Memorial Day 2006 marks the anniversary of Liberty for Utahns!

In a year's time, how have the women and men who are serving, or have served, in the U.S. military fared?

"It's always the war widows who lead the Memorial Day parade."

--Charlie, "The Americanization of Emily"

In May 2005, there were 1666 U.S. fatalities resulting from military operations in Iraq.

As of this writing, there are 2460 U.S. fatalities.

And the costs of war, especially the cost of this latest U.S. war in the Middle East, not only continue to skyrocket but greatly outweigh any perceived benefits.

The latest reward from the federal government in exchange for the loyalty and sacrifice of 26.5 million U.S. military veterans is the exposure of their Social Security numbers, dates of birth, and other personal information to identity thieves.

Meanwhile, the real beneficiaries of U.S. aggression -- the corporations populating the military-security-industrial complex -- appear to be doing very well indeed.

As investment advisor Jim Cramer would say ... "Booyah!"

The separation of the "deciders" and beneficiaries from those who pay the costs (PDF file) is a common bureaucratic arrangement throughout the United States.

A better way to align those who want to go to war, those who want to profit from wars, and those who want to bear the costs of fighting wars may be to allow Americans to hire mercenaries, also known as "soldiers of fortune".

The use of privateers during America's early history offers one example of how this might work.

Of course, the real beneficiaries of the military Iron Triangle will continue to work mightily to prevent the War Party's lucrative and closed market for security from becoming a free market.

And conveniently, through the Neutrality Act the U.S. has outlawed individual Americans from providing security assistance to those who need it overseas.

Thomas Jefferson, one of America's founders, warned of the danger to liberty posed by standing armies.

Now it's clear that the danger also extends to those who stand at attention in those armies.

Will this latest betrayal of military veterans awaken them -- and us -- in time to heed Jefferson's warning?

Yours in liberty,

Rob Latham, Chair

Libertarian Party of Utah