Yearly Archives: 2013

Whom would you HIRE to intervene in Syria?

"We have no problem with the police intervening to end a criminal shootout. So why do we so passionately oppose having the U.S. federal state intervene in Syria and other places? There are multiple reasons. The Feds have a really bad track record (you can read a summary here); Tend to support bad guys and establish dictatorships; Constantly create new enemies; Force all Americans to support these interventions, even when they offend personal conscience. But does this mean that we have to sit idly by and watch bad things happen to good people overseas? We don't think so. Instead, imagine what would happen if we had a Separation of Intervention and State." Continue reading →

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Liberty Empowered Coverage of No War in Syria Rally: Tulsa

"On Saturday of Labor Day weekend, while the majority of Americans were enjoying their time off drinking beer at the lake, a minority of Americans across the nation labored tirelessly for the cause of peace. Most major cities across the nation hosted a No War in Syria Rally, sporting picket signs and protesting American intervention in Syria’s civil war. Even on a worldwide scale, individuals showed their support for peace in record numbers. Here in Tulsa, Oklahoma, a group of about 60 activists gathered together for their No War in Syria Rally: Tulsa, in 104 degree heat to 101st and Memorial to unanimously show opposition to America’s involvement in another country’s civil war." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingLiberty Empowered Coverage of No War in Syria Rally: Tulsa

Protesters gather in DC to demand no strike against Syria

"As Congress prepares to consider a proposal for airstrikes in Syria against the regime of Bashar al-Assad, public sentiment is tilted against the idea. Protesters gathered to make their objections felt in the nation's capital this weekend, calling into question President Barack Obama's case that action is necessary to maintain international law, deter other 'bad actors' and protect American credibility." Continue reading →

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Ron Paul: Why Aren’t We Talking About the Cost of War in Syria?

"Despite Obama’s assurances that U.S. military action won’t involve 'boots on the ground,' Paul warned about the human cost of 'so many more lives lost than [lawmakers] are anticipating. They think they can predict these things, but there is a cost – the cost of life and limb, the cost of freedoms at home because of a war atmosphere.' 'Just because one cruise missile might cost one-and-a-half million dollars –there are a lot more expenses involved' in any military strike, said Ron Paul. 'It will be easy [for costs] to go much, much higher.' He compared the difference in costs in the Iraq War: 'It was estimated to cost $60 billion – and it turned out to be into the trillions.'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingRon Paul: Why Aren’t We Talking About the Cost of War in Syria?

The Resident: Why Gov’t Consolidates Media

"The Telecommunications Act of 1996 was supposed to the broadcast market to competition, saving the American public from monopolies. In reality, the Act opened the door for massive deregulation and media conglomeration. It accomplished this by way of the FCC not enforcing the rules it set forth. Today, we see companies like Sinclair Broadcasting gobbling up huge broadcast market shares. And the FCC continues to try to allow for even more conglomeration. We have an oligopoly in the American media, and it's poised to get even worse. The Resident (aka Lori Harfenist) discusses." Continue reading →

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On Syria (and all else), it’s ‘Us’ against ‘Them’

"The 'estimable' men arguing for war in both Houses and before them are not on the people’s side. Never will be. For they do not accept that a just government’s duty is to its own citizens first. We have a solemn [negative] duty not to violate the rights of foreigners everywhere to life, liberty and property. But we have no duty to uphold their rights. Why? Because the ostensible upholding of the negative rights of the world’s citizens involves compromising the negative liberties of Americans – our lives, our liberties and our livelihoods. By this imperative, Kerry, Hagel, Dempsey, Kinzinger, the senior Republican flake from Arizona, the junior Jeff Flake from the same state, will never abide." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingOn Syria (and all else), it’s ‘Us’ against ‘Them’

Dennis Rodman (& Russia) Promoting Global Peace

"Dennis Rodman has a road-map to peace: 'building trust and understanding through sport and cultural exchanges,' as he put it. It’s slow, laborious and precludes lobbing bombs at North Korea or depriving its poor, long-suffering people of contact with the world. Rodman says this about his frequent visits to Pyongyang: 'I know in time Americans will see I’m just trying to help us all get along and see eye to eye through basketball and with my friendship with Kim I know this will happen.' On the other hand, a woman of war has just issued forth in support of Barack Obama’s adventure in Syria. Hillary Clinton or Dennis Rodman for public office? I know what my choice would be." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingDennis Rodman (& Russia) Promoting Global Peace

An Inflection Point for US Global Hegemony?

"If there were ever reasons for other global actors to decide it is time to rid themselves of connections to the American state, it would seem now is as good a time as any. So again, what does this have to do with Syria? Syria offers an opportunity to get a peek at the answer to the question: will these non-Anglo power centers fall in line, or will they stand tall? Does the Anglo-American elite have the strings of the Chinese and Russian leaders (and the rest) or are the political leaders in these countries in a position to take a different path? In other words, this affair in Syria offers the possibility of a real inflection point in the big-game of global elite control." Continue reading →

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Chomsky: U.S. is a ‘rogue state’ that ‘doesn’t pay attention to international law’

"'We should bear in mind that the core principle of the United Nations Charter bars the threat or use of force. So all of this is criminal, to begin with, but he’ll continue with that.' 'The United States is a rogue state,' he averred. 'It doesn’t pay any attention to international law.' Furthermore, he said, '(t)his would be a perfect opportunity to ban chemical weapons, to impose the chemical weapons convention on the Middle East.' The U.S., of course, Chomsky noted, will never go along with that because of one nation in the Middle East 'which has chemical weapons and is in violation of the chemical weapons convention and has refused even to ratify it — namely Israel.'" Continue reading →

Continue ReadingChomsky: U.S. is a ‘rogue state’ that ‘doesn’t pay attention to international law’

Iran Ruling In Europe Blocking Sanctions Draws Anger From U.S.

"In a setback for the United States’ attempts to isolate Iran, a European Union court threw out sanctions Friday on seven Iranian companies, including four banks, rejecting arguments that they were acting as front companies to bypass the punitive measures. The General Court in Brussels, the union’s second-highest tribunal, ruled that the bloc wrongly imposed sanctions against the Iranian companies as part of its efforts to stop Iran from developing nuclear weapons, a decision that immediately drew the ire of American officials. The United States Treasury took the opposite tack on Friday, imposing restrictions on a network of six individuals and four businesses for links to oil sales." Continue reading →

Continue ReadingIran Ruling In Europe Blocking Sanctions Draws Anger From U.S.