[genefromjersey]

I think this is a wonderful idea !

All you folks at antiwar.com could just go to the hardware store and stock up on survival gear,and guns, and ammo,and everything else you're going to need.

We'll just sit back and watch........and tell you what you're doing wrong.

[Melas]

You know, I'm not one for wanting posts pulled, but if ever there were a post that deserved to pulled for its sheer stupidity, this one is it. I felt my IQ draining as I read it, and I was just passively reading this bit of trash.

How any moron could advocate the abolition of our military forces in the middle of...or in the aftermath of....never mind....you wouldn't hear a word I said.

[IronJack]

I suggest we abolish Brad Edmonds and Lew Crockwell instead. At least the military serves its purpose.

[Anitius Severinus Boethius]

I love how these morons (and yes, I'm being harsh on purpose) tell us how the Constitution is being misabused, and yet those who wrote the Constitution (Adams, Hamilton, Madison, etc.) were of the same mind as most Americans on most issues. Maybe the founders didn't understand what they wrote? Maybe Lenin and Marx used a hypnometer to change the mind of Washington, Franklin, and Adams from the time the Constitution was established until Washington's inauguration? Maybe aliens, who look a lot like George Bush, kidnapped everyone and gave them "common sense" but left the tin foil hat protected people (i.e. Lew Rockwell and company) alone?

Morons.

[theDentist]

HAAAAHAhahahahahahaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!

Oh. He was serious?

BWAHAAAAHAHAHAHahhahahahahahaaaaaa! AAAHHAhahahahahahahahahaa!

[camas]

where is the barf alert

[j_tull]

This retard refuses to give up on this garbage. I'll repeat my post from the thread when the first installment of his trilogy came out two weeks ago, "FU Brad."

[Snuffington]

Actually, considering that other Rockwell writers want to abolish the government too, this is almost worth taking seriously. Besides, Brad Edmonds wites about food, wine and spirits sometimes, and we have similar taste. So he must be redemable.

Let's start with perhaps the biggest problem:

Many things the federal government does today are unconstitutional, but this is no reason not to continue to consider the Constitution an authoritative document.

Actually, it is a pretty good reason. Either that document is a working one that is truly the supreme law of the land, or it's a dead-letter which contributed to our current government but can't honestly be claimed as our supreme law anymore. Okay, maybe dead-letter is a bit extreme, because the Constitution is still clearly part of the law of the land. But just as clearly its role is not what it used to be, and we shouldn't ignore that in resolving fundamental policy.

That's an important admission, because it forces us to confront problems squarely, rather than pretending if we just follow the Constitution all the problems will simply go away. "Oops! We discovered the military in unconstitutional, so turn in your weapons and go home guys," is not a rational or workable policy.

The private sector could provide heavy-weapons regional defense better than the government.

We've actually got some history to draw upon here. Private mercenary armies have played a formidable role in Western civilization. Guess what? The mobilization of citizen armies by nation-states made them largely obsolete. In my opinion, the main reason is that smart economic entities won't willingly assume the ridiculous risks armies assume when waging war. As Lew Rockwell's folks fondly point out, modern wars are economic losers.

Even if the military were both efficient and constitutional, a standing military is a threat to our liberty, as has been proven in US history.

This one is actually quite true. We simply disagree on whether the risk outweighs the benefit. But this is the major reason we have civilian control of our military.

As the military is a government outfit, it can never be efficient.

Efficiency isn't some binary yes/no question. It's a question of whether the efficiency is good enough to accomplish the task. Our military's primary efficiency goal is that it has to be efficient enough to accomplish its mission - which it is. It's secondary goal is to be efficient enough it isn't wasting money or resources. That one is a never-ending struggle, but in itself it's not a justification for abolishing the military.

Overall I'm a bit confused whether Mr. Edmonds believes each one of these reasons is good enough to stand on their own as justification to "abolish all government military forces now." Or whether he means that, taken collectively, the reasoning is compelling. I suspect he means the latter. I disagree in either case, but it would be more illustrative of his overall reasoning to know which he intends.

[Richard Axtell]

If Rockwell were one of the founding fathers, and he got his way, the United States would have long ago ceased to exist. We would either be part of Mexico, or the Barbary States, or more likely the British Commonwealth.

[Brad’s Gramma]

What a stupid article.

[Little Ray]

The private sector could provide heavy-weapons regional defense better than the government

JEEZ! Like mercenary soldiers are not a threat to the peace, order, and security of nation? This moron needs to read the history of the 30 Years War!!!!!

[Clean_Sweep]

You forgot the Barf!! alert

[XJarhead]

This article accurately reflects the author's knowledge of matters military:

Brad Edmonds, Doctor of Musical Arts, is a banker in Alabama.

http://www.lewrockwell.com/orig/edmunds3.html

[Mr. Silverback]

Oh yeah, give it to the private sector! Here's what performance reviews would sound like:

"Hey, you Halliburton Quick-response Marines didn't do such a good job holding that ridge! We might have to find somebody else for the next job."
"Oh yeah?" RAT-AT-AT-AT-AT-AT-AT-AT-AT-AT-AT-AT-AT! BOOM!!!!!!

[truth_seeker]

A waste of time.

[Mr. Silverback]

Joshua Chamberlain leading the 20th Maine at Little Roundtop BUMP!!

[Petronski]

[section9]

Ah yes, another sterling contribution from those supple minds over at LewRockwell.com.

Speaking of which, I wonder how Lew is doing these days?

Be Seeing You,

Chris

[JOE43270]

If it wasn't for the Troops that died, this *&(%$#@!$ would not hhave been living in a Free country to be allowed to write this ^&@#(*^!+_&*#%^*&.

[Harmless Teddy Bear]

The "for our freedom" claim is false because our freedoms were won by the founders and written into law by them,

After a couple of wars were fought by the US military but let's ignore that little fact.

the military has never been necessary to prevent our freedoms being taken by other countries,

The war of 1812. Unless of course you think being forcible pressed in to the British Navy doesn't effect your freedom in any way.

The war against the Barbary Pirates. Unless you think having your ship seized and being sold into slavery has nothing to do with your freedom. And that was just in the first few years.

Dumber then a box of hammers and more historically illiterate then a democrat.