Saturday, December 09, 2006

The Cato Institute on Iraq

The Cato Institute is a conservative/libertarian think tank. There is an article on their website that argues strongly for the U.S. to get out of Iraq, and soon.

But there is potential support for withdrawal among Republicans as well. In his recent Washington Post piece, Nebraska Senator Hagel stated categorically "The United States must begin planning for a phased troop withdrawal from Iraq."

Other veteran Republicans, including Richard Lugar of Indiana, the outgoing chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Virginia's John Warner, and South Carolina's Lindsay Graham have all voiced their concerns about an open-ended military commitment in Iraq.

An expeditious withdrawal would allow the United States to begin to rebuild its tattered image abroad. It would also free up political, diplomatic and military resources for use against al-Qaeda and other like-minded anti-American terrorist groups. Withdrawal carries risks, including the danger that the civil war in Iraq could grow more violent, or even spread beyond the country's borders, but the alternative – an indefinite commitment that saps American strength and undermines American security – is worse.

The ISG refused to make the case for ending this war. If the conflict drags on, and the costs in blood and treasure continue to mount, history will look back on their work as a lost opportunity.

While some on the right are still angry with Senator Hagel, more and more people are coming to the same conclusions he has been articulating.

3 comments:

Eric Dondero said...

Hagel has zero appeal to libertarians like me who are "Fiscally Conservative/Socially Tolerant" yet Pro-Defense. It's almost like Hagel is exactly the opposite: Fiscally Moderate/Socially Conservative and a Defense Moderate.

Giuliani "Fiscally Conservative/Socially Tolerant" and Pro-Defense, will win.

Eric at www.mainstreamlibertarian.com

Charlie said...

Senator Hagel is a strong fiscal conservative and has always had a strong pro-defense record.

Anonymous said...

Eric,

Your "Shoot first; ask questions later" type approach isn't pro-defense. It's pro-disaster.

That you don't approve of Hagel's foreign policy views is hardly suprising, given you're rabid support for the Iraq war and critism of those who do not agree with you (which includes virtually everyone in the Libertarian Party).

Your "I'm a pro-defense libertarian" schtick is growing old. Libertarians oppose big government in ALL of its forms, which includes launching pre-emptive wars on third world countries that pose no danger to the United States.