Date: Mon, 22 Jul 2002 13:05:34 -0400
From: carol@carolmoore.net (Carol Moore)
Subject: [libs4peace] Draft Libs4Peace Report...Please Add Stuff
To: libs4peace@yahoogroups.com ( L4P), organize-libs4peace@yahoogroups.com ("L4P-O!" ), LPNCpeace@yahoogroups.com (LPNCpeace)
First, I am holding up my full report on the 2002 LP Convention for a
few weeks because LIBERTY MAGAZINE is publishing a somewhat shorter
version in its September issue which should be out in about three
weeks. However, I have put together an appreviated version of the
peace-related stories, as well as additional material, as part of that
Libertarians for Peace report we get to send out to delegates --and of
course thousands of libertarians on various lists. (I have put a
really short version of it on the Libs4peace web page as a news
story.)
DO YOU HAVE STORIES OR INSIGHTS TO ADD?? Please do so soon. WOuld
like to send out by end of the week. CAROL
LIBERTARIANS FOR PEACE REPORT ON THE
LIBERTARIAN PARTY CONVENTION 2002
Libertarians for Peace started the Convention with a meeting of
about eight activists who agreed our main goals were to lobby for the
most pro-peace LNC candidates and to put forth a short
non-interventionist resolution during the Resolutions Agenda item
Sunday morning. Some individuals volunteered to distribute our
literature to delegates. Ideas for further organizing were left until
after we saw who won the Chair and LNC races. However, we did not get
another chance together again and organizing will continue on-line.
RESPONSE TO 9-11 DEBATE: On Thursday, July 4 acerbic LP
Communications Director Bill Winter debated twice LP Presidential
candidate Harry Browne on The Response to 9/11. Winter took the
Libertarian Party position. Harry Browne represented himself as an
outspoken libertarian critic of the war.
Considering that the September 11 terrorist attacks were ten
months ago, Bill Winters contention that Americans are just not
willing to listen to arguments that US interventionism led to the
attacks seemed particularly hollow. Browne, who may have rubbed the
truth in a little too hard in the first few weeks after September 11,
is on solid ground today when he says libertarians must stand up for
principle on this unpopular issue just like they do on other issues
like social security and drugs. Browne contends that support for the
war is a mile wide and an inch deep. Standing by libertarian
principles means standing up against the war on terrorism and US
interventionism. Libertarian goal must be preventing the next
attack, not avenging the last one. Brown said he will keep saying
that in every forum he can.
Audience members had some interesting comment. One elderly fellow
remembered his frustration as he watched Roosevelt manipulate the US
into World War II. James Madison of Veterans Teaching Peace in
Schools and Libertarians for Peace said he found it is very easy to
get people to understand about non-interventionism. He hands out fact
sheets and asks them How would you feel if in another country was
occupying or attacking us? He lets them know that this doesnt
justify terrorist attacks, but finds that most people understand his
point.
Libertarians committed to peace and non-intervention should note that
Winter has resigned his position as Comunications Director and LPNEWS
Editor, effective upon the hiring of a replacement. So lets all tell
Steve Dasbach we want a more pro-peace Communications Director and
lets encourage our pro-peace professional communicators to apply for
the job. (Resumes to both Chair Geoff Neale and Executive Director
Steve Dasbach.)
CHAIR DEBATES: During the Thursday, July 4th Chair debates, members
learned a little more about where the candidates stood on the foreign
policy issue. And the stronger they spoke out for non-intervention,
the more applause they got!
George Phillies repeatedly criticized the war on terrorism and opined
he LP should make it a primary issue. Elias Israel had the most to
prove on the foreign policy front, after his widely disseminate
comment at the August 2001 LNC meeting that the timing of a proposed
LNC resolution calling for an immediate ending of aid to Middle East
nations was anti-Jewish because of its timing. He finally outlined,
if vaguely, his position on foreign policy: the militarys role was to
protect America and nothing else; he favored punishment of the guilty
and protection of the innocent. Geoff Neale was more forthcoming,
stating that the United States should be a good neighbor and not take
his law mower or throw our trash in his yard. He noted that even
wars declared constitutionally by Congress could be bad wars and
criticized the US war in Afghanistan as the wrong way to apprehend the
perpetrators.
PLATFORM DEBATES: Before the Convention, some of us feared that the
LP Hawks would use the September 11th attacks as an excuse to gut
the platform. However, Fridays platform debate led to few
substantial changes. Unfortunately, the most substantial one was
contrary to Libertarians for Peace commitment to civil liberties and
human rights. In the plank Internal Securities and Civil Liberties
the first paragraph which called for abolition of secret police, such
as the Central Intelligence Agency and which supported
Congressional investigation of criminal activities of the CIA and
FBI was removed. It was replaced by the following two sentences, the
first of which makes too many libertarians feel the LP has now
endorsed massive spying on citizens in the name of domestic
security. (The member who most vehemently opposed abolition of the
CIA announced he himself was an ex-CIA agent and therefore knew how
naive our statement looked! Lets hope the naivete argument
doesnt work for every special interest group!) The final replacement
for the first paragraph does include some good new material.
The defense of the country requires that we have adequate
intelligence to detect and to counter threats to domestic security.
Because oversight becomes more difficult with the proliferation and
growth of bureaucracies, we oppose the establishment of a new cabinet
level Department of Homeland Security.
We call for the repeal of the Patriot Act of 2001, the
Counter-terrorism Act of 1996, and all other legislation that
authorizes secret evidence, holding people without charge, treating
material witnesses like convicted criminals, engaging in searches and
seizure without Constitutionally issued and executed warrants, and
other violations of individual rights under the color of national
security.
ELECTION OF OFFICERS AND AT LARGE: Saturdays election of
officers had some good news and some bad news. Elias Israel received
only 178 votes, compared to 261 for Neale and 123 for Phillies.
Israel conceded, rather than face a humiliating defeat on the second
ballot. However, the other three current officers, all of whom
supported the October 14, 2001 pro-military strikes resolution, and
voted down Joe Dehns December, 2001 non-intervention resolution, were
re-elected. So were two At Large members and three Regional
Representatives. (However, two At Large candidates opposed by
Libertarians for Peace for questionable statements on intervention and
civil liberties were defeated; so were a couple of peaceniks.)
At least two strong pro-peace members were elected to At Large
positions and at least seven took over Regional Representative and
Alternate positions. This gives the peace forces a definite
critical mass if they can mobilize themselves and become a
cohesive minority willing to do non-violent battle with those LNC
members who fear an up front pro-peace position would lose the party
even more members.
Of course, the best way to push the LNC and its staff into working
harder for peace is to give them some competition, among members and
activists and in the press. So thats what we will be discussing
next!
BOORTZ AND IRAQ: Libertarians for Peace member Carol Moore had a
talk with popular radio show host Neale Boortz whose quote on our
Libertarians for Peace leaflet seemed to enthusiastically support
attacking Iraq. When asked about the quote from his web site, he
replied: I dont think we should invade, I think we should just nuke
them!! After laughing heartily, he explained at length that he
really was for a non-interventionist foreign policy. Libertarians for
Peace will be keeping our eyes on Neale, just to make sure!
LIBERTARIANS FOR PEACE RESOLUTION: Libertarians for Peace has
announced for months that it would bring a short but strong
non-intervention resolution to the floor. Our longer PetitiononLine
for just such a resolution has been signed by over 360 individuals,
mostly libertarians, many party candidates and officers. See
http://www.PetitionOnline.com/libs4p77/petition.html
Resolutions was the last item on the Convention Agenda. As soon as
Judicial Committee voting was finished, and before Chair Jim Lark
could more than mumble that Resolutions was the next item on the
agenda, two Maryland libertarians jumped up and made rapid fire
proposals, both of which were shot down rapidly.
As he told me later, North Carolina delegate (and new LNC
alternate) Sean Haugh, thinking he was coming to the rescue of
irritated delegates who just wanted to go home, jumped up and called
for adjournment of the Convention a non-debatable motion. Delegates
quickly voted to adjournmissing an opportunity to debate whether
members want to make peace and non-intervention a larger part of the
national partys agenda. That will teach us peaceniks to be more
aggressive and grab the microphone and not wait politely for the Chair
to announce our resolution and the Secretary to show it on his big
screen television!!
Text of Libertarians for Peace Convention Resolution:
Given that U.S. military aid and intervention was an excuse for the
September 11 terrorist attacks; given that the resulting War on
Terrorism has become a war on Americans liberty; given that President
George Bush is planning to attack Iraq in an necessary war that may
kill tens of thousands of American troops;
The Libertarian National Convention resolves that the national
Libertarian Party makes one of its primary issues ending U.S. foreign
military aid and intervention, especially in the Middle East.
Signed: Jim Madison, Paula Kaylyn, Philip Health, Carol Moore, Jeff A.
Smith, Alice Lillie.
WHAT"S NEXT FOR LIBERTARIANS FOR PEACE
let's discuss over this week. PROPOSALS ANYONE -- before Carol he
workaholic throws out some...
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