A Case for Liberia

[NJGeek]

Can't the argument be made that the United States should act overwhelmingly in Liberia (with both money and troops), because of a vestigal debt owed to a nation formed from freed American slaves? Seems a whole lot more justifiable than invisible "WMD's."

[alaine]

1. "Moral Obligation".

It has already been said. Liberia threads on here seem to sink like stones. It's obscene to me that we aren't helping and you would think dems would at least be interested in it from the angle that when Bush was in Africa he gave every indication that he would help (another LIE, hello shrub haters) and from what I can see Liberians seem stunned that he and the United Nations are dragging their feet.

It's particularly hypocritical in light of the fact that that we are now being asked by some republicans to forget about WMDs and focus on our humanitarian liberation of Iraq, which was really "what it was all about". Sounds good enough for a hallmark card, except for the fact that if there was any truth to it we'd be the hell in Liberia by now.

The argument has been made, in my book, especially after having read sections of Thomas Jefferson's "Notes on the State of Virginia" where he advocates for removal of Africans from America (for racist reasons that I won't go into here) after emancipation. We're all about our founding fathers lately, yet no one is making the connection between Liberia and our unpaid debt to Africa for slave labor.

[Clete]

2. It's perhaps because we feel so helpless.

Our country should spend a lot of diplomatic effort in Africa. However, I, personally, don't trust any Republican led administration to do anything constructive anywhere,let alone Africa. This is why I and I believe others feel helpless.

[newyawker99]

3. Hi doctors4bob!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[NJGeek]

5. thanks!

We should at least be spending more than $10M in Liberia to support peacemaking efforts there. But I agree that it is hard to trust this administration to do anything that benefits anyone but their own.

[SoCalDem]

4. Just change the name to "Conservia"

and all their problems will disappear:)

seriously... most people in American do not care one iota about Africa..Never have...never will...

The stupidity of that notion is coming home to roost with the worldwide spread of AIDS..

I am convinced that the Conservatives are secretly hoping that the depopulation of Africa is seen as an opportunity to grab its resources without having to contend with all those "pesky natives"..

America has become a very "inward-looking" country and unless people can get rich, they are not interested..

I hope it changes, but I don't think it will..

To the folks in charge, "dark-skinned" lives have little value:(

[MaverickX]

7. little national interest in Liberia....

Not to mention there can be no clearly defined mission in Liberia.

[SemperEadem]

8. value...

"To the folks in charge, "dark-skinned" lives have little value:("


and that from a pro-life party

I'm so glad to see camel leaping through eyes of needles these days...

[MaverickX]

6. I changed my mind about Liberia..

We shouldn't send our troops into Liberia to get in the middle of their civil war. I'm afraid that by doing so we'll really put our troops at risk, even more of a risk than in Iraq.

[Noli Mitangere]

9. i agree

It is a civil war like Vietnam. If we send in "peace keepers" then soon bullets will fly, then we will send in Cobras with 2.7 in rockets, AC-130s, Chinooks with miniguns blazing, and the streets will run red with blood.

The "dark-skinned" population will eventualy get pissed off, and the different factions fighting will unify against the great white foreign invaders.

We don't belong there.

[Clete]

10. Sometimes we can't sit back and watch fraticide and

genocide either. In the case of Liberia, they have been asking for our help. Maybe we should help.

But yet I still don't trust this administration to make the right decisions on this. It would also involve nation building along the lines of the Marshall Plan in WWII. But Dumbya has already stated that we aren't into nation building. (Cough, cough, while I stifle a laugh.)