In a rare address to both houses of the U.S. Congress, new Liberian President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf expressed gratitude to the United States for its role in helping end the civil war that engulfed her country in recent years. Washington's intervention "paved the way for a United Nations force that secured our peace and guaranteed free and fair elections," Johnson-Sirleaf told lawmakers. "All the Liberian people sent me here to thank you for that vision. Our triumph over evil is also your triumph." Johnson-Sirleaf praised President George W. Bush's for his role against former Liberian dictator Charles Taylor, saying the U.S. president's "strong resolve and public condemnation and appropriate action forced a tyrant into exile." Hundreds of millions of dollars in U.S. aid "laid the foundation for a durable peace, not only in Liberia, but in the whole West African sub-region," Johnson-Sirleaf said.
