As fighting intensified in Liberia, the top two Pentagon officials in the Joint Chiefs of Staff are warning about the dangers of U.S. involvement in the West African nation. This highlights a split between the State Department and Pentagon. Secretary of State Colin Powell recently called for U.S. troops to be sent soon to Liberia.

Gen. Richard B. Myers said yesterday, “It’s not a pretty situation. It’s not going to give way to any instant fix”

Representative Donald M. Payne, a New Jersey Democrat charged the top Pentagon officials with being racist for its reluctance to help Liberia. Payne said, “There’s no question, they don’t want to go near Liberia. It’s because they’re African, and they’re black, and they don’t count.”