The fascinating aspect of today's Liberian politics is its unorthodoxy and glaring contradictions. The much-expected bilateral aid has been denied no matter how loud Taylor cried for American generosity. In the 1980s, he and others plundered America's millions given to the junta his rebels later overthrew. Now, in place of the expected reward for the economic malaise he created and the dismantling of key industries, selling industrial equipment to countries like Burkina Faso to finance his war and swell his pockets, the Americans are nowhere marching in with the millions. Liberia, founded by freed American slaves, is perhaps the only South-Saharan country whose officials are officially barred from entering the United States.
Perceived enemies are everywhere.
At the dedicatory program of the newly renovated boys dormitory at the University of Liberia, the President told faculty members, students, journalists, etc. He further accused the Americans and the British, along with some of his cabinet ministers, of plotting to assassinate him. Believing in these imaginary plots, his luxury homes are left empty at night as he opts for more dingy hideouts in the elusive search for safety to save his neck. American visa restrictions imposed on the president, his family, supporters, officials and their families have led to a stampede of government functionaries replacing their diplomatic passports with ordinary ones. The prevailing feeling among ordinary Liberians is that the restrictions are fair, since all of us now have nowhere to run when hell breaks lose.