Small Number of U.S. Troops Into Liberia (6 - to "grow" to 20 "soon")

[papau]

http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/news/news-liberia-usa-troops.html

Small Number of U.S. Troops Into Liberia - Officials
By REUTERS


Filed at 9:24 a.m. ET
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States is sending a small number of Marines into Liberia from ships offshore to provide logistical support for West African military peacekeepers in the civil war-torn African nation, U.S. defense officials said on Wednesday.
A ``liaison element,'' initially composed of six to 10 Marines, will be sent into the capital of Monrovia on orders from Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld, according to the officials, who asked not to be identified. They said the contingent, which could grow to up to 20 troops, will work with a multinational interim force of peacekeepers from the Economic Community of West African States, or ECOWAS.
The troops are being sent in from a task force of about 2,300 American Marines aboard ships off the Liberian coast. <snip>

Comment - Now did anyone doubt Bush's feelings toward stopping death in Africa in Liberia?

We show the flag with "6" who no doubt, like the current 70 at the Embassy, will stay inside the Embassy as folks pile bodies up at the Embassy gate to remind us of the US special relationship with Liberia and Bush's special relationship with a non-oil producing Black country.

[w13rd0]

1. Hell, not even enough guys...

...for a good game of football, I mean soccer...

[papau]

2. 3 on 3 recess basketball - This does not pass laugh test! :-)

:-)

[underpants]

3. The Americans are here! The Americans are here!

Uh..where's the rest of you guys?

[Randi_Listener]

4. Checklist.

No oil - CHECK
Dark skin - CHECK
Humanitarian effort - CHECK

"Send 6 Marines."

sincerely,

[roberthall10]

5. Wow!

Not exactly like hitting the beaches at Iwo Jima. Bush had a political-risk-free opportunity to improve his/our worldwide image with 1-2% of the force now tied down in Iraq, but declined. These people are not his Party's constituency, who are broadly speaking, white bigots.

[Spoon]

6. You think Bush would pass up on invading a country given the opportunity?

I don't think so. Problem is, we're streched to thin. Our 2000 lightly armed Marines would be torn to shreds - think Somolia. If Iraq is a quagmire, then this would be total annihilation.

[VolcanoJen]

7. Dupe... locking

Although these articles come from different sources, they essentially report the same story. Please continue discussion in the original, earliest thread on this topic, which can be found here:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=53381&mesg_id=53381

papau, it would be helpful if you could add your link to the NY Times story in the other thread.

Thanks! :-)
VolcanoJen
DU Moderator