Libertarians say Obama's Afghanistan policy is a failure

WASHINGTON - Libertarian Party Chair Mark Hinkle responded to President Obama's
June 22 speech with the following comments today:

"President Obama's speech was disappointing, but not surprising. The withdrawals
he announced are painfully inadequate. Obama's withdrawals, even if they are
carried out as he described, will still leave about 70,000 American troops in
Afghanistan, probably for years to come. The president is commander-in-chief of
the military. He has the power to end the war now, and withdraw all American
troops, and that's what he should do.

"The U.S. has no business fighting a war in Afghanistan. Nearly three years ago,
our Libertarian National Committee adopted a resolution (
http://www.lp.org/military-withdrawal-resolutions ) calling for the withdrawal
of our armed forces from Afghanistan. We are saddened and angry that there are
now more troops there than ever.

"Obama talked about 'ending the war responsibly.' I think the word 'responsibly'
is a weaselly escape hatch in case Obama doesn't want to withdraw more troops
later. He will just say, 'That would be irresponsible -- I need to keep the war
going strong.'

"This war causes the Afghan people to justifiably feel a greater hatred toward
America. It makes American taxpayers poorer. And it emboldens other would-be
aggressors, who can point to American intervention in Afghanistan whenever they
feel like doing the same elsewhere.

"There are two big winners from the continuation of this war: Our
military-industrial complex, which seems to have the president in its back
pocket, and the Afghan government, which continues to enjoy tremendous benefits
at the expense of the American taxpayer.

"If anything, Republican reactions to the president's speech were even more
ridiculous than the speech itself. Republican Senator John McCain fretted that
this withdrawal was not 'modest' enough. Republican presidential candidate Mitt
Romney, feeling the need to criticize Obama despite the fact that they basically
agree on everything, complained of an 'arbitrary timetable.' Republican House
Speaker John Boehner worried about losing our 'gains' in Afghanistan. All these
comments show an inability to comprehend an intelligent, modest foreign policy,
as well as a serious lack of respect for American taxpayers."

The Libertarian Party platform includes the following:


3.3 International Affairs
American foreign policy should seek an America at peace with the world. Our
foreign policy should emphasize defense against attack from abroad and enhance
the likelihood of peace by avoiding foreign entanglements. We would end the
current U.S. government policy of foreign intervention, including military and
economic aid. We recognize the right of all people to resist tyranny and defend
themselves and their rights. We condemn the use of force, and especially the use
of terrorism, against the innocent, regardless of whether such acts are
committed by governments or by political or revolutionary groups.

The LP is America's third-largest political party, founded in 1971. The
Libertarian Party stands for free markets, civil liberties, and peace. You can
find more information on the Libertarian Party at our website (
http://www.lp.org/ ).

For more information, or to arrange an interview,
Contact: Wes Benedict, Executive Director
E-mail: wes.benedict@...
Phone: 202-333-0008 ext. 222

###

Libertarian Party: 40 years is enough - end the Drug War

WASHINGTON - June 17, 2011 was the 40th anniversary of America's War on Drugs.
Libertarian Party Chair Mark Hinkle issued the following statement:

"On June 17, 1971, President Richard Nixon declared a 'War on Drugs,' which has
become a relentless violation of the lives and property of Americans, including
many who have never taken illegal drugs. These violations continue under
President Barack Obama, an admitted former cocaine user who has shown no
hesitation in throwing people into prison -- a punishment he might have suffered
had he been caught. Moreover, although promising to respect medical marijuana
use in states where voters have approved it, the Obama administration has
already conducted close to 100 raids on patients, growers, and compassion
centers in those states.

"America's first experiment in prohibition involved alcohol, and is widely
recognized as a failure. Approved in 1919, Prohibition I led to a steady rise in
both alcohol usage and violent crime. The murder rate rose 50% between 1919 and
1933, peaking at 9.7 murders per 100,000 population in 1933, when the country
finally decided enough was enough. Immediately after the repeal of Prohibition
I, gangsterism went into a swift decline, with all of the major gangs
disappearing within 18 months, and the murder rate dropping every single year
for more than a decade.

"Prohibition II -- the War on Drugs -- has been another tragedy. We applaud the
efforts of Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP), an organization of
current and former police, prosecutors, judges, DEA agents, and others, which
issued a 20-page report this month detailing the tragic results of this
misguided crusade, entitled 'Ending the Drug War: a Dream Deferred.'
http://www.leap.cc/wp-content/uploads/2011/06/Ending-the-Drug-War-A-Dream-Deferr\
ed.pdf

"In their report, LEAP documented some of the measurable costs: over a million
people arrested each year, a trillion dollars spent, and drug gangsterism at a
level that dwarfs its alcohol equivalent and which has led to a bloodbath in
Mexico that is spilling over into the United States. Not because of drugs, but
because of drug laws. And over 120 million Americans have used illicit drugs:
only the most deluded observer believes the laws have curbed drug abuse, and
only the cruelest believes that 40% of the American population belongs in
prison. No wonder 67% of police chiefs say the War on Drugs is a failure.

"Ultimately, of course, this tragedy is the result of our government's refusal
to allow people to engage in peaceful choices as to what they consume. Even if
drug use were to rise upon a return to the American tradition of tolerance that
existed before the 1914 Harrison Narcotics Act, our streets would be safer,
innocent people would not have their homes raided and pets killed by narcotics
agents entering the wrong house, victims of asset forfeiture laws wouldn't have
their houses and other assets seized without due process, and resources would be
freed to spend on improving peoples' lives instead of destroying them.

"Ten years ago, Portugal decriminalized all drug use, including substances
classified as hard drugs. As a Cato Report entitled 'Drug Decriminalization in
Portugal: Lessons for Creating Fair and Successful Drug Policies' (
http://www.cato.org/pub_display.php?pub_id=10080 )showed, drug use dropped over
the next several years and the Portuguese now use marijuana at lower levels than
Americans use cocaine.

"It only took Americans 14 years to realize the insanity of Prohibition I. Both
practical considerations and simple human decency demand that our government end
Prohibition II now."

The Libertarian Party platform ( http://www.lp.org/platform )includes the
following:

1.0 Personal Liberty
Individuals should be free to make choices for themselves and to accept
responsibility for the consequences of the choices they make. No individual,
group, or government may initiate force against any other individual, group, or
government. Our support of an individual's right to make choices in life does
not mean that we necessarily approve or disapprove of those choices.

1.2 Personal Privacy
Libertarians support the rights recognized by the Fourth Amendment to be secure
in our persons, homes, and property. Protection from unreasonable search and
seizure should include records held by third parties, such as email, medical,
and library records. Only actions that infringe on the rights of others can
properly be termed crimes. We favor the repeal of all laws creating "crimes"
without victims, such as the use of drugs for medicinal or recreational
purposes.

For more information, or to arrange an interview, call LP Executive Director Wes
Benedict at 202-333-0008 ext. 222.

The LP is America's third-largest political party, founded in 1971. The
Libertarian Party stands for free markets, civil liberties, and peace. You can
find more information on the Libertarian Party at our website.
https://www.lp.org

P.S. If you have not already done so, please join the Libertarian Party -
https://www.lp.org/membership . We are the only political party dedicated to
free markets and civil liberties. You can also renew your membership -
https://www.lp.org/membership . Or, you can make a contribution separate from
membership - https://www.lp.org/contribute .

Also Please Share these with friends and family, Thanks -

Drug use is a personal choice -
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bgeaq93W7kI&feature=player_embedded

War on Drugs - Mark Grannis- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ditlqe0bMik

"Libertarians Are The Party People" -
http://www.lpstuff.com/shop/index.php?_a=viewProd&productId=470

I grew hemp - George Washington -
http://www.lpstuff.com/shop/index.php?_a=viewProd&productId=530

RE-Legalize It > http://www.lpstuff.com/shop/index.php?_a=viewCat&catId=109

What's the Diff?!: http://www.youtube.com/user/clearsky24#p/u/27/KOji-ZIv4Vs

Radio Liberty Specials - http://www.radioliberty.com/specials.htm

Please Enjoy "Libertarian Quotes" Read by Hans Lysglimt -
http://www.libertarianquotes.com/

Over 1000 libertarian quotes- http://www.libertarianquotes.com/quotes1.html