A Resolution Affirming the Libertarian Party's Traditional Position
Concerning Foreign Intervention.
Whereas, the original Libertarian Party Platform of 1972 warned that the
United States should not "act as policeman of the world" while asserting
that any legitimate government "must protect itself and its citizens against
the initiation of force from other nations";
Whereas, the Libertarian Party Platform of 1976 held that "the principle of
non-initiation of force should guide the relationships between governments";
Whereas, the Libertarian Party Platform has held since at least 1980 that
"American foreign policy should seek an America at peace with the world and
the defense -- against attack from abroad -- of the lives, liberty, and
property of the American people on American soil";
Whereas, President Bush's claim that "the Iraqi regime possesses and
produces chemical and biological weapons" was at best recklessly and
negligently false;
Whereas, President Bush invaded Iraq without a declaration of war;
Whereas, the civil war in Iraq has demonstrated the wisdom of the
Libertarian Party's traditional opposition to military adventures;
Whereas, the United States government long ago achieved its purported
primary war aims of 1) eliminating any WMD capability or international
terrorist infrastructure, and 2) deposing Saddam's regime in favor of a
federal democratic constitutional framework (naively) intended to protect
minorities and fundamental human rights;
Therefore, be it resolved that the Libertarian Party calls on the United
States government to
* withdraw its armed forces from Iraq, without delay or preconditions;
* cease all efforts at nation-building in Afghanistan;
* desist from any further attempts to spread democracy in the Middle
East or around the world through military force; and
* follow its historic libertarian tradition of avoiding entangling
alliances, foreign quarrels, and military adventures while protecting
America from the initiation of force launched from outside its borders.
