Liberian President Roberts is seen as too non-aligned, and he appears to be drawing his nation away from its traditional United States sphere of influence-a dangerous strategy in the 1970s during the Cold War. Maxwell Forkpa and Samuel Dahn, two young and dashing military men, are influenced by the Americans to overthrow the civilian government. Capitalizing on historical divisions between the Settlers and tribal Liberians, the successful coup is initially welcomed by the vast majority of Liberians, especially when the coup makers pledge to return the country to civilian rule.

Soon, the...