Tony Blankley, editorial page editor of the Washington Times and former press secretary to Newt Gingrich, "described himself as a libertarian" in a speech to the Young America's Foundation National Conservative Student Conference. Then he set about proving how much of a libertarian he isn't.
Although he had long favored elevating civil liberties above "intrusive government," Blankley said, he found it necessary to rethink some of his views in the aftermath of 9/11."It does no good for us to be dead and theoretically free," he said. "I'd rather be alive and fight for our freedom. . . For the duration of the danger, I am in favor of more intrusion into our civil liberties as we had during World War II."
. . . The growth of radical Islam would be further accelerated if America were to withdraw from Iraq, said Blankley. The "symbol of an American retreat" would greatly swell the ranks of al Qaeda and other terrorist organizations, and have a "hugely powerful effect on their ability to recruit," he said.
It is proper to view Iraq, Blankley added, as one front in the war on terror.
"I find it ironic the people who say we didn't think smartly when we got in are thinking remarkably stupidly in saying we should get out," he said.
Blankley also discussed the troop surge in Iraq and told students there are some encouraging signs of American military progress.
Blankley, it appears, is as much of a libertarian as Bill Maher, who seems to think libertarianism consists of nothing more than libertinism.
