An American in Berlin
And Baghdad, And Jerusalem, and...
Obama's Trip from a Libertarian Perspective
Ending Foreign Entanglements, Rebuilding Foreign Relationships
July 26, 2008
What does Barak Obama's World Tour have in common with Libertarian approaches to foreign policy? He understands we need to end unilateral meddling in the world, and the damage that is done not only to our reputation but to our national security, by going around the world poking a stick in every hornet's nest. He has made it a top priority to repair relationships and end some foreign entanglements.
As the American public focuses on the crash and burn approach to foregin policy the current administration has carried out, and the scorched earth policy related to it, Libertarians have an opportunity to remind our friends, family, co-workers, neighbors, etc. that there is much damage to be repaired, regardless of who inhabits the White House, before our nation enjoys its prior place of respect in the world. A good place to start is to get the bull out of the china shops and start helping the shop owners clean up the mess.
The next step is to establish a firm policy of non-intervention in the world. Neither of the big two will do this. Although Obama currently favors a withdrawal from Iraq, he advocates intervention in other places, including transferring much or all of our engagement in Iraq to Afghanistan. McCain's position is simply that we should be smarter about the way we intervene.
This is where the Libertarians go further, necessarily so. We understand that today, more than ever, given the current volatility in the world, we must apologize for the damage we have done and pull out of current entanglements now, and vow not to repeat this travesty again.
The question is, how much are we obligated to help clean up our mess? I have no doubt there will be spirited debate among Libertarians on this topic but I say, in the words of Colin Powell to George W in the first place, "If you break it, it's yours."
The Libertarian approach to punishing domestic crimes is restitution-based, not punishment-based. This can and should be applied to our own nation's international behavior. We have caused much damage in Iraq and have a moral obligation to fix what we broke before leaving, or to find creative ways to have it fixed quickly after our departure, which would be my preference and that of most Libertarians.
So I say, clean up, then get out, or... get out and then clean up, and then stay home!
Howooooo!
(John Howell-at-the-Moon)