Small footprint, giant step in Liberia

By Jeffrey Krilla
February 10, 2004

Liberia's transitional government leader Gyude Bryant arrived in Washington this week looking for donor money to rebuild his war-torn country.

In December, thousands of Liberian fighters started handing over AK-47s, rocket propelled grenades, and mortar tubes to United Nations peacekeepers. This voluntary disarmament -- which according to the U.N. amounted to over 9,000 weapons by the end of the year -- is one more concrete sign that Liberia's 14-year civil war may truly be coming to an end.

It was not that long ago that much of the world's attention focused on whether the United States would or should intervene militarily to depose Liberian strongman Charles Taylor and bring peace to that country. At the time, the Bush administration's commitment to Africa was frequently questioned by both political opponents and "Africa experts" in the foreign policy establishment.

Several months after the last mortar shell exploded in capital Monrovia, it is hard to argue with the results. After a catastrophic war that killed 200,000 people and made refugees of countless more, Liberia is currently on the path to reconstruction and a representative form of government. Taylor left Liberia peacefully. Interpol recently issued a warrant for his arrest for crimes against humanity. And for those who doubt American follow-through, the much debated $87 billion budget request approved by Congress contained $200 million for Liberia.

For this, the Bush administration deserves a good deal of credit. In June 2003 there seemed little hope of getting Taylor -- who spent the last six years stealing from and killing his countrymen -- to relinquish power without either a fight or a promise of immunity from prosecution for his crimes. Liberia -- originally founded as a homeland for freed American slaves -- was a nation with strong historical ties to the United States. Thus, it was widely assumed that the solution was direct American intervention followed but an extended peacekeeping role, as in Haiti and Bosnia.

Instead, the United States -- which was in the middle of a difficult counter-insurgency operation in Iraq -- deployed a small military assessment team to the capital city while stationing 2,000 Marines offshore on ships visible from Monrovia. These actions conveyed a clear message to the rebels and Taylor that the United States was watching and had a vested interest in establishing peace in Liberia. At the time many critics considered this "too little, too late."

The administration, however, was hard at work with countries from the Economic Community of West African States to put together an African-led and African-manned force that entered Liberia and established order. The most memorable image of this episode was the photo of a Nigerian -- not American -- officer being carried on the shoulders of joyous Monrovians. Nigeria's willingness to take the lead and take Taylor out of Liberia clearly illustrates the willingness and ability of African nations to work together and find regional solutions to protracted conflicts.

Since then, a transitional government was established that signed a peace treaty with rebel groups in August.

Non-governmental organizations have returned to Liberia to assist with disarmament, demobilization, and reintegration. This includes a significant U.N. presence of 12,000 peacekeeping troops that are now deploying in greater force to rebel-held areas. And with new elections scheduled for 2005, organizations like the International Republican Institute are opening offices in Monrovia to help Liberians build the political and governing institutions necessary for a democratic future.

The American commitment to Liberia continued long after the resolution of the crisis last summer. The United States has provided funds, equipment and personnel to the United Nations Mission in Liberia. To that, the United States will add $200 million for Liberian reconstruction, making that country one of the largest per capita recipients of U.S. aid.

This commitment is not a charity exercise, but is directly rooted in American interests. The stability and prosperity of West Africa is inextricably bound to Liberia. Failed states will become havens for terrorists driven from other sanctuaries in Asia and the Middle East. And it is further evidence that President Bush was serious at his State of the Union address when he committed himself to the spread of democracy to even the most difficult parts of the world.

Though Liberians still face many challenges in the reconstruction of their country, their nation has made significant progress toward the creation of a peaceful democracy. Americans can be proud of the role their country and government has played to make this a reality.

(Jeffrey Krilla is regional program director for Africa at the International Republican Institute -- IRI.org -- a non-partisan, non-profit organization dedicated to advancing democracy worldwide.)

(United Press International's "Outside View" commentaries are written by outside contributors who specialize in a variety of issues. The views expressed do not necessarily reflect those of United Press International. In the interests of creating an open forum, original submissions are invited.)