Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article

To: hscott
"Now I hope I have accurately stated the case. I agree that the situation is not black and white (as perhaps I had originally held) but rather highly nuanced and needing the details examined."

You have not. NINETY-FOUR PERCENT is not "some libertarians". What that says is that the OVERWHELMING MAJORITY of libertarians support the War on Terror. They have major reservations about some of the specific actions (loss of civil liberties) suggested as part of that war, but they DO support the war. HUGE majorities support military action.

You are simply wrong, and unwilling to admit it.

117 posted on 11/19/2002 4:58:18 PM PST by Wonder Warthog
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 115 | View Replies ]


To: Wonder Warthog
No, you need to examine the link you provided more carefully. It says that 94.8% of those polled have a responsibility to bring the terrorists to justice (I am paraphrasing). What form of justice? Well it doesn't say. This might mean, a la Browne, putting the mug shot on the post office wall, not the kind of war or terror that the Bush administration is pursuing.

24.3% of libs oppose putting ground troops into Afghanistan - what do you think that percentage would be among Americans at large (or would have been in 10/01)? I'd say a lot lower.

21.4% oppose attacks on the Taliban. Again likely a higher number than for the populace at large. 30.2% oppose efforts to topple the Taliban. Only 52% support action against nations that support terrorism or harbor terrorists.

From the LP press release "Those last three questions indicate that Libertarians are unwilling to give the U.S. government carte blanche to engage in limitless military action in the name of fighting terrorism..." That is they give only conditional support to the WOT.

"It's obvious that as military options move beyond striking back at those terrorists directly responsible for the September 11 attacks, Libertarians grow increasingly uncomfortable..." a quote from Dasbach.

69% oppose any attck without a declaration of war by Congress. I don't know what to say about this one. It seems to arise from the "strict constructionism" of libertarians. The fact is though that declarations of war have not occurred since WWI I think so, like it or not, you're not going to have one.

As I said, perhaps I was too hasty in asserting broadly that "libertarians oppose the war on terror." Rather their support is weaker than that of the public at large and they support the WOT only with major reservations. Finally, many libertarians wish to treat the attempt to bring UBL to justice as just a criminal matter rather than a casus belli.

119 posted on 11/19/2002 6:45:46 PM PST by hscott
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 117 | View Replies ]

To: Wonder Warthog
I enjoyed talking to you but I have a question about your screen name. Back in the 60s I was a student at U. Texas Austin. Wonder Warthog was big then at UT and I assumed it was just local to Austin. Do you have any connection with that?
122 posted on 11/20/2002 4:59:40 AM PST by hscott
[ Post Reply | Private Reply | To 117 | View Replies ]

Free Republic
Browse · Search
News/Activism
Topics · Post Article


FreeRepublic, LLC, PO BOX 9771, FRESNO, CA 93794
FreeRepublic.com is powered by software copyright 2000-2008 John Robinson