MORE SUPPORT FOR RON PAUL IDEAS – THIS TIME IN THE CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR
Jeffrey A. Miron of the Cato Institute writes an op-ed piece in the Christian Science Monitor about the costs of non-intervention. While I am not sure leaving the Middle East would stop all terrorism, it would certainly hinder some of it. I also disagree with the ideas about abandoning Israel. We cannot do that. But we need to treat Israel as soemthing other than a puppet.
Some highlights:
But while not everyone in the US agrees that the drug trade, prostitution, and immigration are something that should be addressed, all Americans want to reduce the number of people or organizations that seek to commit terrorist acts against the US – the demand.
So what can the US do to reduce this demand?
The answer is expeditious withdrawal of US troops from Iraq, Afghanistan, and other Middle Eastern countries, along with cessation of economic and military aid to Israel, Egypt, Pakistan, and the rest of the region.
As I said, we cannot abandon Israel. But we can reduce the demand for terrorism against America. I always felt the party line on terror, (They hate us because we are free and rich), did not wash. But I never considered the possibility of intervention as a motive for terrorism until the Cong. Ron Paul-Mayor Rudy Guiliani debate in early 2008. (Let’s remember that finding motives for crime is not the same thing as excusing it. Terrorism is still a crime and must be punished severely.)
Miron argues that, “The fact that virtually all terrorist attacks against the US since 9/11 have targeted US forces in the Middle East, rather than targets on US soil, suggests the crucial objective is getting the US to leave.” He also contends that terrorism against the British Empire ceased when the various nations won independence.
It sounds like Ron Paul is right again!
