[rogue yam]

I agree that Cato has done some great work on the subjects of market economics and the value of personal liberty. They were particularly good during the Cold War when others were trying to downplay the evil inherent in the Soviet system. They have been problematic since 9/11 because their tools (rational argumentation and laissez faire capitalism) are largely irrelevant to the problem of jihadism. "Libertarianism" ignores the existence of God and thus is incapable of understanding the motivations and actions of religious people. Today's national security debates (unlike those of the Cold War) require that we understand and address the religious and cultural motivations of those who feel compelled to destroy us.

[penelopesire]

"Today's national security debates (unlike those of the Cold War) require that we understand and address the religious and cultural motivations of those who feel compelled to destroy us."

Well said.

[rogue yam]

Which is to say, I do not believe that Cato has changed, so much as our immediate problems have changed, so that the areas where conservatives and "libertarians" agree have become less important, and the areas where we differ have become more so.