War and Foreign Policy

Presented at the Mises Circle in Manhattan: The Fed and War Finance (16 September 2006, University Club, New York, NY).

A smarter and more resolute government would not fritter away scores of billions of dollars annually on producing, deploying, and maintaining an array of weapons systems fit only for fighting a USSR that no longer exists.

From the book For A New Liberty: The Libertarian Manifesto, as narrated by Jeff Riggenbach.

This is what makes the claim so absurd that the US invaded in order to bring about freedom, democracy, and the rule of law. The war taught the advantages of all the opposite values. The Iraqis have been fine students of the moral nihilism unleashed by the US government's war on Iraq.

To the extent that government agencies own a portion of the stock market they are engaged in central planning.

This power to create money is what gives the president the chutzpah to go to war without seeking full financing or even much in the way of permission from Congress.

Morality knows nothing of geographical boundaries, or distinctions of race.

There will be no more important bilateral relationship over the next century than that between the United States and China. Much depends on the ability of the two nations to overcome cultural and political differences to cooperate peacefully. The first step in doing so is for America not to go to Asia in search of enemies to combat.

Similarly, we can confidently predict the future of US-run socialist planning in Iraq. There will be billions more spent, and hundreds of projects in operation. The majority will not amount to anything.

John Mueller asks a question that, if answered reasonably, undermines the basis of current American foreign policy. We are constantly assured that we face a threat from terrorists.