Old Lady, Mama President, Thanks for your efforts. We have nothing in Liberia and we should never eat crab with shame. Any invitation or opportunity you are extended please use it to beg for the good of Liberia. Liberia has been exporting pure natural rubber and ion ore before the oldest man in Liberia was born but we are yet to produce one 'tipoteh' or everyday slippers and ordinary eating spoon. Our people say, 'since J. J. Roberts time' we have been eating rice but we are yet to produce a bag of rice despite the fact we have some of the richest soil on the continent. If Gaddafi keeps his promise to help us produce rice on a mechanized basis and set up a rubber production plant it will be the greatest thing any government of Liberia would have achieved over the past 161 years. Well done, Ma. Keep on begging till Liberia gets on her feet.

Isn't this ironic and suspicious? A desert nation helping a tropic rainforest one with farming. I never heard of Libya being a high rice producing country or spearding it's research. What really is this 30 million dollars for? Secondly, whether one thinks that those warlords who have helped bring anarchy to Liberia are lying in their statements or not, the one thing they all agree on is that Libya, Bokina Faso and the Ivory Coast all helped in distabilizing Liberia; especially Libya. Has the Liberian leader demanded retributions or at least apologies from these nations or we must once again forgive for the sake of peace? This elusive peace that Liberians have sacrificed so greatly for and yet have not been able to attained: from the nearly a century and half of Americo-Liberians and Congo rule to the almost ten years of Doe's dictatorship, from appeasing a warlord by electing him president to now electing those who financed him (the warlord) as head of state, cabinet ministers and law makers; instead of putting them where they belong- under the jail or ground or both. Those who have died since Liberia's independence, for the sake of peace, must be turning over in their graves; and they say it's not possible for one to die twice.

Look CHAPPIE, this does not only sound ironic but also paradoxical. I want to use this time to bring to your attention some facts about Libya. Libya is 90% desert and less than 8% of its land is arable(meaning can grow food). This is the important thing, there is maximum agricultural production on this 7% arable land through mechanized farming in Libya. This is the area in which they want to help us, mechanized agricultural production. With our tropical rain forest and fertile soil, we have not been able to produce a bag of rice over the past 161 years. Is this something to be proud of, 'Mr Tropical Rain Forest'. Back yard garden cannot sustain the nation food production. Another thing you should know is that Libya has great experience in water research and management. Libya has invested $25 Bil massively and constructed the underground "Great Manmade River" which is supplying water to some of these desert areas for agric purposes. Of what good is Liberia's massive water reserve if we cannot use it to feed ourselves? Libya is not mining ion ore but it has large ion and steel manufacturing plants. With all our ion ore, we have to import every piece of steel product. It is a practical fact that, for now, we have to beg to put our country back on its feet. Lets make use of any GOOD thing that comes from friends. This is the reality we are faced with and we must live with it. Mama President, please keep on begging and what you are given should be used wisely for the general good of Liberia. God bless you and God bless L-I-B-E-R-I-A.

Mr Think Twice

Tonyhammaw, I admire your argument and you raised some valid points, however, I believe you either missed the point I was trying to make or I didn't make myself clear enough. There something that is also going with Libya and another country- United States of America. Libya has been trying for the longest time now to enter the world stage and become a major actor. But its path has been blocked continuously by the U.S. and its allies because of Libya's past deeds; meaningly, the sponsoring of terrorists. U.S. has made perfectly clear that in order for Libya to join the constellation of nations on the world stage, it must, among other things, renounce terrorism, give up its nuclear ambitions and pay retributions to the victims of its terrorist past. Libya, as you may already know, has given up on its nuclear ambitions and is in the process of paying retribution to the victims of the bombing of a PanAm flight over Lockerbie, Scotland. Libya, on the other hand, has also demanded that the United States pay retributions to the victims of its failed attempt to assassinate the Libyan Leader in 1988; America is in the process of yielding to Libya's demands. In fact, as I write, American firms are setting up shops in Tripoli and the U.S. Secretary of State is also planning a trip to Libya in order to resume normal economic and political relations with the African nation. Now, I'm quite certain that the damages and lives loss by the Americans as a result of Libyan terror, as tragic and devastating as they were, cannot compare to the carnage sponsored by Libya in Liberia. Why is it, then, that your Ma Ellen is so eager to renew diplomatic and economic ties with Libya without any expressed remorse, retribution or a simple apology from anyone in Gadafi's Administration? Or did it happen when I was not paying attention? I understand that Liberia does not power or resources to demand or block anything from Libya, at the same time, Liberia does not have to do business with Libya, or does it? wink!!

My dear Tonyhammaw, you have missed the point. Not every offer that is extended to Ellen Johnson Sirleaf she accepts and takes. There are lots of offers out there that have dangerous string attached to. Moreover, you and other Liberians who do not know the activities of col. Kadafi need to learn that Kadafif is one of the principles who brought Liberia to its needs today. The training and financing of Liberia's war was from Libya. Mr Tonyhammaw, be well of wolf in sheep clothing. Kadafi has some different motives for south sahara africa. While it is true that Libya produces a substantial among of food , this is not really done by Libyians but rather americans. If Liberia realy needs to get into a mechanize farming to feed its people,she has to turn to private farmers in america, Israel or better say developed world. Liberia saw this process taking root under the late Tolbert's administration. Agrimeco, an Israeli group, for example, was transfroming Liberia's agricultural sector. This group was driven out of Liberia because of african solidarity with the Arabs during the 1973 crisis with Israel.Once again, be mindful of certin advancements in some quartgers.