Location: DACOR Bacon House OR Online, 1801 F Street, NW, Washington, DC 20006
Event Description
Please note this is a hybrid event - you have the option to attend in person or virtually. Registrations are required for all attendees. For in-person attendees, the event will run from 12 - 2 pm and will include lunch. The live stream will begin around 1:10 pm (virtual attendees will be sent a link for the event via email).
In 2002 the Economist named Liberia, “the worst place in the world”. Not Iraq, not Afghanistan nor elsewhere— but warlord President Charles Taylor’s Liberia. In Liberia alone, about 250,000 had already died in its 13 year civil war. Further, Liberia was the epicenter of violence in West Africa, exporting terrifying slaughter to Sierra Leone, Guinea, and Cote d’Ivoire. Whole countries, including Liberia, were decimated. And then, things deteriorated.
By 2003 two separate, ethnically distinct rebel armies were marching on Liberia’s capital of Monrovia. Their goals: kill Charles Taylor, sack the city, exact wholesale revenge and seize power. Hundreds of thousands of displaced had fled the fighting and were jammed into Monrovia; with around one and one-half million people surrounded and at risk of being massacred. By June all embassies excepting that of the United States had closed, most all foreigners had long departed, but Taylor clung to power despite repeated demands from African heads of states, President Bush and many others to step down and leave Liberia.
Meanwhile, the United States had just invaded Iraq and was at war in Afghanistan. The Pentagon, especially Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld, was adamant U.S. Embassy Monrovia close down immediately and evacuate all personnel. Most in State Department concurred that it was hopeless. The rebels commenced bombarded of the entire city, and the embassy was hit repeated by both heavy mortar fire and thousands of stray rounds from nearby battles, with some directed fire as well. Embassy defenses were puny.
How was this conflict ended successfully, despite everything? How did a critical ceasefire and dreadful post-conflict situation get converted into a lasting peace of 22 years? What takeaways should be kept in mind when trying to end other complex conflict situations elsewhere?
Join Ambassador John Blaney at a fireside chat to discuss this remarkable 21st century victory, look for broader insights on conflict resolution, and how better to convert ceasefires into lasting peace.
Ambassador Blaney is best known for leading U.S. actions that were decisive in ending Liberia’s long civil war in 2003. With Washington divided on what to do, Blaney risked crossing no man’s land just as the rebel army LURD was about to storm Liberia’s capital city, successfully negotiating on the battlefield a crucial ceasefire, permissive deployment of peacekeepers and a withdrawal of the rebels. This rejuvenated formal peace negotiations in Ghana, and the Comprehensive Peace Agreement was completed a few weeks later. Secretary Colin Powell awarded him The Secretary’s Distinguished Service Award for his actions. Blaney was also a principal architect and implementer of Liberia’s successful post-war strategy to ensure a lasting peace.
Previous diplomatic assignments include: Chief of Mission in South Africa, (where Blaney worked with Nelson Mandela on issues like conflict resolution, South Africa’s response to terrorism following 9/11, and HIV/AIDs); Director for Southern African Affairs at the State Department; presidential designation as U.S. Deputy Representative at the ECOSOC and head of sanctions at the United Nations; Minister-Counselor at U.S. Embassy Moscow (as the Soviet Union was disintegrating); positions working on several nuclear arms control negotiations with the Soviet Union (including principal drafter and a negotiator of the U.S.-USSR Nuclear Risk Reduction Centers Agreement); Legislative Assistant to the Chairman of the House Armed Service Committee (and in the Senate), and as an economist at State Department and the U.S. Treasury. He has received numerous presidential, State Department and other agency awards as well as foreign decorations, including Liberia’s Order of Redemption Knight Great Band.
Blaney is the author/editor of Successor States to the USSR (CQ Books, 1995) and several journal articles including “The Art of Strategy Creation for Complex Situations” (NDU’s PRISM 5-3, and elsewhere). Blaney began his career as a U.S. Army officer in 1971. He holds an MSFS Degree from Georgetown University.
After retiring from government, Blaney was a country risk briefer on Wall Street and was Co-Chairman of Deloitte’s Luminary Board. Currently, he is the CEO of Bridge of Gold Entertainment, LLC. He is married to Robin-Suppe Blaney.
