February 8, 2006, David Crane, chief prosecutor for the Special Court for Sierra Leone appeared before the Subcommittee on Africa Global Human Rights and International Operations, a committee of the International Relations, United States House of Representatives. Crane asked Congress to push Nigeria to surrender former Liberian exiled President Charles Taylor to the Special Court to answer to war crimes charges. But Crane had much to advise the United States Government about moving forward in Liberia: “First, hand Charles Taylor over to the Special Court for Sierra Leone for a fair trial. This takes him out of the local and regional dynamic that is West Africa. This has to happen first and now, or the rest of my suggestions and recommendations and the one you are considering for Liberia’s future will be a waste of time, money, and effort. “Second, tie any financial and political support to good governance in Liberia.”
