Just a few days after posting on the situation in Liberia, International Crisis Group and Human Rights Watch put out reports on the situation and the ptoblems of US waffling on committing troops:
These reports underline the need to support the peace effort in order to promote regional security. According to ICG:
West Africa contains large numbers of small arms and is home to a floating population of veterans from multiple conflicts who are available to fight for anyone who will pay and give a license to loot.
Several countries along the West African coast are under the supervision of UN forces: France in Ivory Coast and Britain in Sierra Leone. The US needs to improve its position in Liberia and coordinate with France and Britain in order to prevent the flow of soldiers and arms. One disturbing assertion is that peacekeepers from Guinea who are stationed in Sierra Leone are allowing a flow of arms into Liberia.
The other part of these reports that should be troubling is the quality of the coalition government that is forming. The rebel leaders are taking up state offices and using them to exploit state resources. These "warlords" are converting their military power into economic exploitation. Without a strong international presence, these rebels will be entrenched in their exploitation.
