Simon Jenkins says that calls to send troops back into Lebanon beggar belief."We should dispatch the Red Cross, not the aircraft carriers."

He concludes:"Of course something must be done about the agonies suffered by the people of the Middle East. Humanity demands it. I would sail the first Red Cross ship into Beirut harbour. But I would sink the first aircraft carrier."

Go here to read his plea against armed intervention in the Lebanon.

The Garbageman - 7/25/2006

David,

I agree with what you've said here. The 'maximizing' v. 'absolutist' distinction is not useful. I argues in my own post on the blog that the distinction was between those who know how to maximize liberty and those who don't. But of course that's loaded.

I wanted to ask you: Is there really a significant split amongst libertarian intellectuals? I don't get the feeling that there is. The split seems to be between grassroots/blogger type libertarians. I don't feel that it penetrates to the economics/history/philosophy level.