If Ron Paul was president on 9/11, what would his response be?

[N.i.K.]

Let's say that Ron Paul won the Republican nomination (against all odds) and defeated Al Gore (again, against all odds) for the presidency. Everything stays the same generally, up until 9/11. How would Ron Paul have handled it? What would be his response? Would he invade Afghanistan? I'm genuinely interested.

[Senator Libertas]

9/11 wouldn't have happened, but if it did, Paul would have called for letters of marque and reprisal against those responsible.

[Sewer]

9/11 wouldn't have happened.

Why?

[Senator Ben]

He'd blame America, like he always does.  And then he wouldn't do anything about it.

[Senator Libertas]

He'd blame America, like he always does.  And then he wouldn't do anything about it.

Lol

People who truly love America hate your neoconservative foreign policy.

[Former Moderate]

Ron Paul would have crushed the terrorists before they got on to the plane with his pure libertarian charisma. His approval rating would not increase because of it, having already reached the maximum of 100% seven months prior.

[Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey]

I don't agree with Libertas about 9/11 not happening, but he's right about marque and reprisal. Ron Paul has introduced Marque and Reprisal Acts in Congress (specifically for Osama Bin Laden right after 9/11), and has said that he wanted to use them against the Somalian Pirates. I don't think he would have invaded Afghanistan.

[Bo]

He would have gave the Taliban an ultimatum like Bush Jr. did. If they failed to fullfill all the obligations there, he would have invaded Afghanistan and established a new govt. there. Paul would have argued that since al-Qaeda attacked us, nation building would be good in this case.

[ag]

He'd issue a fatwa

[The Mikado]

He would have gave the Taliban an ultimatum like Bush Jr. did. If they failed to fullfill all the obligations there, he would have invaded Afghanistan and established a new govt. there. Paul would have argued that since al-Qaeda attacked us, nation building would be good in this case.

Another argument for Rochambeau being the most subtle troll in forum history.

Anyway, Letters of Marque?  Seriously?  Would we have hired mercenaries and privateers to track down al Qaeda?

[Derek]

That's a scary thought. He might at least try to secure the border though.

[True Federalist]

Anyway, Letters of Marque?  Seriously?  Would we have hired mercenaries and privateers to track down al Qaeda?

Haven't we already hired a bunch of mercenaries (Blackwater et al.)?  Given that they generally served to make the situation worse in Iraq, not better, I wouldn't consider going to an all mercenary option an improvement.

[CathKhan]

Bumping this because it's an interesting topic.

Ron Paul would've probably:

1) Done the "Marque and Reprisal" thing
2) Secured the border
3) Let Laisezz Faire economics take its course and destroy terrorism. "Peace is a powerful message".

[LBJ Revivalist]

Bumping this because it's an interesting topic.

Ron Paul would've probably:

1) Done the "Marque and Reprisal" thing
2) Secured the border
3) Let Laisezz Faire economics take its course and destroy terrorism. "Peace is a powerful message".

How would Laissezz-Faire economics destroy terrorism?

[CathKhan]

Bumping this because it's an interesting topic.

Ron Paul would've probably:

1) Done the "Marque and Reprisal" thing
2) Secured the border
3) Let Laisezz Faire economics take its course and destroy terrorism. "Peace is a powerful message".

How would Laissezz-Faire economics destroy terrorism?

Sarcastic jab at Libertarian anti-terrorism tactics (do nothing)

[LBJ Revivalist]

Bumping this because it's an interesting topic.

Ron Paul would've probably:

1) Done the "Marque and Reprisal" thing
2) Secured the border
3) Let Laisezz Faire economics take its course and destroy terrorism. "Peace is a powerful message".

How would Laissezz-Faire economics destroy terrorism?

Sarcastic jab at Libertarian anti-terrorism tactics (do nothing)

I kind of find the "Margue and Reprisal" idea hilliarious. I guess because it conjures up imagery of pirates and whatnot in my mind.
President Paul would create the American East India Company to deal with Al Queada!

[Senator Libertas]

Bumping this because it's an interesting topic.

Ron Paul would've probably:

1) Done the "Marque and Reprisal" thing
2) Secured the border
3) Let Laisezz Faire economics take its course and destroy terrorism. "Peace is a powerful message".

How would Laissezz-Faire economics destroy terrorism?

Sarcastic jab at Libertarian anti-terrorism tactics (do nothing)

See, there's lots of room for agreement between statist Republicans and statist Democrats.


I can't believe people are still hyped up on fear of the "terrorist" boogeyman.

[WillK]

Bumping this because it's an interesting topic.

Ron Paul would've probably:

1) Done the "Marque and Reprisal" thing
2) Secured the border
3) Let Laisezz Faire economics take its course and destroy terrorism. "Peace is a powerful message".

How would Laissezz-Faire economics destroy terrorism?

Sarcastic jab at Libertarian anti-terrorism tactics (do nothing)

I kind of find the "Margue and Reprisal" idea hilliarious. I guess because it conjures up imagery of pirates and whatnot in my mind.
President Paul would create the American East India Company to deal with Al Queada!

No need to create it -- Blackwater was ready to fill the role.

[Senator Libertas]

Bumping this because it's an interesting topic.

Ron Paul would've probably:

1) Done the "Marque and Reprisal" thing
2) Secured the border
3) Let Laisezz Faire economics take its course and destroy terrorism. "Peace is a powerful message".

How would Laissezz-Faire economics destroy terrorism?

Sarcastic jab at Libertarian anti-terrorism tactics (do nothing)

I kind of find the "Margue and Reprisal" idea hilliarious. I guess because it conjures up imagery of pirates and whatnot in my mind.
President Paul would create the American East India Company to deal with Al Queada!

No need to create it -- Blackwater was ready to fill the role.

Unsurprisingly the red avatars can't make a distinction between hiring a third party to locate a suspected terrorist, and hiring mercenaries to assist in blowing up multiple countries.

[True Federalist]

Bumping this because it's an interesting topic.

Ron Paul would've probably:

1) Done the "Marque and Reprisal" thing
2) Secured the border
3) Let Laisezz Faire economics take its course and destroy terrorism. "Peace is a powerful message".

How would Laissezz-Faire economics destroy terrorism?

Sarcastic jab at Libertarian anti-terrorism tactics (do nothing)

If we hadn't been mucking around in the Middle East in the first place then the terrorists would have fewer reasons to focus on us instead of someone else.  Problem is we have been stuck on this merry-go-round ever since the Abadan Crisis of the early 1950's.  America would have been far better off if we had stayed out of it and let Britain handle it alone.  And that's not even considering any butterflies that might have resulted from the AIOC going bust instead of changing its name to BP.

However, since our perfectly reasonable desire to contain the Soviet Union led to our mucking around over there, if one is really trying to avoid the rise of Islamic terrorism, doing something to prevent the Soviet Union from happening would likely be the best way to deal with the problem.  Get rid of Wilson as President and either the United States enters the Great War earlier or stays completely out of it.  Either result keeps the Bolsheviks from taking power, though the Romanovs would likely have lost their throne.

[CathKhan]

From what I've read about the culture in the Middle East is that they're most likely to attack a weak looking enemy than a strong one. America experienced minor terrorist attacks in the 1990's, and all we did was shoot cruise missiles at a spot where Osama was long gone from by the time the missiles reached there. The other thing Bill Clinton did in order to fight terrorism is that I heard he tried to bring Osama to court.

[State Comptroller Atkins]

Probably the same, unfortunately.

[WillK]

Bumping this because it's an interesting topic.

Ron Paul would've probably:

1) Done the "Marque and Reprisal" thing
2) Secured the border
3) Let Laisezz Faire economics take its course and destroy terrorism. "Peace is a powerful message".

How would Laissezz-Faire economics destroy terrorism?

Sarcastic jab at Libertarian anti-terrorism tactics (do nothing)

I kind of find the "Margue and Reprisal" idea hilliarious. I guess because it conjures up imagery of pirates and whatnot in my mind.
President Paul would create the American East India Company to deal with Al Queada!

No need to create it -- Blackwater was ready to fill the role.

Unsurprisingly the red avatars can't make a distinction between hiring a third party to locate a suspected terrorist, and hiring mercenaries to assist in blowing up multiple countries.

I was simply pointing out that the third party already existed and would not need to be created, as Undecided said. 

[ChairmanSanchez]

Probaly would order the relentless bombing of AQ training camps, but I doubt he would invade Afghanistan with ground troops.