July 22, 2003
American Moral Leadership Takes Another Hit as Liberia Sinks Deeper into War
While hundreds, perhaps, thousands continue to die, in Liberia and humanitarian crisis looms like a dark cloud over a weary, war-torn country and her beleaguered people, the Bush Administration continues to sit on its hand and do next to nothing. Citing the need to “protect our people,” however Bush did sent in 41 Marines to shore up the American Embassy in the besieged capital city Monrovia. “Protect our people;” as if Americans were the only people worth protecting!
Despite repeated pleas from the United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan and several West African nations for the U.S. to do something, Bush seems determined to do nothing at all despite his pledge in a recent visit to Africa, work more closely with the nations of the continent. Are we losing our moral authority here? And are we (the U.S.), once again under a Republican Administration sending a message that when whites are in peril we will act, but when blacks are at risk, no matter the circumstance we will not get involved despite the overwhelming sentiment around the world that we should? West African nations are pleading for U.S. leadership and yet we balk, why?
I wish this administration would make up it’s collective mind whether it wants to be the world police-man or not. This selective enforcement of standards for liberty is disgusting.
Then again, I think they know that there are people like yourself who will scream and bellyache that we need to “liberate” the people and put an end to injustices and tyranny (which once again, the US govt installed and backed). This administration is very wily when it comes to war and is more than content to sit back and let the media echo-chambers do the hand-wringing and screaming for invasion, then at the critical point, they themselves join the fray and make it look reluctant.
We are not the world policeman… the UN is, and the US is trying to kill the UN (obviously).
Posted by: Stephen VanDyke at July 22, 2003 11:11 AMGuess this demonstrates how the Bush administration is true to its word on going to war to liberate people from tyranical dictators… as long as those dictators control vast quantities of oil!
Posted by: blipsman at July 22, 2003 11:51 AMHumm, I wouldn’t exactly call my stance screaming or bellyaching, I guess I am just tied of the all too obvious double standard; a double standard I hasten to add, that we (the U.S.) chides others for exhibiting. We are either for the human rights and dignity of ALL people or we are not. And if we are not, then we should have the decency to tell the world that we will not come to their collective rescue. But, on the other hand, if we are going to portray ourselves as the moral beacon which guides the world, then be that moral beacon; help where you can, especially when the people being oppressed and terrorized beg you to assume leadership…
Posted by: V. Edward Martin at July 22, 2003 02:19 PM
