The Libertarian Party when not destroying its credibility with the Antiwar Movement, actually does take stances. Not that you would know from recent Libertarian Party press releases.
North Carolina State House candidate Susan Hogarth thought seven years was long enough without an official Libertarian Party statement. Alas, after a series of correspondence with LNC representatives and staff, Hogarth discovered she would have to wait a bit longer. “The resolution will be totally ignored unless it fits into a news cycle. Define that how you may but the words “Afghanistan” isn’t at the top (or anywhere in) the front page of Drudge or Google News,” wrote one staffer.
Drudge? Google? Should I be offended? It is not as if there isn’t one Antiwar.com employee on the LNC or any contributing writers on the Barr Campaign.
For those of you who can’t wait for another gruesome news cycle, here’s the resolution:
WHEREAS the government of the United States should return to its
historical libertarian tradition of avoiding entangling alliances,
foreign quarrels, and military adventures; and
WHEREAS the stability and security of Afghanistan lie outside the
jurisdiction of the government of the United States; and
WHEREAS the Libertarian Party recognizes that the only legitimate
role of the military is to defend America against direct attack or the
imminent threat of attack;
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Libertarian National Committee
calls on the government of the United States to withdraw the armed
forces of the United States from Afghanistan, without undue delay.
