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American Morning

Liberian Crisis: U.S. Advance Team

Aired July 07, 2003 - 08:31   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: A U.S. military advance team arrived in Liberia about 90 minutes ago. They are the eyes and ears of the Pentagon and the White House ahead of any decision to send a larger American peacekeeping force.
John W. Blaney is the U.S. Ambassador to Liberia. He's live in Monrovia to talk about this mission.

Mr. Ambassador, thanks for your time, first off. And second, tell us at the outset what will this small team do, this small team of Americans do there in that country?

JOHN W. BLANEY, U.S. AMBASSADOR TO LIBERIA: Well, they're here to survey the humanitarian situation in Liberia, which is quite serious. We'll be taking them around to hospitals, to camps where there are displaced people and people on the run from the fighting so they can get a firsthand look at the situation on the ground.

HEMMER: Is there a need, Mr. Ambassador, for U.S. troops at the moment right now, perhaps immediately, to make sure that aid gets to the people who need it?

BLANEY: Well, that's a decision that the president of the United States will make. Our mission here right now is to just provide the information and the access for this team to take a look strictly at the humanitarian situation. They'll be going to hospitals. They'll be going to these camps. They'll be meeting with non-governmental organizations and other experts in the humanitarian area in Liberia.

HEMMER: What have you recommended to the White House and the president?

BLANEY: Well, we have made some recommendations, but I am not in the habit of trying to box in or preempt my president's decisions, and he'll be making his own conclusions on what to do in terms of U.S. troops or an international stabilization force. But let me just say, if I may, that I do think that the president has done a lot to put impetus behind a change in leadership, which is needed in Liberia, and also to underline the importance of the cease-fire and emphasize the need to do something about a very serious humanitarian situation.

HEMMER: There are reports that the president of Liberia will go possibly to Nigeria. Will that happen?

BLANEY: I do not know. I do know that Obasanjo was here yesterday, and Mr. Taylor, President Taylor announced that he would accept the offer, invitation of Obasanjo. Whether he will actually take it up and go remains to be seen.

HEMMER: Yes. Mr. Ambassador, for the people there in Liberia who need the help and need it fast, how far is that situation right now from any sense of stability?

BLANEY: Well, it's not a very stable situation. What you have are two different rebel armies in various parts of Liberia, along with the governing forces that, at this particular time, do not have a clear, verified lines of demarcation between their troops. So as a consequence, there's a bumping around of troop units that can be quite dangerous. And the minute that happens, of course, the people go back on the run to try to get away from the fighting.

The joint verification team should be arriving soon. This is an ECHO WATTS (ph) team whose job it will be to verify the cease-fire and begin to try to cement this cease-fire. It's extremely important.

HEMMER: Yes. And finally, sir, in your estimation right now, if U.S. troops came to Liberia, could they, indeed, keep the peace there, or is this a situation that may continue to unravel as American troops put their lives on the line in western Africa?

BLANEY: Well, I think the capability -- I think American troops are capable of just about anything, but the decision is up to the president. I think there is a need for greater stability and I think I'll let it go there.

HEMMER: Ambassador John Blaney, thank you for your time, live there in Monrovia, the capital city in Liberia.

BLANEY: Thank you.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com







Aired July 7, 2003 - 08:31   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
BILL HEMMER, CNN ANCHOR: A U.S. military advance team arrived in Liberia about 90 minutes ago. They are the eyes and ears of the Pentagon and the White House ahead of any decision to send a larger American peacekeeping force.
John W. Blaney is the U.S. Ambassador to Liberia. He's live in Monrovia to talk about this mission.

Mr. Ambassador, thanks for your time, first off. And second, tell us at the outset what will this small team do, this small team of Americans do there in that country?

JOHN W. BLANEY, U.S. AMBASSADOR TO LIBERIA: Well, they're here to survey the humanitarian situation in Liberia, which is quite serious. We'll be taking them around to hospitals, to camps where there are displaced people and people on the run from the fighting so they can get a firsthand look at the situation on the ground.

HEMMER: Is there a need, Mr. Ambassador, for U.S. troops at the moment right now, perhaps immediately, to make sure that aid gets to the people who need it?

BLANEY: Well, that's a decision that the president of the United States will make. Our mission here right now is to just provide the information and the access for this team to take a look strictly at the humanitarian situation. They'll be going to hospitals. They'll be going to these camps. They'll be meeting with non-governmental organizations and other experts in the humanitarian area in Liberia.

HEMMER: What have you recommended to the White House and the president?

BLANEY: Well, we have made some recommendations, but I am not in the habit of trying to box in or preempt my president's decisions, and he'll be making his own conclusions on what to do in terms of U.S. troops or an international stabilization force. But let me just say, if I may, that I do think that the president has done a lot to put impetus behind a change in leadership, which is needed in Liberia, and also to underline the importance of the cease-fire and emphasize the need to do something about a very serious humanitarian situation.

HEMMER: There are reports that the president of Liberia will go possibly to Nigeria. Will that happen?

BLANEY: I do not know. I do know that Obasanjo was here yesterday, and Mr. Taylor, President Taylor announced that he would accept the offer, invitation of Obasanjo. Whether he will actually take it up and go remains to be seen.

HEMMER: Yes. Mr. Ambassador, for the people there in Liberia who need the help and need it fast, how far is that situation right now from any sense of stability?

BLANEY: Well, it's not a very stable situation. What you have are two different rebel armies in various parts of Liberia, along with the governing forces that, at this particular time, do not have a clear, verified lines of demarcation between their troops. So as a consequence, there's a bumping around of troop units that can be quite dangerous. And the minute that happens, of course, the people go back on the run to try to get away from the fighting.

The joint verification team should be arriving soon. This is an ECHO WATTS (ph) team whose job it will be to verify the cease-fire and begin to try to cement this cease-fire. It's extremely important.

HEMMER: Yes. And finally, sir, in your estimation right now, if U.S. troops came to Liberia, could they, indeed, keep the peace there, or is this a situation that may continue to unravel as American troops put their lives on the line in western Africa?

BLANEY: Well, I think the capability -- I think American troops are capable of just about anything, but the decision is up to the president. I think there is a need for greater stability and I think I'll let it go there.

HEMMER: Ambassador John Blaney, thank you for your time, live there in Monrovia, the capital city in Liberia.

BLANEY: Thank you.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com