Libertarian Party Resolution on Iraq

The national Libertarian Party (LP) organization has taken their strongest position in favor of withdrawal from Iraq. At their national committee meeting yesterday in Las Vegas, the following resolution passed overwhelmingly.

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 armed forces of the United States have invaded Iraq, a foreign nation that neither directly attacked nor imminently threatened to attack the United States and;
WHEREAS the injustice and imprudence of this invasion cannot be undone by the continued presence of the armed forces of the United States in Iraq and;
WHEREAS the stability and security of Iraq lie outside the jurisdiction of the government of the United States;
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Libertarian Party National Committee calls on the government of the United States to withdraw the armed forces of the United States without undue delay.

Former GOP Congressman Bob Barr, now a member of the LP national committee, strongly supported the resolution. Barr is essentially a “born-again libertarian” who has reversed his statist positions. He now strongly supports ending the US occupation of Iraq and opposes further adventurism in Iran and elsewhere. He now works as a lobbyist for the American Civil Liberties Union and the Marijuana Policy Project.

Barr is rumored to be considering a Libertarian Party run for President this November. The LP nominating convention will be held in late May.

UPDATE: Bob Barr issued this statement following the passage of the resolution:

“Given the lack of action by both the Democrats and Republicans to find a swift and safe conclusion to American adventurism in Iraq, it is imperative that the Libertarian Party stand resolute in its calls for ending the war without undue delay. The Libertarian Party refuses to back down on this paramount issue, even if we are the only Party standing up for the safety of our troops, the respect of our nation, and the stability of our economy. If President Bush wants this war, then he needs to go through Congress, as the Constitution requires the president to do. The lives of our troops and the wealth of our nation need protection from the adventurous whims of single individuals. Our current course of foreign policy jeopardizes the future of this great nation, and as long as the Libertarian Party has a voice, we will continue to fight to bring our men and women in uniform home as quickly and as safely as possible.”

10 thoughts on “Libertarian Party Resolution on Iraq”

  1. Congratulations to the Libertarian Party which has just taken an important step towards the restoring the international credibility of the United States, its citizens, and its ideals.

  2. So the Party of Principle has dropped the “LP Exit Strategy”? And the LNC has now, nearly five years after the unconstitutional invasion in March 03′, passed an Iraq Withdrawal Resolution. Do you think the LP will ever call for impeachments or the prosecution of war crimes? I don’t, not while you can find hypocritical debate and war mongering on the LP blog site.

  3. Ron Paul’s House primary is in two weeks, according to his page
    http://www.ronpaulforcongress.com/index.html.
    (give him $50.00 while you’re there)

    If, God forbid, he lost the primary, how would that effect overall equation?
    Would anyone care that he almost promised that he wouldn’t run as a third party candidate? I wouldn’t mind seeing Paul/Barr on both Lib and Const. tickets, but I could live with Barr/(Paul Craig) Roberts. (for instance)

    I’m in…

  4. Before the United States can “return to its historical libertarian tradition of avoiding entangling alliances, foreign quarrels, and military adventures”, this tradition would first have to come into existence, don’t you think?

    Oh right. You’re libertarians.

  5. Too little, too late.

    The LP had its chance to capitalize on the war issue (and might I add, the LIBERTY issue), but instead lost all credibility whatsoever.

    Screw the LP! We need a non-partisan peace caucus which supports candidates regardless of party!

  6. Thats good news.

    Now there needs to be resolution resolving that the baby boom pay the whole $54 Trillion dollar bill for its own social security and medicare.

  7. The Iraq War should have never happenend. If the war was truly based on weapons of mass destruction as President Bush sold to the American people then we would currently be at war with Iran and Korea. The affect of this Iraq War on the U.S. Economy is unpresedented. Add the cost of the war to the mortage fallout and the cost of goods and services and this country is now on the brink of totally ruin.

  8. So the Party of Principle has dropped the "LP Exit Strategy"? And the LNC has now, nearly five years after the unconstitutional invasion in March 03', passed an Iraq Withdrawal Resolution. Do you think the LP will ever call for impeachments or the prosecution of war crimes? I don’t, not while you can find hypocritical debate and war mongering on the LP blog site.

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