From One Libertarian to Another on the War in Iraq

(The following is a letter that I wrote to two Alabama libertarians about my position on the War in Iraq. In previous emails, I had made it clear that I am an anti-war libertarian, and by anti-war I mean "the no-compromise, bring-them-home-now position.")

I too made the mistake of voting for GW Bush in 2000. My litmus test was the gun issue, and, heck, the NRA sent me three stickers with which to promote GW Bush. I can even say that, in my capacity as a dorm Resident Advisor, I was ferrying my residents to the polls so long as they promised to vote Bush. I've been trying to pay my penance for that through activism off and on since 2001.

As far as the exit strategy goes, I understand that removing troops from the theater means that there is a higher likelihood that the soldiers who remain there will become casualties. I am sympathetic to this problem, as I have lived with and trained with military men in the past, and I count a number of American combat troops as my friends. In fact, I have a good friend who is a demolitions specialist with SEAL team six, and two former roommates who are in Iraq with the US Army in combat arms slots.

I do not believe that the US Constitution authorizes the mustering of troops overseas. I believe this sort of action to be a grievous evil perpetrated by the federal government with federal taxpayer money. I know as well as you do that there are many brave men and women who are serving in good faith and who cannot be blamed for the poor decisions of their higher-ups. I am a religious man, and I pray for my friends and their comrades who are in harm's way. Nonetheless, I also pray for the innocent non-combatants who will be fully or partially incinerated by US white phosphorus ordnance (as in Fallujah), those who will have their property destroyed by US artillery and mortars, and those who will lose family members under the deceivingly innocent label of "collateral damage."

I cannot now, nor will I ever support any regime that sponsors total war. When Bush declared that those who were not with us were against us, he made it very clear that he was embarking on a jaunt that could only lead to total war involving the persons and property of millions of non-combatants. The crime perpetrated against thousands on 9/11/2001 ought to be treated like a crime. I would advocate the use of force to apprehend the individuals that actually committed the crime (including any material support with foreknowledge). For our state to attack a collective entity for the actions of individuals is immoral and unjust.

As for the sticky situation that we find ourselves in, I can only say that we must extricate ourselves from all entangling foreign alliances, including those with Israel, South Korea, Taiwan, and many others.I recognize that this position may not win popular support, but I frankly don't care. It is right and I will continue to declare its necessity from the rooftops even if I am the only one dissenting. I and my future children are being put at risk by the actions of our government overseas, and I will not betray my family's future safety so that Bush can be blamed for fewer coalition casualties. Bush & Friends got our troops into this mess, and I will not accept responsibility for it. It is Bush's fault that our troops are in harm's way, and it is Bush's fault if many die in our troops' extraction/exfiltration.

We should do right at any cost, and say "Damn the torpedoes!"