For me, I didn’t believe that Taylor had contacts until he was arrested on 31 March 2006. It was on that day that I became convinced that Taylor really had contacts and, if Taylor had not been arrested on March 31, he would have used his contacts to develop Liberia to a stage that would have surprised Liberians and the international community. Anyway, it’s all history now. He’s behind bars! 

Then, there was also this “Madame Sirleaf has international contacts and influence.” We heard it even long before the 1997 elections. We heard it again during the 2005 elections that have made Madame Sirleaf to now occupy the highest position in the country. We have heard this saying over and over and again. However, it is now clear that Madame Sirleaf doesn’t have any international contacts and influence. 

and over that you have contacts, especially internationally contacts. This is not true, and I mean what I am saying. I don’t care whether you get angry, or not. All that I know is that you have no contacts, and there are my reasons for my conviction, nine of which are mentioned below: 

1. I think it started with your inauguration. The caliber of people that attended the program. I am not just talking about the African leaders; I am talking about the First Lady of the United States of America, Madame Laura Bush. I am also referring to the presence of the US Secretary of State, Dr. Condoleezza Rice. This didn’t happen in the case of Presidents Samuel Doe and Charles Taylor. You see, it clearly shows that you have no international contacts. Sorry!
    

2. You meet with President Bush and Secretary Rice every time you want to. In fact, I think you have met with President Bush at least twice since you won the elections about a year ago. Imagine even soft man like President Bill Clinton refusing to meet with Taylor. I heard that President Clinton grudgingly accepted to only talk with Taylor via telephone from his aircraft. Taylor never met Clinton and Bush for the many years he was President. For you, meeting any world leader is as simple as Genesis 1:1. This clearly indicates that you lack the necessary contacts. Period!
    

3. You have just spent one year in office. Usually, I think African leaders do every thing to have the opportunity to meet great people, including leaders, by traveling out of the continent. But let’s look at the caliber of people that has visited you so far. Former UN Secretary General Kofi Anna visited for a few days. The head of the World Bank Head, Paul Wolfowitz, visited you. Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz Alsaud of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia visited Liberia as a guest of the government. Billionaire and philanthropist, George Soros, accompanied by Queen Noor of Jordan, visited you. The Chinese President Hu Jintao visited you, too. The list goes on and on. I know that some people will say that Liberia was not the only country the Chinese President visited, and they would be right. But the fact that Liberia, under your leadership, was one of the countries he visited, still means something. Doesn’t all this prove that you are bereft of the international contacts others have said you have?
    

4. Madame Sirleaf, it’s not just about your knowing or meeting the VIPs mentioned supra; it is about what they are helping you with in order to achieve your goals as President of Liberia. For example, Dr. Rice has just announced America’s cancellation of Liberia’s debt in the tune of more that $390m. The Chinese President has already waived part of Liberia’s debt. You know Mr. Paul Wolfowitz personally. Now, he’s calling on all G-8 countries to cancel Liberia’s debt, and he’s campaigning here and there to achieve this goal. Mr. George Soros is a major provider of assistance to Liberia, including assistance to the Liberia Education Trust and the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. I learned that there will be more debt cancellations because all of the influential people whom you know personally and professionally are laboriously working behind the scenes on the debt cancellation campaign. We are already seeing the results. All this didn’t happen under Doe and Taylor, but they are happening under you. And you have just spent one year in office. Now you can imagine why I believe you lack the international contact that is necessary to move our country forward. I hope you understand my position.
    

5. In the 1980’s, President Doe encouraged us to pay all the money we owed America. I think he indicated that we would pay it to prove that we were able to pay it, and that we are a proud people, though we didn’t have the money, in the first place. In fact, I think there was a campaign about this “We Will Pay America’s Debt” on the radio and in the newspapers. You, instead of following Doe’ footsteps, I mean, instead of you encouraging us to pay the debt to prove that we are a proud people, even if paying it back means depriving our people of new and better schools, hospitals, roads, etc., for decades, you speak and the debt is cancelled. Indeed, you have no international influence. And I mean it!

6. After a closed-door meeting between you and Secretary Rice before the donor conference on Tuesday, 13 February 2007, she announced that plans are underway to allow American airlines to begin direct commercial flights to Liberia soon. She also revealed that Liberia and the US will soon sign the Open Skies Agreement to allow business and economic activities to flow between the two countries.  This has not happened for years. In the midst of all this, do you still expect me to believe that you really have international contacts? No Way!
    

7. During the same donor conference, Mr. Donald Kaberuka, the head of the African Development Bank (I learned he’s you friend, too.) announced that initiatives will soon be taken to cancel Liberia’s debt to the ADB. Not only that. He also announced that the ADB will provide $11m to begin the revitalization of Liberia's water system in April of this year. Besides, he indicated that the ADB will provide $10m for infrastructure and labor-related projects in Liberia. All this never happened under Taylor, though, it was said, he also had contacts. What’s going on? Listen to me, Madame Sirleaf. You don’t have any international contact and influence. That’s why all these things are happening.
    

8. You asked the African Union to waive Liberia’s debt to the organization. The AU agreed and waived the debt Liberia owed it up to 2003, an amount that is about $1.8m. Why didn’t this happen under Taylor, and it happened under your leadership? Didn’t Taylor ask, or did he ask but the organization refused his request?  It was difficult, if not impossible, under Taylor, but it’s easy under you. I won’t believe that you have contacts and influence!
    

9. There are reports that more businesses are planning to operate in Liberia, and that more institutions and individuals are willing to assist Liberia in it’s reconstruction process. The IMF has just announced that your government is on the right path and has expressed hope that the country will get better and better, and that they are willing to help you improve the country, because your economic recovery policies are good. You know most of the people in all the major financial and other institutions – World bank, IMF, UN, ADB, etc.

In spite of all this, it’s a pity that you don’t have any contacts. In fact, it’s getting obvious that you lack the international contacts and influence that we heard about many times before the 2005 elections. For example, everyone is refusing to help Liberia because of you. Foreign debts are increasing, instead of decreasing. The economy is performing badly. That’s why I am so brave to open my zipper mouth wide and declare that you have no international contacts. 

Just before sending this article for publishing, a compatriot saw it and asked, “What are you talking about again, Paul? Your usual nonsense?” 

“Actually, I am not talking about it; I am writing about it.” I remarked. 

“It doesn’t matter. You talk and write nonsense all the time.” He came back. 

“You might be right. In fact, my maternal grandmother once told me that my nickname should have been Mr. Nonsense!” I explained.