Commentary: Going to Liberia
By JAMES C. BENNETT, United Press International
Let's cut to the chase and skip a few introductory paragraphs . . . [see url for cut verbiage].
Instead, it is worth considering a long-term U.S. presence under a structure that would permit the establishment of a genuinely functional civil society. Such a structure would permit America to stay for a sufficiently long time, announced in advance, so as to discourage any parties from planning on burying the guns and waiting it out. Under this structure, Liberians, once enjoying civil peace, would be able to restart their economy and gradually build up institutions of self-government on a local, regional, and eventually national basis.
Possibly a cantonal government, in which each ethnic region was able to assume almost all functions of government locally, could provide a formula that minimizes ethnic strife will permitting effective self-government fairly rapidly, could be tried. Revenues from diamonds and other natural resources might be placed into a national trust fund, which then would be shared out among individual citizens and cantonal governments, thus making control of the national government a less lucrative prize to tempt ethnic groups to seize as a prize.
The U.S. government should explore mechanisms similar to the Compacts of Free Association that exist between the United States and the Republics of Palau, the Marshall Islands, and the Federated States of Micronesia. These Republics were once German colonies in the Pacific. After World War I, they became Mandates of Japan (an Allied power in that war) under the League of Nations, and then, after World War II, Trust Territories of the United States under U.N. auspices.
Upon termination of Trust Territory status, the republics signed the compacts with the United States. Under the compacts, the United States handles certain specified functions for the associated states, but they enjoy effective independence otherwise. They also enjoy some tax benefits for U.S. investment, which has stimulated local economies.
A temporary Compact of Free Association, to be reviewed after, say, 25 years, might well give Liberians the period of guaranteed social peace they need to reconstruct their society. For the United States, it would permit its forces a clearer basis of authority and a more-realistic scope of action than permissible under U.N. peacekeeping rules. It would also guarantee the stability and transparent government services needed to attract investment.
Until now, such a proposal would have been considered unthinkable, given the inevitable charges of colonialism that would be leveled against it. Yet similar arrangements have worked successfully with British Dependent Territories in the Caribbean, and for that matter the Associated States in the Pacific that might serve as a model. Above all, it is the fact Liberia's African neighbors themselves have been calling for U.S. intervention that may lead to such a proposal being accepted now. If nothing else, they now have a stake in the stabilization of Liberia to contain the conflict now spilling over into their own lands.
Furthermore, neither Liberia nor neighboring Sierra Leone are typical African states. Both being founded as refuges for former slaves, they developed unique Creole cultures blending peoples from many different parts of Africa, as well as, in Liberia, uniquely American traits. In this, both might be thought of more as the easternmost corners of the Caribbean, than Africa proper. Models that work in these countries would not necessarily be applied to other African nations.
America is at a moment of great leverage right now in regard to the terms of its involvement in Liberia. In forging the next link in its historical relationship in that country, it should not be afraid to examine more effective means for trying to resolve one of the most miserable situations faced by any people on earth.
Copyright 2003 by United Press International.
All rights reserved.
http://interestalert.com/brand/siteia.shtml?Story=st/sn/0707000eaaa01895.upi&Sys=mckhan&Fid=AFRICA01&Type=News&Filter=Africa