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Bush promises not to overextend US troops
Pretoria (South Africa), July 09: US President George W. Bush pledged today that he will not overextend US armed forces even if he sends troops to join a peacekeeping force in Liberia.
Pretoria (South Africa), July 09: US President George W. Bush pledged today that he will not overextend US armed forces even if he sends troops to join a peacekeeping force in Liberia.
Bush renewed his pledge to "be involved" in Liberia,
where civil war has dragged on for years and conditions in
Monrovia have become desperate amid a political stalemate
involving President Charles Taylor.
South African President Thabo Mbeki pressed Bush on whether the United States planned to play a role in the crisis. "I said, 'yes, we'll be involved, and we're now discussing the extent of our involvement," Bush told reporters during a joint news conference with Mbeki.
The US already has tens of thousands of soldiers in Afghanistan, Iraq and Kosovo. Bush said that whatever he decides to do about Liberia, "we won't overextend our troops."
Mbeki said that the military burden in Liberia peacekeeping "really ought to principally fall on US as Africans."
The US has trained battalions of African troops, Bush said, and "helping people help themselves" was one method of ensuring the U.S. military would not become stretched too thin there. "It's in our interest that we continue that strategy so that we don't get overextended," he said.
Bush did not say whether he will deploy troops to Liberia. He promised that "we will work closely with the United Nations and the economic community of West African states to enforce the cease-fire, to see to it that Mr. Taylor leaves office so there can be a peaceful transition in Liberia."
South African President Thabo Mbeki pressed Bush on whether the United States planned to play a role in the crisis. "I said, 'yes, we'll be involved, and we're now discussing the extent of our involvement," Bush told reporters during a joint news conference with Mbeki.
The US already has tens of thousands of soldiers in Afghanistan, Iraq and Kosovo. Bush said that whatever he decides to do about Liberia, "we won't overextend our troops."
Mbeki said that the military burden in Liberia peacekeeping "really ought to principally fall on US as Africans."
The US has trained battalions of African troops, Bush said, and "helping people help themselves" was one method of ensuring the U.S. military would not become stretched too thin there. "It's in our interest that we continue that strategy so that we don't get overextended," he said.
Bush did not say whether he will deploy troops to Liberia. He promised that "we will work closely with the United Nations and the economic community of West African states to enforce the cease-fire, to see to it that Mr. Taylor leaves office so there can be a peaceful transition in Liberia."
Bureau Report