I can think of no better way to tell you that you are not a libertarian. In fact you are very anti-libertarian. I'd love the party to grow by leaps and bounds, but I'd rather have it destroyed completely if it means allowing those with your jingoistic, backward, views into the party merely for the sake of growth.
We want all the libertarians we can find, but if you don't support military non-interventionism, neutrality in all disputes, and never initiating force against those who haven't used force against you, especially for social engineering or political gain such as overthrowing nations you don't think are up to snuff.
If the party never ever grows but keeps out bullies who don't recognize the sovereignty of other nations, and who want to misuse the U.S. military like you, I'll be a very happy man.
Yesterday while at the quarterly Executive Committee Meeting for the Libertarian Party of the state of California, I had to fight it out with a few of your ilk. But in the end with 5 minutes to go, I got enough support together to pass a resolution against the war in Iraq. We had three peace resolutions and the 2 better ones were shot down, but when they tried to close the meeting I forced it on the agenda.
Here's the wording of the one that passed:
Quote:
A Resolution by the Libertarian Party of California Executive Committee Affirming the National
Libertarian Party Principles and Platform Concerning Foreign Intervention and the Invasion of Iraq
Whereas, the National Libertarian Party Platform's Preamble states in part, "As Libertarians, we seek a world of liberty; a world in which all individuals are sovereign over their own lives, and no one is forced to sacrifice his or her values for the benefit of others";
Whereas, the National Libertarian Party Platform's Statement of Principles states in part, "...we support the prohibition of the initiation of physical force against others....";
Whereas, the National Libertarian Party Platform at Part IV.D.2. (Foreign Affairs / International Relations /Foreign Intervention), states in part, "The United States should not inject itself into the internal matters of other nations, unless they have declared war upon or attacked the United States, or the U.S. is already in a constitutionally declared war with them," and, "End the current U.S. government policy of foreign intervention, including military and economic aid, guarantees, and diplomatic meddling";
Whereas the admittedly (by the President and Vice-president) pre-emptive ("before the fact") invasion of the sovereign nation of Iraq by the United States was accomplished in blatant disregard for American constitutional requirements and international law under treaties to which the United States is a signatory, and upon an apparently false basis of manipulated information and manufactured allegations;
Whereas the continuing military occupation of Iraq is precipitating a deplorable loss of civilian and American lives, is exacerbating American deficit spending, and appears to be aggravating the terrorist threat worldwide;
Now, therefore,
Be it Resolved, that the Libertarian Party of California Executive Committee hereby affirms the National Libertarian Party's Preamble, Statement of Principles and Platform, in particular for this case those portions cited herein; and Be it Further Resolved, that the Libertarian Party of California Executive Committee finds, upon no tangible proof having been shown of Iraqi participation in the World Trade Center, etc. (9/11) attack, that the invasion of Iraq appears unwarranted; and
Be it Further Resolved, that the Libertarian Party of California Executive Committee finds that the
continuing occupation of Iraq is inimical to the interests of the citizens of the United States as well as to the interests of the citizens of Iraq; and
Be it Further Resolved, that the United States government's declared purpose of "bringing democracy to Iraq" is an offensive imposition of the values of some of our citizens over a foreign sovereign people; and
Be it Further Resolved, that the Libertarian Party of California Executive Committee formally petitions that the National Libertarian Party remain constant and adamant in demanding that the United States government cease and desist in the most safely expedient manner possible from all foreign economic and military interventions, Iraq in particular, and correct its international policies so that it may at last begin to facilitate world peace through the naturally benevolent function of the Free Market.
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