MAKING LIBERIA SAFE: TRANSFORMATION OF THE NATIONA

Liberia's new government, under President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, has made security sector transformation a high priority. The authors analyze Liberia's complex security environment, set forth an integrated security concept to guide the formation and use of those forces and new institutions to manage them, and assemble a complete security structure. They then develop specific force-structure options and discuss the cost-effectiveness of each. Finally, they suggest immediate steps toward implementation of the new security structure. These include development and coordination of detailed integrated force plans with the United States and the UN; a design and plans for a small police quick-reaction unit and small Coast Guard; attention to building court and corrections-system capacity; and consolidation, reduction, and appropriate recruiting, vetting, and training of the currently independent multiple police forces, customs, and intelligence personnel.

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