Libertarians for Ron Paul » Antiwar
“Last week marked five years since President Bush’s decision to engage in
preemptive war against Iraq (or more accurately, preventive war, since there was no imminent threat to thwart; rather its purpose was to prevent a potential threat that had not yet emerged from materializing – even though there was no concrete evidence that such a threat would, in fact, materialize). Speaking at the Pentagon, the president declared that the Iraq war was worth fighting: “Removing Saddam Hussein from power was the right decision.” The implication is that the benefit warrants the cost.”
“But five years later, the president was unable to demonstrate that the Iraq War was worth fighting by the criteria he used to justify the decision to go to war.”
Full column by Charles Pena http://www.antiwar.com/pena/?articleid=12582
On the five-year anniversary of the beginning of the U.S. invasion and occupation of Iraq, the Libertarian Party offers the following statement by Executive Director Shane Cory:
It is with a heavy heart that I woke up on March 19, 2008, in a country still at war in Iraq, now five years after it first began. It is also with great disappointment that neither Republicans nor Democrats have provided a plan to end what is shaping up to be a “forever war.” On this five-year anniversary of the invasion of Iraq, the Libertarian Party renews our call to bring American troops home without undue delay. May the courage and sacrifice of the 3,990 soldiers who have died in Iraq while serving their country never be forgotten.
The Libertarian Party is America’s third largest political party, founded in 1971 as an alternative to the two main political parties. You can find more information on the Libertarian Party by visiting www.lp.org. The Libertarian Party proudly stands for smaller government, lower taxes and more freedom.
Source: http://www.lp.org/media/article_570.shtml
Justin Logan, associate director of foreign policy studies at the Cato Institute:
“Five years ago, few predicted that the Iraq war would turn out this way. (My Cato colleagues were notable exceptions.) The war’s supporters, like Senator John McCain, the presumptive Republican nominee for president, issued endless false assurances to the American people before the war that ‘we can win an overwhelming victory in a very short period of time.’ Senator Hillary Clinton could not be bothered to read the National Intelligence Estimate on Iraq before voting to send U.S. troops into battle. The bipartisan foreign policy community in Washington that urged the American people to support this war has studiously avoided introspection over its consequences. Al Qaeda has been strengthened, Iran’s regional stature has grown, our allies have been alienated, and our adversaries have rejoiced.”
“Today, Senator McCain chortles about staying in Iraq for 100 years. The American people shrug their way to the next Britney Spears story. The sad fact is that until the American people demand more from their political leadership, there is no hope for a meaningful change in policy. In all likelihood the tenth anniversary of the Iraq war will come with U.S. troops patrolling Iraq. Perhaps that anniversary will precipitate a genuine change in policy.”
Source: http://www.cato.org/pressroom.php?display=comments&id=869
“It was supposed to be a quick war and a cheap one. Five years later, 160,000 U.S. troops are still in Iraq. And the costs keep piling up - $12 billion every month - putting a strain on an already faltering economy.”
“The United States has poured more than $500 billion into Iraq, mostly for military operations. But that figure is just a small piece of the much larger bill that taxpayers will pay in the future.”
“Because the money for the war is being borrowed, interest payments could add another $615 billion. A heavily depleted military will have to be rebuilt at a cost of $280 billion. Disability benefits and health care for Iraq war veterans, many of them severely injured, could add another half-trillion dollars over their lifetime.”
Full story http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/03/17/MNBVVL9GK.DTL
Congressman Ron Paul has used his campaign to point out the connection between interventionist foreign policy and the monetary problems caused by current government actions. Steven Horwitz has an in-depth analysis of the link between money and foreign policy in the January-February issue of The Freeman:
Former Congressman Bob Barr, now a member of the Libertarian National Committee, issued this statement after the LNC passed a resolution for withdrawal from Iraq:
“Given the lack of action by both the Democrats and Republicans to find a swift and safe conclusion to American adventurism in Iraq, it is imperative that the Libertarian Party stand resolute in its calls for ending the war without undue delay. The Libertarian Party refuses to back down on this paramount issue, even if we are the only Party standing up for the safety of our troops, the respect of our nation, and the stability of our economy. If President Bush wants this war, then he needs to go through Congress, as the Constitution requires the president to do. The lives of our troops and the wealth of our nation need protection from the adventurous whims of single individuals. Our current course of foreign policy jeopardizes the future of this great nation, and as long as the Libertarian Party has a voice, we will continue to fight to bring our men and women in uniform home as quickly and as safely as possible.”
The national Libertarian Party (LP) organization has taken their strongest position in favor of withdrawal from Iraq. At their national committee meeting yesterday in Las Vegas, the following resolution passed overwhelmingly.
WHEREAS the government of the United States should return to its historical libertarian tradition of avoiding entangling alliances, foreign quarrels, and military adventures and;
WHEREAS the armed forces of the United States have invaded Iraq, a foreign nation that neither directly attacked nor imminently threatened to attack the United States and;
WHEREAS the injustice and imprudence of this invasion cannot be undone by the continued presence of the armed forces of the United States in Iraq and;
WHEREAS the stability and security of Iraq lie outside the jurisdiction of the government of the United States;
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Libertarian Party National Committee calls on the government of the United States to withdraw the armed forces of the United States without undue delay.
“The heck with Congress’ big stimulus bill. The way to get the country out of recession — and most people think we’re in one — is to get the country out of Iraq, according to an Associated Press-Ipsos poll.”
“Pulling out of the war ranked first among proposed remedies in the survey, followed by spending more on domestic programs, cutting taxes and, at the bottom end, giving rebates to poor people in hopes they’ll spend the economy into recovery.”
“Forty-eight percent said a pullout would help fix the country’s economic problems “a great deal,” and an additional 20 percent said it would help at least somewhat.”
Full report http://tinyurl.com/2wk8zr
After Monday’s State of the Union address delivered by President George W. Bush, the Libertarian Party is renewing its call for a safe and timely troop withdrawal from Iraq. “President Bush’s State of the Union address once again emphasized his desire to remain in Iraq without any finite objective or operational goal,” says William Redpath, chairman of the Libertarian Party.
“While we are pleased to see a decline in violence in Iraq, this should by no means become a mandate for sustaining our presence in the country,” says Redpath. “We were wrong for invading Iraq, and we as a country have paid for that mistake in dollars and blood. Our obligation is not to Iraq, or any other nation in the world. Our obligation is to our soldiers: to keep them as safe as possible and to use them only in the direct defense of our nation. Each day we remain in Iraq is a rebuke of the promise we have made to the members of our Armed Forces.”
Full release: http://www.lp.org/media/article_563.shtml
Today, January 15, is the anniversary of Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday. Dr King was born on January 15, 1929 and was assassinated on April 4, 1968 in Memphis, Tennessee.
During his life he championed human rights for all Americans, and campaigned to get rights for those whose rights were abridged. And he was an early opponent of the Vietnam War, speaking out against Lyndon Johnson’s war in 1965 and periodically for the rest of his life.
Today’s campaigners for human rights owe a debt to Martin Luther King, for his courage his leadership, and his eloquence. His speech in Washington DC showed the power of his eloquence, and the strength of his dream - see for yourself
On January 16, 2007 Rep. Ron Paul joined with 417 other members of Congress to urge Americans to observe the Birthday of Dr. King and to celebrate his life and legacy
http://www.govtrack.us/congress/vote.xpd?vote=h2007-24