Jesse Jackson calls on U.S. to lead Liberia peacekeeping

The Rev. Jesse Jackson said Sunday the United States has a "moral and legal obligation" to take the lead in a peacekeeping mission to war-torn Liberia.

The United States should negotiate asylum for the West African country's president, Charles Taylor, a former warlord blamed for 14 years of violent conflict, and, along with the United Nations, should commit troops to the region, Jackson said.

"Clearly, the U.S. has a moral and a legal obligation ... to fight for Liberia's stability as they fought for ours," Jackson said. "We have betrayed Liberia through our silence."

Jackson spoke following a sermon he gave to the members of the Macedonia Baptist Church in Pittsburgh's Hill District. He is in town this week as part of the National Urban League conference at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center, Pittsburgh.

The United States played a major role in the creation of Liberia in 1847. The country was founded by former slaves. Jackson said in World War I and World War II, Liberia was a close ally of the United States.

Rebels attacking the Liberian capital of Monrovia have waged a three-year insurgency to drive out Taylor.

The Bush administration has said it will not put U.S. troops ashore until after Taylor leaves. Taylor said he will not leave until peacekeepers arrive.

"He will not leave because Bush says 'Go' and waves his hand," Jackson said. "He must be negotiated out."

Jackson said that while the United States has focused its policy and resources on the Middle East, Africa has languished.

"We are looking at Africa through the lens of race. We deserve a better, more consistent, more coherent foreign policy," he said. "There is a plan to reconstruct Iraq, a plan to reconstruct Afghanistan. What about a plan to reconstruct Liberia, our longest historical military and trading ally?"