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Liberia: The Aftermath of Bush’s Political Pilgrimage to Liberia-Dividend and Cynical Comments
Mar 13, 2008
Varfley A. Dolleh
 Introduction:
Applicability of partisanship in blindly disparaging the success of a perceive opponent is not always a healthy democratic exercise with the recent visit of the head of the free world, “President George W. Bush” as guest of “President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf” being of no different, especially, in the wake of cynical comments that Bush visit was a failure and also an indictment of the President. But, here we gauge the issue from another angle.
Political projection of Bush’s and Ellen Marriage:
Eager for a face saving mechanism in the wake of criticism by mainly “France and Great Britain” that the “United States of America” didn’t do enough in rescuing Liberia during the dark period of killing and mayhem which should have been aborted, if former “President George W. Bush Senior”, had muscled the necessary political will in curtailing the genocide. It was a moral and political miscalculation that needed to be redressed in a timely fashion. This happened at a time when the British had helped repulsed the RUF rebels in Sierra Leone and stabilized that Country, while the French contained the rebels in Ivory Coast and other African countries, especially, in Chad and Central African Republic. So having an aggressive financial expert, a Harvard product and a UN guru and pro-Western strategist at the helm of power was a perfect opportunity to undo history. And such is the situation as we unveil history.
Despite her overwhelming support base within the intellectual community and the women, but her main defining moment came about when she got the overwhelming supports of the US, especially, a hardliner Republican “President George W. Bush”. You will note the overwhelming support received since her ascendency as President. We are mindful of the huge political support from President Bush following her election with the infusion of a formidable security detail for her personal protection. It was a new precedent in recent memories seeing Americans protecting a foreign leader. We note with proud the infusion of new capitals and the debt weaver put in place by the Bush’s leadership. Moreover, we are mindful of the training of the new Liberia Army and other securities apparatus; the political, economic and moral supports to the UN peace keeping force and other non-governmental organizations; the infusion of millions toward sustainable development among others.
In short, if you were to gauge the aid received by Liberia comparatively, will far surpass other countries President Bush visited. Unlike those countries, our assistance is spread, while a onetime short given to those countries the cynics are referring to have taken the greatest chunk of the cake.
Dividend of the Political Pilgrimage:
Cynics have been disingenuous in maintaining that “President George W. Bush” visit to Liberia didn’t achieve anything meaningful in that it wasn’t translated in cash as was done for other African countries visited. While it is true that this visit was highly supported and appreciated by many, at the same time some hold the argument that President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf may have fallen from grace with her colleague, which is the opposite. It must be noted in all sincerity that it is disservice and sheer ungratefulness for cynics to question our creditability as a nation state in not calling a spade a spade. I don’t have to be a member of the Unity Party to pinpoint the achievement of this President for her enviable achievement in steering the affairs of the country leading to this monumental visit. It is a known fact that the Bush’s visit in itself was one of the major achievements of the Ellen administration. This visit highlights the developmental posture of this fragile country that she is out for development. It shifts a positive projection of this nation as a safe and economically vibrant nation ready to take her place in the comity of nation. Nothing can be compared to that. Indeed, it was a worthwhile adventure.
Let it be noted that the viability and Potentiality of any Nation, is Contingent upon the Intellectual Ability of its Citizenry. In short, in order for a nation to succeed, she must invest in education. So what’s the big deal if “President George W. Bush” gave millions of text books and thousands of chairs for the young generation? I think it was one of the best gifts given to the nation since we have one of the highest illiteracy rates in sub-Sahara Africa. I am positive that this gesture would generate the needed dividend in years to come. We want to commend President Bush and we say bravo, bravo.
Ellen Stance in the Political Limelight of the Day:
Despite her failure in achieving the desire goal of hosting the “African Command or Africom” that should have been stationed as a stabilizing force in Africa, she remains a formidable strategic ally of the US which has been manifested several times by deeds and action. Many African nations had gauged the idea of having American forces on the continent as a form of neo-colonialism and a threat to their national securities. Although, the American Government did everything to convince African leaders about the true meaning of this force but to no avail. It was only President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf that had accepted that idea with proud which manifests her strategic ties with the US although vehemently opposed by many of the leader.
TRC and the Ellen Factor:
I may have come across the piece written by Mr. Abdullah Dukuly lashing out against President Sirleaf regarding her stance on the TRC. While I am not clothed with the authority to come out with a formal response in this direction, but allow me to make my own input on the subject matter.
To begin with, we have been a strong opponent of the TRC because of the fundamental flaws and moral bankruptcy associated with the entire process. Although, a derivative of the South African experience wherein, feuding parties sit and sought out their differences amicably, pinpointing solution in order to avoid future problems, but ours has failed to live up to its expectation. Apart, unlike Liberia the South African playing field was leveled with no one transgressing the other. But this is the opposite in Liberia. We had thought that the burning issues of land seizure in NImba County and others would have all been resolved before the initiation of the process. How do we sit on a round table conference when Mandingo properties still being trampled upon? How do you have genuine reconciliation when most of the TRC Commissioners are partisans or party to the conflict? How do you expect equity when most of the proponents of the process are as culpable like everyone else? I think the entire process is fundamentally muddy void of any iota of decency.
I respect the thoughts expressed by Mr. Dukuly regarding the TRC and President Sirleaf. But what I didn’t agree with is the categorization of her with Prince Johnson. Unlike Prince Johnson, she had always made it known that not only would she appear at a hearing but would be prepared to encourage others wishing to do same. Apart, she is on record to have given substantial amount to the commissioner as the President. It may have been an over sight but, what I understood the President to have said was that in as much she would want to appear, at the same time would write a book cataloging her roles in the crisis with proceed going to charity. I don’t think it was in any way intended to denounce or undermine the effectiveness of the commission as mentioned by Mr. Dukuly. I stand to be corrected.
Drawing the distinction, unlike President Sirleaf, for his part Senator Prince Johnson made it crystal cleared that he wouldn’t appear for any hearing. He boosted that he wins the support and admiration of his constituency. He added further “I have sought the forgiveness from the Doe Family”. Since then and in the wake of the inability of the Commission to utilize her subpoena power the commission has been relegated as a toothless bull dog. Consequently, let it be noted that none of the big fishes would be prepared to appear. Granted this hurdle was overcome, we could end up bringing the like of “Dr. Amos Sawyer, Dr. H. Boima Fambullah and other white collar rebels. We hope that it doesn’t reach that level wherein a Pandora is opened that could eat many of the political messiahs. Let be mindful in casting our attacks.
Concluding:
We commend the leadership in Liberia for the diplomatic initiatives that led to the successful historical journey. It is our hope that Liberians will rally around the President in germinating the dividend accrued from the tripe. For the TRC, I think it has failed to live up to the expectation as enshrines by its framers. There is a need to have its tattered or go back to the drawing board for a non-partisan and not polarized commission that would win the confidence and admiration of Liberians and non-Liberians alike.
We want to hear your thoughts @Varfley1@yahoo.com or (215)-666-2506—PA USA
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