Post by RS Davis on Jul 22, 2004 23:13:07 GMT -5
[glow=red,2,300] ===================================
NEWS FROM THE LIBERTARIAN PARTY
2600 Virginia Avenue, NW, Suite 100
Washington DC 20037
World Wide Web: www.LP.org
===================================
For release: July 22, 2004
===================================
For additional information:
George Getz, Communications Director
Phone: (202) 333-0008
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Most effective way to prevent terrorism
is missing from 911 report, Libertarians say
WASHINGTON, DC -- The report by the September 11 commission is missing one obvious way the U.S. government could reduce the chance of another terrorist attack, Libertarians say: Quit meddling in foreign nations.
"The intelligence reform needed most right now is a more intelligent foreign policy," says Libertarian presidential candidate Michael Badnarik. "Pulling U.S. troops out of nations where they don't belong would make America much safer than appointing a thousand new intelligence czars."
The report by the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States, released on Thursday in Washington, notes that the government missed up to 10 opportunities to unravel the September 11 plot because of bureaucratic bungling among 15 U.S. intelligence agencies. It recommends creating a new multi-agency center to fight terrorism; appointing a single director of national intelligence; and strengthening congressional oversight of intelligence agencies.
Unfortunately, the politicians who authored the 600-page report chose to overlook the simplest way to protect America, Badnarik says: Adopt a foreign policy of neutrality and non-intervention.
"Most Americans would be shocked to learn that U.S. troops are deployed in more than 100 nations around the globe," he said. "Putting U.S.
troops in volatile, anti-American regions such as the Middle East makes them tempting targets for terrorists."
In fact, terrorists attacked several U.S. targets -- such as the USS Cole and the World Trade Center -- before the catastrophic events of September 11, and each time made it clear that they were reacting to U.S. foreign policy in the region.
"You don't see terrorists targeting other prosperous, Western-style democracies such as Switzerland, Canada or Sweden," he said. "And one reason is that those governments don't meddle in other nation's affairs or embark on foolish nation-building missions."
For decades, he noted, the U.S. government has provided military and financial aid to both Israel and its Arab enemies, has sided both with Iran and Iraq in their bitter, 10-year war and has routinely supported and armed brutal dictatorships around the world -- so politicians shouldn't pretend that they're shocked when Americans become targets for terrorists.
That's why the biggest missed opportunity of all is the government's refusal to reform U.S. foreign policy, Libertarians say.
"Instead of making America safer, Republicans and Democrats have opted once again to make government bigger," he said. "When will they learn that the best way to protect Americans at home is to quit making enemies abroad?"
NEWS FROM THE LIBERTARIAN PARTY
2600 Virginia Avenue, NW, Suite 100
Washington DC 20037
World Wide Web: www.LP.org
===================================
For release: July 22, 2004
===================================
For additional information:
George Getz, Communications Director
Phone: (202) 333-0008
===================================[/glow]
Most effective way to prevent terrorism
is missing from 911 report, Libertarians say
WASHINGTON, DC -- The report by the September 11 commission is missing one obvious way the U.S. government could reduce the chance of another terrorist attack, Libertarians say: Quit meddling in foreign nations.
"The intelligence reform needed most right now is a more intelligent foreign policy," says Libertarian presidential candidate Michael Badnarik. "Pulling U.S. troops out of nations where they don't belong would make America much safer than appointing a thousand new intelligence czars."
The report by the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks Upon the United States, released on Thursday in Washington, notes that the government missed up to 10 opportunities to unravel the September 11 plot because of bureaucratic bungling among 15 U.S. intelligence agencies. It recommends creating a new multi-agency center to fight terrorism; appointing a single director of national intelligence; and strengthening congressional oversight of intelligence agencies.
Unfortunately, the politicians who authored the 600-page report chose to overlook the simplest way to protect America, Badnarik says: Adopt a foreign policy of neutrality and non-intervention.
"Most Americans would be shocked to learn that U.S. troops are deployed in more than 100 nations around the globe," he said. "Putting U.S.
troops in volatile, anti-American regions such as the Middle East makes them tempting targets for terrorists."
In fact, terrorists attacked several U.S. targets -- such as the USS Cole and the World Trade Center -- before the catastrophic events of September 11, and each time made it clear that they were reacting to U.S. foreign policy in the region.
"You don't see terrorists targeting other prosperous, Western-style democracies such as Switzerland, Canada or Sweden," he said. "And one reason is that those governments don't meddle in other nation's affairs or embark on foolish nation-building missions."
For decades, he noted, the U.S. government has provided military and financial aid to both Israel and its Arab enemies, has sided both with Iran and Iraq in their bitter, 10-year war and has routinely supported and armed brutal dictatorships around the world -- so politicians shouldn't pretend that they're shocked when Americans become targets for terrorists.
That's why the biggest missed opportunity of all is the government's refusal to reform U.S. foreign policy, Libertarians say.
"Instead of making America safer, Republicans and Democrats have opted once again to make government bigger," he said. "When will they learn that the best way to protect Americans at home is to quit making enemies abroad?"
