Crooked Timber Debate: Libertarianism and the Iraq War
Hat tip to Ralph Luker at Cliopatria for calling this to my attention. I wrote the following (edited and revised) comments: "As a long-time libertarian who writes on a predominantly antiwar libertarian website at the History News Network (Liberty and Power), I must admit to the charge of a libertarian"macho swagger" that sometimes leads to pro-war conclusions. Years ago, Michael Emerling called it the"libertarian macho flash."
Having said this, too many folks here have greatly exaggerated the influence of the"liberventionists." I think that the evidence is compelling that most active libertarians are more antiwar than either the left or right. Nearly all that I know opposed the Kosovo War.
Though several prominent libertarians support the Iraq War, I think it is still safe to say that a majority of the activists in self-identified leading libertarian organizations including the Libertarian Party, Cato, the Von Mises Institute, and the Independent Institute opposed the war from the outset."