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O'Brien: Liberian president determined to heal war-torn country

By Soledad O'Brien
CNN

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Editor's note: Soledad O'Brien is an anchor on CNN's flagship morning program, "American Morning." O'Brien has over 18 years of television broadcasting experience and has reported on such major events as Hurricane Katrina and the London terrorism attacks in July 2005. The Harvard grad has also won a number of awards including an Emmy and the National Urban Leagues 2006 Women in Power award.

(CNN) -- To many, Liberia of recent years is a nightmare. Fourteen years of civil war and conflict has torn apart villages, displaced thousands of people and killed countless Liberians.

The cease-fire in 2003 brought an end to much of the violence, but thousands of Liberians fear for their lives and refuse to return to their country.

For one woman, Liberia is not a nightmare to run from. It is home.

Recently elected Liberian President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf has a big job ahead of her. Johnson-Sirleaf's nickname is "Iron Lady," a reference to her tough reputation, and her determination to heal her war-torn country. I've interviewed Johnson-Sirleaf twice in the past few months.

She is a grandmother, and when she speaks her voice is quiet but firm. She is optimistic when it seems there might be no reason to be.

We talked about her inauguration -- not quite one year ago. It was held outdoors, I noted. She pointed out that the weather was lovely. The real reason the ceremony was held outside: The inside was uninhabitable.

The outgoing parliamentarians had stripped the walls bare -- stealing sconces and carpets. "And desks" she added, "and chairs." But, more people could enjoy the ceremony outdoors, Johnson-Sirleaf told me. And in that anecdote one gets a clear picture of the new president -- she doesn't sugar-coat much. Yet she's hopeful and positive and optimistic, because, as she says, there really is no alternative.

The country must forgive the evil-doers to move forward, and bring whom they can to justice. What could be more inspiring? When the news broke that the Presidential Palace suffered a major fire, I was disheartened. It seems the new government can't get a break. But they are making slow progress. Streetlights work for the first time in fifteen years. There is some running water.

But if anyone will weather the difficult, it is Johnson-Sirleaf. She has a great sense of humor, and she used it to her advantage in her campaign. When her opponent spread rumors that she was too old, too sickly, Johnson-Sirleaf took to jumping up and down at her campaign stops to prove him wrong.

Winning the election was just the first challenge -- now she must repatriating the refugees, rebuilding the devastated infrastructure and repairing shattered lives of those who lost so much in war. Her first year is almost behind her, and it's not been an easy one. Johnson-Sirleaf predicted several months ago that the novelty of a woman running an African nation would wear off. Then it would come down to what she accomplishes, and how she changes the lives of her people.

The changes are critical not just to Liberians, but to it's African neighbors as well. If anyone is up to the task, Johnson-Sirleaf is.

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