GBARNGA, Bong County, Aug. 21 -- In the streets, communities and political circles of Bong County, the detention Wednesday of former Vice President Jewel Howard-Taylor has opened a new chapter in a political story that stretches from the civil war years to the highest office in Liberia.

By Selma Lomax, selma.lomax@frontpageafricaonline.com & Webster Clayeh

For a county that once gave Howard-Taylor two consecutive mandates to represent it in the Liberian Senate, later rallied behind the political ticket that carried her to the vice presidency and watched her influence produce other elected officials, her current predicament has been met with emotions ranging from disbelief and sadness to defiance, caution and demands for evidence.

Howar...