demise of Africa, then why not look into the possibilities of unity and what a unified Africa could possible offer?

In this day in age,
the only game
worth playing
is staying alive
and finding happiness within yourself...

if some other productive options aren't
presented to the continent
who's gonna be alive in Africa
to keep up all these traditions?

... help me to understand ...

Maybe I'm missing something?
Maybe I'm not? </font>[/QUOTE]Are you native african? do you have an inside view on this? I'm not myself, but I know africans. To them, this idea is a bit naive in the sense that you have to understand how different one region is from the other, how different the people are, how rich and old the traditions are, and how big the continant is. but maybe it takes an outsider to pose and pass the idea and overcome doubts and bridge misunderstanding and resentment. I don't know. I certainly don't have the answer. The African Union sounds like a great idea to me, but I as an outsider can not overlook African's scepticism over the idea. And, as a white man, myself, I think twice before I can say that I have the solutions to their problems. But personally, I like your idea.


Here's an abbreviated history of Liberian Presidents.

Tubman was president in the 60s. He was president forever. Everybody loved him. He was their great president with a long and glorious rule.

http://www.denison.edu/~waite/liberia/history/pres2.htm


1944- William V. S. Tubman was elected to the first of seven terms as Liberian president.

(he was the best president. everybody loved him. decentant of harrient tubman)


1946- The right to vote and participate in elections was extended to Liberia's indigenous peoples.

1958- Liberian representatives attended the first conference of independent African nations.

1967- Liberian officials served on the Organization of African Unity's Consultation Committee on Nigeria's civil war.

1971- President Tubman died in office.

1972- William R. Tolbert, Jr. was elected to Liberia's presidency after finishing Tubman's unexpired term. (not quite as effective as tubman, but still highly regarded. an americo-liberian. he stood up to the US, about us exploiting them. The US didn't like that.)

1979- On April 14, a rally protesting the increase of rice prices ended in riot.

1980- A military coup led by Samuel K. Doe, a Liberian of non-American descent, assassinated President Tolbert and overthrew the government that had held sway over Liberia since 1847. This ended Liberia's first republic. (Doe was in tight with REagan who gave him a lot of support, if you know what I mena, and I think you do.)

1985- Civilian rule was restored.

1986- A new constitution established the second republic of Liberia. Samuel K. Doe, the 1980 coup leader, retained power as head of state.

1989- Charles Taylor, an Americo-Liberian, and his followers toppled the Doe-led government. This action helped precipitate a civil war. Various ethnic factions fought for control of the nation.

1990- Rebel forces executed Liberia's former head of state, Samuel K. Doe, who had overthrown the first republic a decade before.
The West African Peacekeeping force was formed to maintain order in the region.

1995- The 16-member Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) brokered a peace treaty between Liberia's warring factions. An interim State Council established a tentative timetable for elections.
The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) re-negotiated peace.

1997- Charles Taylor was elected president of the third republic of Liberia.


My wife's response to all that's going on now? "Not again."

[C hristian]

for people who haven't seen the timeline...

[Koffy Brown]

I'm truly understanding what you are saying about the traditions and I do know a little history about Africa...but I am totally agreeing with Insert, at some point you have to see the advantages and benefits of unity...in this day and age..2003...I think that they have the capabilities through strong leadership to come together on those issues that all can benefit from and continue to practice tradition...jmo

[ July 07, 2003, 12:53 PM: Message edited by: WhyYouNeedToKnow ]