On September 24 Darren Wolfe will give a speech titled “The New Peace Movement: Ending the Wars by Uniting all Ideologies Around the Issue that Matters Most” at the second Agora I/O unconference. He will be on from 12:30 to 1pm EDT. The entire event lasts from noon to 6pm join us if you can at:

Of course, there are those who believe that 9/11 was a conspiracy carried out by the CIA in order to justify interference in our liberty. But an organization as capable as they believe the CIA is would not need a justification to abridge liberty. That was a lot of work to justify something, and the truly powerful don’t need to justify anything. Nor do they need to leave people who are revealing the truth alive. It is striking that the “doubters” believe 9/11 was created in order to crush American freedoms but that the conspirators are so incompetent they cannot shut down those who have discovered the conspiracy and are telling the world about it. Personally, if I were interested in global domination triggered by a covert act like 9/11, I would silence those revealing my secret. But then I’m not that good at it, and the doubters all have reasons why they are blogging the truth and are not dead or languishing in a concentration camp.

I take this detour for four reasons. First, doubters should not be ignored but answered. Second, unless they are answered, they will be able to say the CIA (or whomever they think did it) needed one attack to achieve its goals. Third, the issue the doubters raise is not the structural integrity of a building but the underlying intent of the CIA in carrying out the attack. The why is everything to them, and it is important to point out that it is their explanation of motive that makes no sense. Finally, I am engaging the doubters here because I enjoy receiving an abundance of emails containing fascinating accusations and the occasional threat.

What we see above is Mr. Friedman focusing on the most extreme 9/11 conspiracy theories, while ignoring the sensible ones, to discredit them all. This author agrees that 9/11 was not a CIA plot. The government didn’t have to orchestrate 9/11 they just had to allow it to happen. They take advantage of crises, they don’t engineer them.

…the portion of liberty enjoyed in England is just enough to enslave a country more productively than by despotism, and that as the real object of all despotism is revenue, a government so formed obtains more than it could do either by direct despotism, or in a full state of freedom, and is, therefore on the ground of interest, opposed to both. They account also for the readiness which always appears in such governments for engaging in wars by remarking on the different motives which produced them. In despotic governments wars are the effect of pride; but in those governments in which they become the means of taxation, they acquire thereby a more permanent promptitude.

But now, sir, the American spirit, assisted by the ropes and chains of consolidation, is about to convert this country into a powerful and mighty empire…. Such a government is incompatible with the genius of republicanism. There will be no checks, no real balances, in this government. What can avail your specious, imaginary balances, your rope-dancing, chain-rattling, ridiculous ideal checks and contrivances? But, sir, “we are not feared by foreigners; we do not make nations tremble.” Would this constitute happiness or secure liberty? I trust, sir, our political hemisphere will ever direct their operations to the security of those objects.

Today the world trembles before the American government’s might. That includes the Americans themselves who are increasingly victimized by it. Patrick Henry’s prophetic words come back to haunt us.

Like most libertarians I want to advocate for peace. I’ve worked with the left’s peace movement and have been frustrated by the fact that they insist on attaching their social and economic agendas to their activism. They then strangely say they have an “inclusive” peace movement. An excerpt from “An Inclusive Antiwar Movement?” illustrates this point well:

Libertarians are reaching out to the left to stand together for peace. (See “Organizing a Left-Right Alliance Against the War Parties “) This author approached the organizers of the October 16, 2010 peace rally in Philadelphia (See “Raising Eyebrows at a Peace Rally“) at their planning meeting a few days before the event. There I was politely, but firmly, told that they were completely unwilling to change their agenda for future rallies to accommodate other points of view.

When the left tacks on a social agenda to their antiwar coalitions that the liberty minded cannot endorse they tell us we’re not welcome. We’re not asking any of the organizations and individuals that are part of IAC or similar groups to change their advocacy. Their speakers can advocate all the same things they have before. Same with the signs they carry. All we ask is that the antiwar coalitions themselves be politically neutral so we can all join them in good conscience.

On other sides of the political spectrum there are libertarian and conservative organizations that are anti war. However, while they advocate peace they are not, with rare exceptions, explicitly peace groups. They also don’t, with few exceptions, hold peace rallies or engage in other kinds of peace activism.

My recent experience with the Chester County Peace Movement also attaching their political and social agenda to their activism lead me to the conclusion that what we need is not to try to change the existing left wing peace movement but to broaden the movement by adding to it organizations that everyone can comfortably join. To that end I’ve created Focus on Peace, a peace activism group with no political agenda attached. We only advocate for peace, nothing else.

Why should you join us? If you’re an anti war conservative or a libertarian the answer is obvious, you can now engage in peace activism without feeling like you’re endorsing the left’s agenda.

If you’re on the left I ask you to join us too. Don’t leave the peace groups you’re presently working with, we need them strong. Some on the left that I’ve talked to have said they like the idea of working with people of other ideologies. Even if you’re perfectly happy with the peace movement as it is I ask that you join us. We need your support. Surely, peace lovers of every political persuasion can see the value of broadening the peace movement.

Focus on Peace will hold its first action on March 19th in King of Prussia, PA to coincide with the World Can’t Wait’s rallies on the anniversary of the invasion of Iraq. Join us if you live nearby, start your own chapter if you don’t.

The wars abroad are less popular than ever. Now is the time to give people that are not on the left in their thinking a place to go to engage in activism for peace. Hopefully, Focus on Peace will fulfill that vital role.

It would appear that a judge in Orlando, Florida, Belvin Perry, Jr. , likes his juries not to know that they have the option to nullify the law. He has put out an administrative order “GOVERNING EXPRESSIVE CONDUCT TOWARD SUMMONED JURORS”. The order may be read in its entirety here.

Fully Informed Jury Association (FIJA) activists have been tireless in their efforts to educate Florida juries of their power to nullify the law if they disagree with it or its application. Otherwise juries would be reduced to mere rubber stamps with the government able to convict anyone of anything they choose to make illegal. This is an established principle of law.

The judge is claiming that FIJA activists are trying “to influence summoned jurors as they enter the courthouse” by handing them brochures. (Actually, the brochures are handed out to all who enter or leave the courthouse.) The brochures don’t tell jurors how to vote on specific cases they merely inform them of one of their options. Sadly, the judge’s view is that “Such occurrences severely impact the court’s ability to conduct the efficient, prompt, and proper administration of justice…”. Therefore, stopping the FIJA activists’ exercise of free speech “…is necessary to serve the State’s compelling interest in protecting the integrity of the jury system…”. With this Orwellian statement judge Perry has given himself away. What could possibly be more conducive to “…protecting the integrity of the jury system…” than informing juries of one of their powers? Does the judge not want to see the jury system working as it should, as a check on tyrannical government? It would seem not, otherwise he would welcome the FIJA activists educational efforts at his court. Obviously, the judge likes his juries obedient and easily manipulated.

The national leadership is calling on all Florida FIJA activists to stop their outreach efforts until this repressive administrative order is set aside. (The full FIJA response to this outrage can be read here.) This is a sad time for liberty and one that activists of all political persuasions must take note of. There are many demonstrations at courthouses across the USA, especially anti war ones. If they can shut down the FIJA activists they can shut down all activists. We all need to stand together to restore free speech at the Florida courthouses before it is too late.

The US government really wants Wikileaks founder Julian Assange. They’re mad at him for releasing video of the military’s murder of civilians in Iraq and more recently a list of sensitive diplomatic cables too long to get into here. A grand jury has been empaneled in Alexandria, VA  to consider criminal charges against Assange. He may never be extradited to the US for trial, but what if he is?

He has many supporters here in the peace community. This includes the Fully Informed Jury Association (FIJA ) activists  who started a campaign, Julian Assange’s Fully Informed Jury, at the website The Point. The campaign’s objective is “If Julian Assange is extradited to the United States, I will do my best to fully inform his jury.” Inform them of what you may ask? Of the right of the jury to nullify the law regardless of the facts of a case. From FIJA’s website:

The FIJA mission is to educate Americans regarding their full powers as jurors, including their ability to rely on personal conscience, to judge the merit of the law and its application, and to nullify bad law, when necessary for justice, by finding for the defendant.

The US government is also after a number of anti war activists. The FBI raided their houses and an office in Minneapolis, Chicago, Michigan, and North Carolina last September after sending in an agent to infiltrate and spy on them. Twenty-three people have been issued subpoenas. The first are scheduled to appear before grand juries on January 25, 2011. As this author pointed out in “Jury Nullification May Be The Only Salvation For The Antiwar Activists“:

Given that we live in an age when it has been said that “A good prosecutor could get a grand jury to indict a ham sandwich.” It is sadly very likely that indictments will follow. If this is the case jury nullification may be these activists only salvation.

The prospect of not being able to convict opponents of its tyranny must be terrifying to the government. There is no better way to stop FIJA activists from educating jurors and, therefore, keeping dissidents free than to start charging them with felonies for their activism.  This may be why they are now charging FIJA activist Julian Heicklen with jury tampering. Professor Heicklen is a long time activist and leader in educating juries. He has been harassed and arrested many times for handing out FIJA literature at federal courthouses, especially the one at 500 Pearl Street in New York City where he has to appear for a hearing on January 24, 2011.

According to Professor Heicklen’s website the summons he received was short on details as to when and where he committed the alleged tampering:

…the summons does not include any deposition from the accuser, so that I do not know the specific incident that is involved. The summons states that there is only one charge, but gives no particulars, including a date, time, location of the incident, names & dates of jurors tampered, & how tampered.

Having been to several of these FIJA outreach events with Julian Heicklen myself I’m quite suspicious of these charges. Not once have I seen him tell a juror how to vote on a case. He merely hands out fliers to all passersby. His prosecution can be seen as nothing more than an attempt to squash our efforts to educate juries on how they can check tyranny with jury nullification. No doubt the government will be most upset if they try Assange or the anti war activists only to have them set free by a jury bent on justice. To make sure that happens we have to make sure that first Julian Heicklen is found not guilty. Whatever your political views, show your support for him. Come to his hearing on the 24th if you can. Together we can defeat this tyranny.

The International Action Center (IAC) is having a conference this Saturday, November 6, 2010. Named the “Regional ANTIWAR Conference and a National meeting to STOP FBI Repression“, they’re hailing it as “…a discussion of a new kind of unified & inclusive antiwar movement that can challenge the wars abroad and at home”. As is usually the case with left wing antiwar organizations this one too comes with their social agenda as part of the package. On their website they state that part of the discussion is to be about “…a massive movement to bring  the war $$, troops, and mercenaries home now, rebuilding our cities, providing jobs, schools and health care that we all have a right to”. Bringing the troops and mercenaries home sounds great. It is the part about then using the money saved to finance the government’s spending on social programs the is a problem for the liberty minded. Given these realities the question has to be asked, is this really an inclusive antiwar movement?

No doubt that by now progressive readers are rolling their eyes wondering how this crazy libertarian can be against spending money on health care and education. This isn’t the time or place to engage in a debate about these subjects, we can do that later after we end the wars. Now is the time to agree to disagree on some things and unite to stop the wars and oppression.

Libertarians are reaching out to the left to stand together for peace. (See “Organizing a Left-Right Alliance Against the War Parties “) This author approached the organizers of the October 16, 2010 peace rally in Philadelphia (See “Raising Eyebrows at a Peace Rally“) at their planning meeting a few days before the event. There I was politely, but firmly, told that they were completely unwilling to change their agenda for future rallies to accommodate other points of view.

When the left tacks on a social agenda to their antiwar coalitions that the liberty minded can not endorse they tell us we’re not welcome. We’re not asking any of the organizations and individuals that are part of IAC or similar groups to change their advocacy. Their speakers can advocate all the same things they have before. Same with the signs they carry. All we ask is that the antiwar coalitions themselves be politically neutral so we can all join them in good conscience.

Imagine the strength of a truly united and inclusive peace movement. We can do it. All it takes is a little tolerance and understanding.

What looked like it would be just another Saturday protesting the war in West Chester, PA turned up something different this time. The alleged American patriots, who are always across the street from our peace vigil, had another country’s flag with them, namely Israel’s:

At least they’re being honest about who benefits from the wars the troops are fighting and dieing in!

The pro war side seems to have forgotten about liberty. Not one of their signs mentions it and certainly Israel is no shining example of it. They’re all about victory and supporting the government, not a view the Founders would have shared:

Of all the enemies to public liberty war is, perhaps, the most to be dreaded because it comprises and develops the germ of every other. War is the parent of armies; from these proceed debts and taxes. And armies, and debts, and taxes are the known instruments for bringing the many under the domination of the few. In war, too, the discretionary power of the Executive is extended. Its influence in dealing out offices, honors, and emoluments is multiplied; and all the means of seducing the minds, are added to those of subduing the force of the people. The same malignant aspect in republicanism may be traced in the inequality of fortunes, and the opportunities of fraud, growing out of a state of war…and in the degeneracy of manners and morals, engendered by both. No nation could preserve its freedom in the midst of continual warfare.

–James Madison, April 20, 1795 (Works. Vol. 4, Pp. 491-2)

To the pro war side I can only say, heed the wisdom of the Founders and make freedom your goal. That way peace, liberty, and security will ours.

Below are some pictures from the peaceful side of the street:

Many Austrians have tried to get Krugman to debate business cycle theory.  He’s too busy and too sophisticated to debate an Austrian, of course.  Until now.

Economist Robert Murphy has come up with a clever way to make this happen.  Through a website called The Point, people can pledge an amount of money to make the debate happen.  Not one cent is charged to them until it does happen.  The money will go to a charity for the hungry in New York.  So if it hits, say, $100,000, Krugman will have to explain why getting $100,000 to New York’s hungry isn’t worth one hour of his time.  Brilliant.  I’ve already pledged.  Bob is up to around $5,000 already. (UPDATE: up to $10,000!)

Here’s his video promoting it (it looks like the law school one from the other day, but it’s a different video).

Murphy-Krugman Debate

http://www.lewrockwell.com/blog/lewrw/archives/67683.html

Concord Hospital, NH, Wed. Oct. 7th, 2010

Last Night John Irish & Stephanie Janvrin had their new born baby girl taken away by government officials because of their involvement with Oath Keepers, a non violent constitutional organization. According to Irish, The Director of Security and the Head Nurse of the Hospital said “we want the pediatrician to check the baby in the nursery so that you can go home.” The baby was wheeled out in the bassinet under the protest of Irish. Irish followed them out and took note of 3-4 men wearing suits with detective badges as well as 3 police officers.

The Division of Family Child Services proceeded to pat down John and inform the parents they would be taking the daughter. “They Stole our Child” says John Irish. An Affidavit was produced that claimed an affiliation with a militia called Oath Keepers. Irish claims Oath Keepers is a non violent organization. John and Stephanie were able to spend a few minutes with their daughter and were forced to leave. A security officer escorted the two out of the hospital.

Government Agents Seize Oath Keeper\'s New Born From Hospital