A warning from Ron Paul
Frank Reichert
by Ron Paul
Before the US House of Representatives, October 26, 2005
We have been warned. Prepare for a broader war in the Middle East, as
plans are being laid for the next U.S.-led regime change – in
Syria. A
UN report on the death of Lebanese Prime Minister Rafig Hariri
elicited
this comment from a senior U.S. policy maker: "Out of tragedy
comes an
extraordinary strategic opportunity." This statement reflects the
continued neo-conservative, Machiavellian influence on our foreign
policy. The "opportunity" refers to the long-held
neo-conservative plan
for regime change in Syria, similar to what was carried out in Iraq.
This plan for remaking the Middle East has been around for a long
time.
Just as 9/11 served the interests of those who longed for changes in
Iraq, the sensationalism surrounding Hariri's death is being used to
advance plans to remove Assad.
Congress already has assisted these plans by authorizing the
sanctions
placed on Syria last year. Harmful sanctions, as applied to Iraq
in the
1990s, inevitably represent a major step toward war since they bring
havoc to so many innocent people. Syria already has been charged with
developing weapons of mass destruction based on no more evidence than
was available when Iraq was similarly charged.
Syria has been condemned for not securing its borders, by the
same U.S.
leaders who cannot secure our own borders. Syria was castigated for
placing its troops in Lebanon, a neighboring country, although such
action was invited by an elected government and encouraged by the
United States. The Syrian occupation of Lebanon elicited no suicide
terrorist attacks, as was suffered by Western occupiers.
Condemning Syria for having troops in Lebanon seems strange,
considering most of the world sees our 150,000 troops in Iraq as an
unwarranted foreign occupation. Syrian troops were far more
welcome in
Lebanon.
Secretary Rice likewise sees the problems in Syria – that we
helped to
create – as an opportunity to advance our Middle Eastern agenda. In
recent testimony she stated that it was always the administration's
intent to redesign the greater Middle East, and Iraq was only one
part
of that plan. And once again we have been told that all options are
still on the table for dealing with Syria – including war.
The statement that should scare all Americans (and the world) is the
assurance by Secretary Rice that the President needs no additional
authority from Congress to attack Syria. She argues that authority
already has been granted by the resolutions on 9/11 and Iraq. This is
not true, but if Congress remains passive to the powers assumed
by the
executive branch it won't matter. As the war spreads, the only
role for
Congress will be to provide funding lest they be criticized for not
supporting the troops. In the meantime, the Constitution and our
liberties here at home will be further eroded as more Americans die.
This escalation of conflict with Syria comes as a result of the UN
report concerning the Hariri death. When we need an excuse for our
actions, it's always nice to rely on the organization that our
administration routinely condemns, one that brought us the
multi-billion dollar oil-for-food scandal and sexual crimes by UN
representatives.
It's easy to ignore the fact that the report did not implicate Assad,
who is targeted for the next regime change. The UN once limited
itself
to disputes between nations; yet now it's assumed the UN, like the
United States, has a legal and moral right to inject itself into the
internal policies of sovereign nations. Yet what is the source of
this
presumed wisdom? Where is the moral imperative that allows us to
become
the judge and jury of a domestic murder in a country 6,000 miles from
our shores?
Moral, constitutional, and legal arguments for a less aggressive
foreign policy receive little attention in Washington. But the law of
unintended consequences serves as a thorough teacher for the slow
learners and the morally impaired.
* Is Iraq not yet enough of a headache for the braggarts of the
shock and awe policy?
* Are 2,000 lives lost not enough to get their attention?
* How many hundreds of billions of dollars must be drained
from our
economy before it's noticed?
* Is it still plausible that deficits don't matter?
* Is the apparent victory for Iran in the Shiite theocracy we've
created in Iraq not yet seen as a disturbing consequence of the
ill-fated Iraq regime change effort?
* When we have our way with the next election in Lebanon and
Hezbollah wins, what do we do?
* If our effort to destabilize Syria is no more successful
than our
efforts in Iraq, then what?
* If destabilizing Syria leads to the same in Iran, what are our
options?
If we can't leave now, we'll surely not leave then – we'll be told we
must stay to honor the fallen to prove the cause was just.
We should remember Ronald Reagan's admonition regarding this area of
the world. Ronald Reagan reflected on Lebanon in his memoirs,
describing the Middle East as a jungle and Middle East politics as
irrational. It forced him to rethink his policy in the region. It's
time we do some rethinking as well.
October 28, 2005
Dr. Ron Paul is a Republican member of Congress from Texas.
------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor
--------------------~-->
Get fast access to your favorite Yahoo! Groups. Make Yahoo! your
home page
http://us.click.yahoo.com/dpRU5A/wUILAA/yQLSAA/XgSolB/TM
--------------------------------------------------------------------~->
Idaho Libertarian Activist Conference addresses and sites:
Post message: idaho...@yahoogroups.com
Subscribe: idaho_libs...@yahoogroups.com
Unsubscribe: idaho_libs-...@yahoogroups.com
List owner: mode...@liberty-northwest.org
Web: www.liberty-northwest.org
Libertarian Party of Idaho Web link: www.lpidaho.org
Shortcut URL to this page:
http://www.yahoogroups.com/community/idaho_libs
Yahoo! Groups Links
<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/idaho_libs/
<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
idaho_libs-...@yahoogroups.com
<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/