One of the many items slipped into the $87 billion the US Congress appropriated for Iraq operations was a two million dollar reward for the capture and trial of former Liberian president Charles Taylor. The US State Department is now saying that the money will not be used (Congress can appropriate money, but the president does not have to spend it.) However, the US said that the reward money might be used to encourage the capture of Taylor. At the moment, Nigeria is providing sanctuary for Taylor, and leaning on him to stay out of Liberian politics. Thanks to cell (and satellite) phone technology, it's possible for Taylor to retain some control over armed groups in Liberia. Taylor still controls a lot of money he stole while he was president of Liberia. Money is a weapon, and if Taylor continues to use it, America says it will use it as well.
