U.S. Sends Marines To Liberian Coast

[Seraphim]

http://www.msnbc.com/news/937616.asp?vts=072520032325

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20030726/ap_on_re_af/us_liberia&cid=515&ncid=716

[Seraphim]

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&u=/ap/20030726/ap_on_re_af/liberia&cid=515&ncid=716

Liberians Angry That GIs Haven't Appeared


By ALEXANDRA ZAVIS, Associated Press Writer

MONROVIA, Liberia - Liberians reacted with anger after President Bush (news - web sites) ordered troops into position off Liberia (news - web sites)'s coast but stopped short of saying whether Marines would go ashore, on a day artillery fire killed at least 26 people.



Pentagon (news - web sites) officials said Friday that the only major troop movement in the works was the dispatching of three Navy ships carrying hundreds of Marines to the waters off the Liberian coast.


The troops were sent to assist the arrival of the first West African troops of a 3,250-member international peacekeeping force. Nigeria plans to deploy two battalions within days.


Monrovia's residents had pleaded for U.S. deployment in the nation founded by freed American slaves as rebels pressed home their 3-year war to drive out Liberian President Charles Taylor. A few weeks ago, even false rumors of U.S. Marines landing were enough to set off dancing and singing in the streets.


But many have grown angry after weeks of waiting amid increasing violence. Some wondered why Bush was bothering at all now. On Friday, the bloodiest barrage in days, shells crashed into the U.S. Embassy grounds and a school packed with refugees in the rebel-besieged capital.


Bush's announcement of the deployment was broadcast over the radio here as refugee families gathered bodies of love ones — all victims of a daybreak mortar attack that killed at least 26 and wounded more than 200.


"Why so late, when people are dying?" Momo Barley asked in the streets around the U.S. Embassy, the densely populated neighborhood that took the brunt of Friday's pounding by up to 20 mortar rounds.


Three waves of attacks have killed hundreds in the capital. About 1.3 million residents hang on, gripped by hunger, thirst, epidemics and fear.


Bush said the troops' role would be limited and the mission's purpose would be "to relieve human suffering."


One shell Friday struck inside the U.S. Embassy compound, exploding harmlessly on rocky ground, a U.S. official inside said.


Other rounds killed refugees, who have crowded around the embassy by the thousands in hope of protection through proximity to the Americans.


"I want to tell George Bush to do something hurriedly, very fast and quickly," Emmanuel Sieh, 28, cried earlier Friday, as crowds spilled out into the streets following a fierce barrage.


Both sides in Liberia's war have accused the other of shelling the capital, and it was not clear who was behind Friday's barrage.


Rebel leaders welcomed word of the American deployment, ordering their forces to cooperate with any Americans and to cease-fire, something Bush has set as a condition to troops participating. The rebels have repeatedly broken promises for a cease-fire, as have government forces.


Taylor's government's also welcomed Bush's announcement but expressed annoyance at his past demands that Taylor step down as part of any peace effort.


"We have always recognized that the United States is the superpower of the world and their presence in the international peacekeeping force in Liberia might make things easier to disarm the rebels," said Vaanii Paasawe, Taylor's spokesman.


"We are only surprised that as a democracy itself, the United States could play the role it has in Liberia," Paasawe said.



Taylor, blamed for 14 years of near perpetual conflict in Liberia, has retreated to his mansion by the sea, his forces battling to block insurgents from crossing bridges into downtown.

Taylor, sought by a U.N.-backed court for alleged war crimes in neighboring Sierra Leone, has promised to step down when foreign peacekeepers arrive. But he has repeatedly hedged on promises since June to cede power.

[budanski]

www.strategypage.com (http://www.strategypage.com/fyeo/howtomakewar/default.asp?target=HTINF.HTM)

July 24, 2003: The U.S. Marines who were recently sent to Liberia were members of the FAST (Fleet Antiterrorism Security Team) companies. These units were first organized in 1987 and there was no shortage of volunteers. There are eleven FAST platoons, organized into two FAST companies (six platoons in the 1st Company at Norfolk, VA and the other five platoons in the 2nd Company at Yorktown, VA.) Each platoon is commanded by an experienced captain, plus a senior NCO, three or four sergeants, three or four corporals and about thirty other marines. There are about 500 FAST marines overall, including 20 officers. Three platoons serve six month tours at Bahrain, Italy and Japan. In addition, one or two platoons are on alert in the United States all the time, ready to be flown to any hot spot anywhere. Often, the FAST platoon will be sent to a marine amphibious task force that is near a potential trouble spot. Half the FAST platoons will be training at any time, but in the past few years, FAST marines have spent about half the year overseas. Technically, FAST marines are not commandos. Most of the enlisted FAST marines are selected from those who volunteered for the Marines Security Force. There are nine Security Force companies, and these guard high value (or profile) items (nuclear weapons, embassies and sensitive facilities.) The FAST marines are the elite of this security service. FAST can fight, but only if what they are guarding is threatened. FAST marines are trained to lock down a facility very quickly and very tight. FAST marines platoons have been called out nearly 80 times in the last 16 years, including Liberia in 1991. FAST marines are meant for emergencies, they do not do long term security. They may look like commandoes, but in reality they are the guards who guard the guards who watch over the crown jewels.

[Pakrat]

No rest for the weary.

[Jooglae]

Over 600 Liberian civilians already dead.....And what's taking them so long?

[USAF G]

Ok, who can tell me a bit about the history of Liberia, and Sierra Leone for that matter, and why it's maybe a good thing for the US, and UK, to take an interest in these two countries? Hint: go way back for your answer. ;) G

[martinexsquaddie]

Sierra Leone is the uks problem because it was our colony and we left it with only a little chance of being stable.
The other reason is these are what are called Failed States i.e Afganistan
now can you see the reason to get involved.
Nice place to hide if your planning to build a terrorist training camp hardly any goverment is going to let anybody open a terrorist training camp to have a go at the US but if you can find a spot in the 3rd world where goverment does'nt really exsist you can do what the hell you like