Phillies: We Don't Invade Our Allies

George Phillies for President 2008

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Thursday, August 16, 2007

Phillies: We Don't Invade Our Allies

"It's very simple.  Invading a foreign country is an act of war," Libertarian Presidential candidate George Phillies said in answer to fellow candidate Barack Obama. "I am shocked that an allegedly serious Presidential candidate would call for invading Pakistan.  Not only is Pakistan an ally, but it is a nuclear power."

Under pressure from Republican opponents and fellow Democrat Hillary Clinton that he appeared too soft on terrorism, on August 1 Senator Obama said* that the United States might invade Pakistan to pursue Al Qaeda members.  Obama said "I understand that President Musharraf has his own challenges. But let me make this clear...If we have actionable intelligence about high-value terrorist targets and President Musharraf won't act, we will."

Phillies strongly disagrees.  "Thank goodness Obama is not our President.  It has always been understood that when you invade a foreign country you are potentially at war with them.  President of Musharaf of Pakistan is honor-bound to defend his country. He cannot afford to look weak. Apparently these issues are beyond Senator Obama's understanding of foreign affairs."

Phillies asks Mr. Obama, 'What is your working plan if the Pakistanis respond to our act of war with their own acts of war? They might arm the guerrillas now fighting our forces in Iraq. They might send their army to deny us bases in Afghanistan. Worse, Pakistan knows that their nuclear arsenal is not secure against an American strike. Any militarist can start a war.  Stopping one is far more challenging.'

In a recent statement on pursuing Al Qaeda, Professor Phillies said that the United States needs to stop fighting "the last war," and update its tactics. "Finding Mr. Bin Laden is a job for spies, not a job for tank divisions. The Afghan people have been governing themselves for a very long time. They will not long tolerate foreign occupation, even ours. Only a Libertarian President will give the Bin Laden problem to the right people."

*For the text of Senator Obama's speech:  http://www.barackobama.com/2007/08/01/remarks_of_senator_obama_the_w_1.php

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