There aren't many prominent Americans willing to speak up for Charles Taylor, whose rise to power and subsequent rule have ravaged Liberia and destabilized large chunks of West Africa. But Pat Robertson has never followed the herd. In recent weeks, the TV preacher has attacked the Bush administration for undermining Taylor's government. "This country [Liberia] has had a close relationship with the United States over the years, but, of late, the last, oh, four, five, six years, the United States State Department has tried as hard as it can to destabilize Liberia and to bring about the very outcome we're seeing now," Robertson complained on the June 26 broadcast of "The 700 Club," according to the group Americans United for Separation of Church and State. A few days later, Robertson told his viewers that Bush officials "haven't had an endgame, all they've wanted to do is destroy the government of Liberia, which they have succeeded in doing." A few days after that, Robertson described Taylor as "a Christian, Baptist president" whom the United States has no business forcing from power
Taylor is Robertson's business partner. In 1999, a Robertson-owned company called Freedom Gold struck a deal with Taylor's regime, which, in exchange for a 10 percent equity interest, allows it to mine for gold in southeastern Liberia. And now, if Taylor goes, so presumably does Robertson's gold mine. Taylor, for his part, seems to appreciate Robertson. Last year, at a three-day "Liberia for Jesus" rally, which a Robertson-supported preacher named John Gimenez helped organize, Taylor presented Gimenez with a ceremonial plate. "Thank you," Taylor said. "Tell Pat Robertson, and please present this to him as a token of our appreciation."
All Hail the Great Uniter 
