"Africa has always been on the bottom of the list as far as America's priorities," said Maria Nzomo, director of the Institute of Diplomacy and International Studies at the University of Nairobi. "How is this president going to help us?" That would be the wrong question to ask. The correct question would be, "How is the president going to help us help ourselves?”

With all the tongue wagging we are hearing from the mainstream media and the liberal-left about what we have to do for Liberia, what we are obligated to commit ourselves to, it should be pointed out that the last time we were on the Continent of Africa on a peacekeeping mission we were greeted by throngs of Somalis who not only massacred our troops but dragged the body of one of our soldiers through the streets of Mogadishu. They did this while desecrating it in every way imaginable. This is what we would be opening ourselves up to should we not weigh the consequences of commitment on the African Continent.

Of course, it is not in the nature of the United States to stand idle while turmoil envelops a country that is considered friendly. The country of Liberia is just such a country. But the issue remains, is it necessary for the United States to put boots on the ground there in order to rectify the situation? It seems not too long ago that the liberal-left in this country was screaming from every venue it could find that we should only intervene in the matters of other countries through the United Nations and even then we should be critical of committing our young men and women to efforts that could put their lives in harms way.

While the British and French have spearheaded the UN peacekeeping efforts in Sierra Leone and Ivory Coast it should be noted that most of these operations are heavily funded by the United States. So, while we have no military presence in those areas we certainly do have something to do with them. In fact, most of the UN peacekeeping contingents around the world are heavily funded by the United States with many of them also receiving military aid both logistical and physical. Compound this with the flood of charitable relief that comes directly from the American people and the new health initiatives enacted by President Bush and the picture becomes much clearer as to how we are helping our African friends. To say that the US is doing nothing to help the people of the African Nations would be to spin the truth. This is what the mainstream media is doing by saying we are doing nothing. This is what the liberal-left is suggesting when they say we have a duty to act.

The larger and more crucial issue here is how do we help these nations to help themselves? Each nation is different, no doubt, but there are some key elements that can be addressed that would go a long way to affording these nations people the opportunity to grow into more positive and productive states.

Terrorism. The infection of terrorism in Africa is blatantly obvious. Al Qaida, sans the Afghan outlet and with Pakistan becoming increasingly less hospitable, has an incredible presence in many countries on the Continent. Sudan for one is a huge harbor for the terrorist group and the Horn of Africa is rift with terrorist camps and headquarters. Eliminating the freedoms that terror organizations enjoy today from the African Continent would go a long way to enabling the people of Africa to become more prosperous in their freedoms and their opportunities. In most every country where terrorism exists freely the people are oppressed. This even stands true in some of the oil rich nations that turn a blind eye to terrorism. If you question that I suggest you talk to the women of those nations.

Corruption. Too many African nations are led by corrupt governments. These governments not only oppress the people of their nations but in some cases employ tactics of control that actively work against their people. During the Somali mission that government would allow food to rot at the off-loading points rather than allow their starving people access to the life-saving sustenance simply to exert power over their people. This is not uncommon in many African nations headed by the corrupt and the power-hungry. Food, in many places in Africa, is used as a weapon. Another tool of the corrupt African leader (although this can be seen around the world as well) is the kickback, the bribe. African nations that are oil rich often see portions of the profits delivered to the governments so a blind eye is turned to employment practices, work conditions and profit manipulation. Where an oil rich nation could have a prosperous economy benefiting all of its citizens many times the opposite is true; the government officials and the company owners prosper while the populace starves.

So, while our mainstream media and our liberal-left pontificate on the many reasons we, the United States, should place our young men and women in harms way yet again, we should be quick to point out to them that people can only be helped if they want to be helped. Part of wanting to be helped is the willingness to bear the larger part of the burden for bettering the situation that is unacceptable. In this case the burden that rests on their shoulders is to become actively involved in the eradication of terrorism and corruption on a local level. It has been done before and it can be done again.

While I believe that the people in mass of Africa long for the freedoms that are enjoyed in many places around the world it cannot simply be given to them. One needs only to reflect on the American Revolution to understand the price that many paid for the freedom that we enjoy today. We helped ourselves with the precious little aid offered from foreign countries. If we can do it then it is proves it can be done.

Frank Salvato is a political media consultant and the managing editor for The New Media Journal.us. He is a contributing writer for The Washington Dispatch, GOPUSA, OpinionEditorials, Men’s News Daily, Canada Free Press & AmericanDaily. His pieces are regularly featured in Townhall.com. He has appeared as a guest on The O’Reilly Factor, The Kevin Matthews Radio Show (Chicago) and The Brad Messer Radio Show (San Antonio). His pieces have been recognized by the Japan Center for Conflict Prevention and are occasionally featured in The Washington Times and The London Morning Paper as well as other national and international publications.