Statement by Senator John Kerry on Liberia - July 22, 2003

John Kerry said, "The humanitarian crisis in Liberia has become even more violent and tragic over the past few days, and it requires the immediate engagement of the international community and the United States. The Bush Administration has offered no plan to help end the increasing violence in spite of the pleas of the people of Liberia and the community of nations for the United States to demonstrate leadership.

Taking act in Liberia is the right thing to do, not only because of our special historical link to the country, but because failing states pose a direct threat to our national security. If we've learned anything from watching failed states in Afghanistan turn into terrorist hotbeds, we should know that it's in our security interests to respond to the chaos in Liberia before another breeding ground for terrorism and transnational crimes is created.

We must halt this cycle of death by working in partnership with the global community, instead of turning away as the Bush Administration has done again and again."