U.S. Will "Be Involved" in Liberia to Keep Peace

Bush Says U.S. Will "Be Involved" in Liberia to Keep Peace

(White House Report, July 9)

President Bush said July 9 that the United States will "be involved" in war-torn Liberia but said he "won't over-extend" U.S. troops if he decides to send them there to keep the peace.

"We do have assessment teams there to assess what is necessary to help with the transition," Bush said. "Yes, we'll be involved. And we're now determining the extent of our involvement."

Bush made the comments at a press availability with South African President Thabo Mbeki in Pretoria.

The United States, Bush said, has "made a commitment" that it "will work closely with the United Nations and ECOWAS [Economic Community Of West African States] to enforce the cease-fire, see to it that Mr. Taylor [Liberian President Charles Taylor] leaves office, so that there can be a peaceful transition in Liberia."

Bush spoke during the second day of a five-day, five-country African tour. He visited Senegal July 8 and after his stop in South Africa travels to Botswana, Uganda and Nigeria.

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