In making the decision whether or not to send a small contingent (estimates range from 500 to 2,000) of American troops to Liberia, the Bush administration is being asked to put its money where its mouth is. The Iraq War – indeed, the very underpinnings of President Bush’s “Axis of Evil” speech – was premised on the United States being a force for good in this world whose foreign policy represents what the president – and many Americans, including this writer – believe that we are the “last, best hope of mankind.”
The world greeted Bush’s declarations with skepticism. It was only about Iraq’s oil, some said. Others claimed that Bush was conducting an “Israeli-centric” foreign policy, or one designed to crown America as the new imperialist power in Middle Eastern affairs. No, answered the president, taking down Saddam Hussein was based on moral considerations. Indeed, since the Iraq War ended, even though no weapons of mass destruction have been found, the administration points to the newly discovered mass graves containing the bones of hundreds of thousands of innocents, and declares, “This alone made the war worthwhile.”
Liberia offers President Bush a chance to prove it.
Our historical connection with the beleaguered state of Liberia is far more extensive than any we had with Iraq. Liberia was founded in 1847 as a separate nation of freed American slaves. The form of their government, their currency – even the names of many of their people – are modeled or taken directly from their American heritage. Unfortunately, the political stability of the United States, and the freedoms we take for granted, are not among the things that made the trans-Atlantic voyage to Liberia. At the moment, as has been the case for well over a decade, the 3.3 million people of Liberia are in trouble and need our help.
The country has been riven by a civil war. Charles Taylor, the brutal “president” of Liberia, is, to put it mildly, not a nice guy. He stands indicted for war crimes by an international tribunal that includes other states in the region as well as the United Nations. The rebels opposing Taylor’s dictatorship have chosen to fight fire with fire, and it’s not clear that their methods of waging war are much of an improvement. Naturally, inevitably, caught in the middle are Liberian citizens – conscripted, tortured, raped, murdered and starved. Unless this civil war is stopped and stability restored, tens of thousands more will die.
The consequences, in refugee flows and regional instability for neighboring countries like Sierra Leone and the Ivory Coast could be catastrophic. It’s a depressingly familiar tale – uncontrolled refugee flows, disrupted economies, cross-border raids and so forth. The results – disease, starvation, further regional instability – loom just over the horizon.
What to do? The answer is obvious. The United States should intervene as the leader of a Coalition of the Willing. Only this time, the “willing” include many who were unwilling during the Iraq War. France, the United Nations and regional African powers such as Sierra Leone are pleading for American leadership. The want us to head up an international force to separate the two sides in this civil war, restore calm, force Charles Taylor out, and give the Liberians a chance to rebuild. Indeed, as this is being written, there are strong indications that Taylor, frightened at the prospect of a U.S.-led force, is seriously thinking of quitting the country.
Of course, there are those Americans who need a reason beyond simple justice to justify intervention. That’s fair. No president – left, right or center – should commit U.S. troops on a whim. So for all you Realpolitik-icians out there, here are a few compelling reasons to swallow your pride, and yes, side with France on something other than a good wine or fine cheese:
1. It’s good PR to do something where there isn’t any oil at stake, just to be able to say to the world, “Yes, America leads even when it won’t add to its GNP.” And, yes, in this interconnected world, PR matters. It’s a battlefield like any other.
2. Like it or not, we have to rebuild relations with Europe, especially the French. Stopped buying Perrier water? Fine, but world stability and trans-Atlantic cooperation are too important to be held hostage to pique. The French are still here, and West Africa remains a very needy place. And we still have to deal with it.
3. With his commendable pledge of AIDS relief for Africa, Bush has staked a part of his presidency on increasing American influence as a force for good on that continent. But we must do more. As the president commences his trip to Africa, nothing would send a clearer, more forceful message than boots on the ground – in Liberia.
During the negotiations for the Treaty of Versailles just after World War I, the British politician Arthur Balfour was approached by one of the Balkan countries pleading for better borders and “more justice.” “Justice?” Lord Balfour replied. “Why, there isn’t enough to go around.” Twenty years later, as World War II began, the international community learned the true cost of not having enough justice to “go around.” If today’s world has one lesson, it’s that injustice happening in places you’ve never heard of has a way of eventually showing up in your living room.
Intervene in Liberia now.
