You know, as a "l" libertarian, this has always puzzled me about "L" Libertarians. I cannot fathom why they are clinging to this starving the children schtick when they are the first ones to step up to the plate and argue for just leaving other countries to fend for themselves. Now we are to blame for withholding food? Whatever happened to non-interventionism?
Riley, I'm going to assume that by proclaiming yourself to be a libertarian that somewhere along the line you decided that you could use your heart along with your brain. In light of this assumption, I will posit that the concept of non-intervention is based on the notion of sovereignty of nations. These nations being sovereign have neither right or purpose to interfere with the governmental workings (constitutions, laws, regulations, policies) of another nation. In our nation, the government has NO authority to loot us for distribution to other citizens, businesses or nations. This does not, however, preclude individual citizens from sharing their wealth, talents and expertise with people of other nations. Time and again, the American people have shared abundantly of their wealth with other people who were in need. This is one the hallmarks of the American people regardless of their individual politics. NOTHING prevents a libertarian from doing the same. If a libertarian is moved to donate to a people in need, then let it be done. Nothing about being a libertarian prevents you from being human.
As to the starving children schtick, how cruel and self-indulgent can you be? To call this a schtick is to be devoid of compassion. Why make the entire people suffer when, in reality, they have done us no harm? More to the point, our government is the one who adopted Hussein as an ally against Khomeini. Our government propped him up. Our government provided him with weapons and anthrax. Our government, by its silence, allowed him to invade Kuwait, the Saudis cried and we went to drive him back. Not only did our government drive him back, since he didn't wish to play by the governments new rules, the gov decided to oust him by turning his people against him. Our gov proceeded to bomb and destroy water and sewage plants to spread thirst, famine and disease. Our gov made false accusations accusing Hussein of using bio/chem weapons against the Kurds. Yet you, in a manner of a statist tool support the evil of the gov and demean and belittle this atrocity as a schtick. Since you are a libertarian, I would suggest that you take the time to put your mind and heart to work in developing a broader perspective of the application of libertarian principles their benefits and possible pitfalls and contrast that with the results and effects of current governmental action.