Congressman Ron Paul's Statement on the New York City and Washington, DC Terrorist Attacks

Ron Paul ^ | September 12, 2001

[ouroboros]

FOR RELEASE:
September 12, 2001

Statement on the New York City and Washington, DC Terrorist Attacks

Yesterday, millions of American awakened to find the nation at war, attacked by barbarians who targeted innocent civilians. This senseless slaughter of human life was reprehensible, and must be denounced by all civilized peoples. For the moment, we can only share our grief and our condolences with those who lost family and friends.

In our grief, we must remember our responsibilities. Congress has an obligation in this constitutional republic to preserve freedom and provide for national security. Sadly, our security measures were not adequate to prevent yesterday's tragedy. We must be willing to honestly examine our policies, and change those that weaken our national security.

When we retaliate for this horror we have suffered, we must be certain that we punish only those who are guilty. There is an understandable sense of urgency in the nation, a sense that Congress should take action immediately. However, we must not kill innocent civilians in our rush to retaliate against those truly responsible.

Times of tragedy and war naturally bring out strong emotions in all of us, but we must be careful to preserve personal liberty and privacy rights in the months ahead. Sometimes the people are only too anxious to sacrifice their liberties during a crisis, hoping to gain some measure of security. Yet nothing would please the terrorists more than if we willingly gave up some of our cherished liberties because of their actions.

We can all pray for peace and ask for God's guidance during these troubling times. I know that our President, our congressional leaders, and all Americans possess the wisdom and compassion required to resolve this devastating crisis.

[Anotherpundit]

Finally, a response from a major libertarian figure that doesn't make me feel ashamed to associate myself with the movement.

[IRtorqued]

Amen.

[Dan De Quille]

Ron Paul has been very sound for a long, long time. The only bit I disagree with is this: Yet nothing would please the terrorists more than if we willingly gave up some of our cherished liberties because of their actions.

If he were talking about the Libs, I would agree; but I don't think Islamic terrorists give a red rat's a$$ about "liberties". They're motivated by hate, not politics.

[Anotherpundit]

Well, I think that their hate is caused by jealousy -- jealousy of our power, which is all they know of us. But that power derives itself inevitably from our freedoms. If they succeed in changing our way of life, in reducing our freedoms, they'll have done far more long term damage to us than they may be capable of realizing -- which satisfy their greatest desires, though they may not themselves realize that.

[Inspector Harry Callahan]

Bump.

[Dan De Quille]

but we can't let that be used as an excuse to give up what little we have left.

I agree totally.

[Joe Brower]

"we must be careful to preserve personal liberty and privacy rights in the months ahead. Sometimes the people are only too anxious to sacrifice their liberties during a crisis, hoping to gain some measure of security. Yet nothing would please the terrorists more than if we willingly gave up some of our cherished liberties because of their actions."

Yes.

[ao98]

As a Libertarian leaning Conservative I was appalled by Harry Brownes remarks. Here are some other common sense remarks from a Libertarian.

Statement of Cato Vice President Ted Galen Carpenter on Terrorist Attacks September 11, 2001

WASHINGTON-Three hijacked planes crashed into major U.S. landmarks today, destroying New York's World Trade Center and causing major damage to the Pentagon in Washington. Cato Vice President for Defense and Foreign Policy Studies Ted Galen Carpenter had the following comments:

"The monstrous attack in New York City and in our nation's capital justifiably generates outrage on the part of all Americans. We grieve for the innocent victims and their families.

"The first order of business must be to determine who is responsible for these terrible acts and to order appropriate retaliation. Terrorist assaults of this magnitude should be treated as an act of war against the United States, not merely as a criminal justice matter. The President should immediately seek the full authorization of Congress to use whatever military force is necessary against the guilty parties. If the perpetrator is a government, the objective of the United States should be nothing less than the removal of that government. If the perpetrator is a terrorist organization without government sponsorship, the objective of the United States should be to track down and eliminate the members of that organization.

"In the course of responding to these horrible events we must be careful not to undermine the American values of freedom and liberty. If we damage our constitutional freedoms in the name of combating terrorism, the terrorists will have achieved a lasting triumph."

[dalereed]

"However, we must not kill innocent civilians in our rush to retaliate against those truly responsible."

There is no such thing as a civilian in war, they allowed or put into power the forces that are waging the war and are just a guilty as the leaders or perpetrators. War is kill or be killed, I lost a good friend in Korea to a 6 or 8 year old that was soliciting candy and slit his gut with the knife that was in the paper bag.