Grinder
14 August 2003, 18:50
By Kathleen T. Rhem
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Aug. 13, 2003 - Roughly 200 more American
troops could move into the West African nation of Liberia
in coming days if rebel forces keep their pledge to move
out of the country's capital city. About 100 American
service members are currently in Liberia.
Rebel forces from the group Liberians United for
Reconciliation and Democracy have pledged to move out of
Monrovia's main port Aug. 14. If that goes as scheduled,
military forces from the Economic Community of West African
States are expected to request help from American forces
working for Joint Task Force Liberia, Pentagon officials
said today.
About 2,500 U.S. Marines are standing by aboard the USS Iwo
Jima Amphibious Ready Group off the coast of Liberia. But
officials said relatively few of these forces are likely to
be called to assist the West African forces, called ECOMIL
for "ECOWAS Mission in Liberia."
"Joint Task Force Liberia is in place to assist ECOMIL
forces to achieve a stable environment so that humanitarian
assistance can be provided to the people of Liberia and
also to facilitate the transition to a U.N.-led
international peacekeeping operation," Air Force Lt. Gen.
Norton Schwartz said in a Pentagon press briefing today.
Schwartz, operations director for the Joint Staff,
explained that such assistance is likely to come in the
form of a 150-member ground-based quick reaction force and
a port assessment by American military engineers and Navy
SEAL divers.
ECOMIL currently has a 746-man-strong battalion of Nigerian
soldiers on the ground in Liberia. These forces are mainly
staged at Monrovia's airport. A second Nigerian battalion
is expected to start arriving in country at the end of this
week, Schwartz said.
When the second Nigerian battalion is in place, the general
explained, the American QRF is expected to move from a
ground-based staging area to a sea-based posture.
Even during the short period this QRF is expected to be in
Liberia, their role will be very limited. The QRF is not
there in a security role, Schwartz stressed. They're merely
standing by to provide "a reaction capability if something
unexpected occurs with regard to an ECOMIL unit, and only .
to stabilize the tactical situation so that (the ECOMIL
forces) can restart their mission."
The first order of business for the ECOMIL troops will be
to secure the port to facilitate safe transit of
humanitarian goods. A U.N. World Food Program ship carrying
fuel oil and food aid is in the region, Schwartz said. Any
assistance the Americans provide will solely be to ensure
the success of ECOMIL's mission, Acting Assistant Defense
Secretary for Public Affairs Lawrence Di Rita said during
the briefing with Schwartz.
"The objective is to let the Nigerian forces continue with
stabilizing key areas of the city that are needed for the
reinstatement of humanitarian operations," Di Rita said.
American forces will likely provide an aerial escort for
any large-scale movement of ECOMIL forces from the city's
airport to the port. Such an escort could come in the form
of fixed-wing aircraft, such as Marine AV-8B Harriers, or
helicopters, including UH-1N Hueys and AH-1W Super Cobras,
Schwartz said.
The general also noted it's likely that ECOMIL units moving
to the port would include U.S. Marines in a liaison
capacity. Also, U.S. engineers will conduct a port
assessment, and SEALS have already begun a preliminary
survey of obstacles in the port's waterway.
American Forces Press Service
WASHINGTON, Aug. 13, 2003 - Roughly 200 more American
troops could move into the West African nation of Liberia
in coming days if rebel forces keep their pledge to move
out of the country's capital city. About 100 American
service members are currently in Liberia.
Rebel forces from the group Liberians United for
Reconciliation and Democracy have pledged to move out of
Monrovia's main port Aug. 14. If that goes as scheduled,
military forces from the Economic Community of West African
States are expected to request help from American forces
working for Joint Task Force Liberia, Pentagon officials
said today.
About 2,500 U.S. Marines are standing by aboard the USS Iwo
Jima Amphibious Ready Group off the coast of Liberia. But
officials said relatively few of these forces are likely to
be called to assist the West African forces, called ECOMIL
for "ECOWAS Mission in Liberia."
"Joint Task Force Liberia is in place to assist ECOMIL
forces to achieve a stable environment so that humanitarian
assistance can be provided to the people of Liberia and
also to facilitate the transition to a U.N.-led
international peacekeeping operation," Air Force Lt. Gen.
Norton Schwartz said in a Pentagon press briefing today.
Schwartz, operations director for the Joint Staff,
explained that such assistance is likely to come in the
form of a 150-member ground-based quick reaction force and
a port assessment by American military engineers and Navy
SEAL divers.
ECOMIL currently has a 746-man-strong battalion of Nigerian
soldiers on the ground in Liberia. These forces are mainly
staged at Monrovia's airport. A second Nigerian battalion
is expected to start arriving in country at the end of this
week, Schwartz said.
When the second Nigerian battalion is in place, the general
explained, the American QRF is expected to move from a
ground-based staging area to a sea-based posture.
Even during the short period this QRF is expected to be in
Liberia, their role will be very limited. The QRF is not
there in a security role, Schwartz stressed. They're merely
standing by to provide "a reaction capability if something
unexpected occurs with regard to an ECOMIL unit, and only .
to stabilize the tactical situation so that (the ECOMIL
forces) can restart their mission."
The first order of business for the ECOMIL troops will be
to secure the port to facilitate safe transit of
humanitarian goods. A U.N. World Food Program ship carrying
fuel oil and food aid is in the region, Schwartz said. Any
assistance the Americans provide will solely be to ensure
the success of ECOMIL's mission, Acting Assistant Defense
Secretary for Public Affairs Lawrence Di Rita said during
the briefing with Schwartz.
"The objective is to let the Nigerian forces continue with
stabilizing key areas of the city that are needed for the
reinstatement of humanitarian operations," Di Rita said.
American forces will likely provide an aerial escort for
any large-scale movement of ECOMIL forces from the city's
airport to the port. Such an escort could come in the form
of fixed-wing aircraft, such as Marine AV-8B Harriers, or
helicopters, including UH-1N Hueys and AH-1W Super Cobras,
Schwartz said.
The general also noted it's likely that ECOMIL units moving
to the port would include U.S. Marines in a liaison
capacity. Also, U.S. engineers will conduct a port
assessment, and SEALS have already begun a preliminary
survey of obstacles in the port's waterway.