For immediate release
September 9, 2014
Libertarian Party urges lawmakers to
get out, stay out of Iraq and Syria
The
Libertarian Party urges lawmakers to stop bombing in Iraq and to disengage
operations in both Iraq and Syria.
"The U.S. government has been intervening in the Middle East for more
than half a century under the pretext of achieving peace," said Nicholas
Sarwark, chair of the Libertarian National Committee. "But things just
keep getting worse. We must stop stoking conflicts that tear countries apart,
stop dropping bombs, and stay out of the region."
Any attempt by the United States and other foreigners to intervene in the
area undermines the ability of natives who oppose the Islamic State (IS) to
mount sustainable opposition. It also helps the IS recruit supporters and puts
the world at greater risk of terrorist attacks.
More than 30 Libertarian candidates for federal office nationwide who will
be on the ballot on Nov. 4 have
pledged
to downsize the U.S. military. Each has promised:
"If elected, I will sponsor legislation to cut military spending by
60 percent or more and cut total federal spending accordingly; close all foreign
U.S. military bases; withdraw completely from the Middle East; and bring our
troops home."
Downsizing the military to 40 percent of today's spending would leave more
than enough to fund decisive military action against any enemy who attacks the
United States while fully funding benefits for the veterans of our previous
wars.
The United States spent $20 billion to train and equip the Iraqi Army.
President Barack Obama is now dropping bombs to destroy the equipment the U.S.
military left behind, some of which remains in the hands of the Islamic State.
"The absurdity of spending more U.S. taxpayer dollars to destroy U.S.
weapons is one more piece of evidence that we must draw down our
military," said Sarwark. "A non-interventionist foreign policy is the
best way to achieve peace and reduce the risk of a terrorist attack on U.S.
soil. It will also go a long way toward balancing the federal budget, cutting
taxes, and halting inflation."
The Islamic State joins a long line of U.S. enemies whom the U.S. government
helped in their rise to power: Muammar Gaddafi, Ayatollah Khomeini, Manuel
Noriega, Saddam Hussein, and Osama bin Laden.
Both Democrats, such as Sen. Dianne Feinstein, and Republicans like Sen.
John McCain are calling for more war in Iraq.
"Democratic and Republican politicians have meddled so extensively in
the Middle East that they're now in the ludicrous position of siding with very
recent U.S. enemies: Iran, Assad, and al-Qaeda, all of whom oppose the Islamic
State," Sarwark said.
Lawmakers cite the highly publicized and brutal beheading of two U.S.
journalists in the region as justification for more intervention against IS.
But they ignore the fact that, according to a
Reuters
report, U.S. ally Saudi Arabia beheaded several of its citizens in the last
month who were convicted of non-violent crimes such as smuggling hashish and
sorcery.
President Obama cites the need to protect U.S. military personnel in Erbil
as a reason for going back to war in Iraq. But he's the one who stationed troops
there in violation of the U.S. Constitution, which requires a vote of Congress
to declare war.
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Paid
for by the Libertarian National Committee
1444 Duke Street, Alexandria, VA 22314
