It's a privilege to honor all veterans this day. My son is in the military, stationed once again in Iraq on his second deployment.
I'm often asked, "How can you genuinely support the troops when you are "anti-war?"
Let me respond with clearer phrases: I am pro defense, but against "offensive" warmongering.
Let me respond with clearer phrases: I am pro defense, but against "offensive" warmongering.
Yes, I am against our nation's policies of bullying and policing the world, empire building and setting up artificial democracies. We fund a regime one decade, only to depose it the next. We buy elections and make secret deals to further our interests around the globe.
Our hypocrisy is repugnant to other countries, particularly when it comes to giving Israel preferential treatment and not requiring the same accounting of its war machine as we do from other governments.
As the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan began, Americans heard the phrase "Better there than over here". In other words, fighting terrorism overseas would prevent another 9/11 on our soil.
Does anyone still believe that, particularly after the recent Ft. Hood massacre and the arrests made in New York?
Islamic extremists are breaking up into smaller, autonomous cells and spreading throughout the globe, finding punctuated attacks to be far more effective and fear-producing.
So why is President Obama poised to send 30,000 more troops to Afghanistan?
The actual men that attacked our country are dead. Most of the masterminds behind 9/11 are in custody. Instead of sending in a conventional military, letters of marque and reprisal, allowing elite forces to capture bin Laden dead or alive, would have been the better strategy. This little-used, Constitutional allowance worked quite well in the days of marauding,coastal pirates.
Afghanis don't like the Taliban, but they don't like us either. Whenever we enter a village and begin to interact with the occupants, the Taliban retaliates. They want us to leave.
The Southerners wanted the Northern troops to leave as well. After the Civil War, Union troops still occupied southern States for several years to maintain order and help with reconstruction. Southerners just wanted to pick up the pieces of their devastated lives and properties; they didn't want or need the help of armed Yanks.
The war is over in Iraq and Afghanistan. The people just want their country back to govern as they see fit, whether it agrees with us or not.
We want our sons and daughter back. They do not need to die for a mission that has been politically sabotaged. If some Afghanis want protection and resources as they rebuild their schools and communities, private, international contracts are the answer.
If we Americans really love our troops and consider them our national treasure, then we will adamantly oppose sending them into a failing, prolonged mission that has only a slim chance of success (already admitted by McChrystal).
Soldiers should be placed in harm's way only when it comes to defense or a measured retribution, and even then with as little personnel as possible and engaged only long enough to accomplish the sole objective.
We want our sons and daughter back. They do not need to die for a mission that has been politically sabotaged. If some Afghanis want protection and resources as they rebuild their schools and communities, private, international contracts are the answer.
If we Americans really love our troops and consider them our national treasure, then we will adamantly oppose sending them into a failing, prolonged mission that has only a slim chance of success (already admitted by McChrystal).
Soldiers should be placed in harm's way only when it comes to defense or a measured retribution, and even then with as little personnel as possible and engaged only long enough to accomplish the sole objective.
A standing army as it exists today in the US is unconstitutional!
Our Founding Fathers were wary of such an idea and no doubt could see the potential for powerful expansion and abuse. As an exception, the Constitution allows for Congress to raise money for a standing army as needed, but FOR ONLY TWO YEARS!
The late Harry Browne, Libertarian nominee for President in 1996 and 2000 said:
Our Founding Fathers were wary of such an idea and no doubt could see the potential for powerful expansion and abuse. As an exception, the Constitution allows for Congress to raise money for a standing army as needed, but FOR ONLY TWO YEARS!
The late Harry Browne, Libertarian nominee for President in 1996 and 2000 said:
"We have a strong national offense", but what we really need is a good national defense. Anything more than that is unnecessary and wasteful.
In fact our founding fathers were strongly opposed to a standing army, knowing that having troops at the ready meant that they were more easily used for "adventurism".
They specifically stated in the Constitution that we should have a standing navy, but that there should be no standing army in peacetime. We currently have the Army Reserve and National Guard, who are trained and can be called up quickly in an emergency, so we don't really need a standing army. I also believe that we should have a standing Air Force." http://www.lpmn.org/news/pdf/news0502.pdf
A professional army is a danger to a free society. In addition, taking our tax dollars to finance an enormous military presence around the world is unethical and breeds mounting resentment.In fact our founding fathers were strongly opposed to a standing army, knowing that having troops at the ready meant that they were more easily used for "adventurism".
They specifically stated in the Constitution that we should have a standing navy, but that there should be no standing army in peacetime. We currently have the Army Reserve and National Guard, who are trained and can be called up quickly in an emergency, so we don't really need a standing army. I also believe that we should have a standing Air Force." http://www.lpmn.org/news/pdf/news0502.pdf
I'm all for massively downsizing our military personnel, conventional hardware and property around the world and spending more money on defensive technology with private, innovative contractors that can protect the US from missile attacks.
Our "boots on the ground" can be specialized, smaller forces that can address conflicts as they arise when any Americans are in danger or our international commerce comes under attack. And we can privatize even more of the military's support operations and suppliers.
Even if all of these changes were to occur, one thing remain critical: the vigilance of the American people!
Libertarians always look at precedence and the slippery slope that follows a decision, which often makes them unpopular with the "relief now, safety now" citizens.
Beefing up on counterterrorism in the US to circumvent the actions of a Nidal Malik Hasan sounds initially positive, but we've already seen where the Department of Homeland Security is not only watching outspoken Muslims. Christians with strong pro-life beliefs, returning vets, libertarians and conservative "tea party" attendees are regarded as suspicious.
And who can forget the nightmarish raids by the police after Hurricane Katrina as they went door to door in New Orleans, confiscating the people's guns in flagrant violation of the Second Amendment?
As it now stands, Americans will steadily forfeit more privacy and other cherished freedoms in order to feel safer from terrorist attacks in our nation. And indeed, even the police, guards and reserves*, under the command of a corrupted, run away government that wants to destroy the Second Amendment, is always a threat to the citizens. (Thank God for Oath Keepers).
*20,000 full-time Army troops are also being trained at Ft. Dix and Ft. Stewart for "at home" enforcement during a natural disaster or large scale terrorist attack.
I want to feel just as safe as you, but I ask, "At what price?"
I want peace in the world, not contrived compliance. Mutually beneficial contracts secured by the prosperity of the free market work better than guns, military aid, my money or my son's life.
Read more reverberating wisdom from Harry Browne: Source: http://www.harrybrowne2000.org/ “Top Ten” 5/15/99 May 15, 1999 And who can forget the nightmarish raids by the police after Hurricane Katrina as they went door to door in New Orleans, confiscating the people's guns in flagrant violation of the Second Amendment?
As it now stands, Americans will steadily forfeit more privacy and other cherished freedoms in order to feel safer from terrorist attacks in our nation. And indeed, even the police, guards and reserves*, under the command of a corrupted, run away government that wants to destroy the Second Amendment, is always a threat to the citizens. (Thank God for Oath Keepers).
*20,000 full-time Army troops are also being trained at Ft. Dix and Ft. Stewart for "at home" enforcement during a natural disaster or large scale terrorist attack.
I want to feel just as safe as you, but I ask, "At what price?"
I want peace in the world, not contrived compliance. Mutually beneficial contracts secured by the prosperity of the free market work better than guns, military aid, my money or my son's life.
If we have a moral responsibility to fight every evil in the world, you’d better kiss your children goodbye and prepare for wars in Rwanda, Zaire, China, Russia, Croatia, Northern Ireland, South Africa, Turkey, the Sudan, Algeria, Kashmir, Angola, Sierra Leone and many other countries. Our volunteer military can’t handle them all, encouraging a return of the draft -- and your children and your grandchildren probably won’t be exempt next time.
I want my son to come home safely to raise his three adorable children and walk the littlest one, Joscelin, down the aisle. I want your son and daughter to come home.
I want my son to come home safely to raise his three adorable children and walk the littlest one, Joscelin, down the aisle. I want your son and daughter to come home.
I challenge you to speak out bolder, longer, stronger, but temper your words with compelling wisdom and reason. Do not be intimidated and easily threatened. Get out, be seen, march, rally, even protest--not just because you're against war but because you are for the future of America.
America's future sits at my feet; they are my grandchildren. The future sits at your feet and around your table, in school chairs and pews. They are truly our treasure to guard and nourish.
I could not prevent my son from going to war, nor could I stop your child.
However, it's not too late nor impossible to secure better choices for their children.
We can educate our neighbors, influence our communities and change our leaders, but it will require courage and sacrifice--perhaps of our reputations and fortunes--much as it did the signers of the Declaration of Independence.
Will you stay the course, will you pay the price?
I was an associate pastor for fourteen years. I saw a young mother through a terrible divorce and custody battle for her four children. Her former husband was quite well off. Before their marriage, she had been under psychiatric care for depression and he used this against her in court. She never graduated from high school, so the only job she could get was as a waitress with odd hours. The deck was stacked against her.
On our last day in court, her lawyer asked me to step aside. Quietly he asked, "Why are you allowing her to pursue this? She's going to lose...big time, you know. Why invest all this money and let her down?"
I didn't blink. "Because," I replied. "She wants to leave a record for her children that she did all she could, even against incredible odds, to win them back."
She lost the case, but gained the lawyer's respect. He dropped his fees. Her audacity, persistence, and love for her children spoke volumes. Today she's still a waitress, but enjoys a wonderful relationship with her children!
What will history record of us? Will we take an unswerving stand regardless of the odds?
If we lose in the halls of government, we will win where it counts--in the hearts of the people, and that's where real revolution begins!
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