(CNN) - Presidential candidate Rep. Ron Paul reiterated his controversial stance Sunday that some policies of the United States contributed to the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001.
Speaking on the CBS program “Face the Nation,” Paul said his views were consistent with analysis from various groups.
Programming note: GOP presidential candidates face off at 8 p.m. ET Tuesday, November 22, in the CNN Republican National Security Debate in Washington, D.C.
“I think there's an influence,” Paul said. “That's exactly what the 9/11 Commission said. That's what the DoD has said. That's also what the CIA has said. That's what a lot of researchers have said.”
Paul said American intervention in foreign nations was a trigger to potential terrorists, who he said were sending the message: “We don’t like American bombs to be falling on our country.”
He cited withdrawing a military base from Saudi Arabia immediately after 9/11 as an indication that U.S. military policy was partly responsible for the actions of terrorists.
Paul has previously said that the military presence in Saudi Arabia was a motivator for terrorists, who were angered by American troops in the Islamic country.
The Texas congressman made clear he did not think America’s form of government and economy were to blame, but rather the specific foreign policies pursued by the United States.
“To deny this I think is very dangerous, but to argue the case that they want to do us harm because we're free and prosperous I think is a very, very dangerous notion because it's not true,” Paul said.
He continued, “You're supposed to be able to criticize your own government without saying you're un-American.”
From CNN Politics
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His opinion is controversial? Why? We support middle east dictators, we destroyed Iraq with a 'pre-emptive attack' and took control of the Iraq oil fields. We have meddled in the middle east for decades and we are hated. The 9-11-11 attacks weren't the first attacks by terrorist on the US, just the worst. Ron Paul is 100% correct.
Controversial? Yea, I guess the truth is controversial in the eye's of big government, corporate lobbyist's and the media. But I don't have a problem with it.
Fire one Hellfire missile on the innocent in Pakistan or Yemen and you give birth to a hundred terrorists. What's so difficult to understand this? That's our foreign policy of revenge, might-is-right (to quote Pawlenty's speech at CPAC), force, arrogance and insensitivity.
Dr. Paul wants to use our 12,000 diplomats to broker peace and prosperity. It won't cost us a trillion dollars, and boy, do we need to find ways to cut spending. Nobody's life is endangered. It does not inflame the emotions or stir up hatred.
Ron Paul gets my vote and my paycheck. I'm sick of war.
If this nutjob is a Republican nominee, then i will for sure support Obama – 100 % !
Ron Paul proves once again why he is a certifiable nut case. He should be elected the President of a mental hospital patients association.
I agree that American troops should have gone Into Iraq ,but It was the Republican that send them there and he Is a Republican. Now after Ten years or more now he saying this. What happen to him ten years ago. Going Into Iraq Is almost 2/3 of American dept If not more. That money that should have never been spend. Just like the BUSH tax cuts there another trillions dollars a year that should never had been spend.
Well, yeah, Ron–you are supposed to be able to criticize what the govt. does without being labeled un-American, "not supporting our troops," or any other thing. Tell that to the Tea Party...tell that to Faux News...You should also be able to criticize the business community without getting your head knocked
I wish you have 0.000000001% chance to win the nomination and the presidency and I will switch gear in a second and vote for you. since I know this will never happen, then I will have to do what is right and vote for Obama. I wish your son is half the man you are.
The more Run Paul rants, the more convinced I get he is going senile. First, it was Walker Bush who formed the Patriot Act that sent our soldiers to die and kill to the Middle East. So President Obama is innocent; he inherited the political and monetary mess that Bush, junior left behind.Only the mentally retarded would vote for Ron Paul.
I wonder what Herman Cain or Rick Perry's foreign policy views are.... oh wait, they don't have one! Herman Cain couldn't even point the middle east out on a map but he is somehow electable? Rick Perry can't put two sentences together but people still want to vote for him? I'm voting Dr. Paul, the only articulate candidate with a consistent common sense message.
I agree sir. I believe we brought this to our own back yards.
How about an article on all the times we heard the stupid comment "the terrorists hate us because of our freedom". Why were THOSE completely ridiculous statements not put on the chopping block. Of course our actions around the work have ramifications. I'm not even a Ron Paul supporter and I know he's right on this.
"Surprising" 9/11 claim? Huh? This has been his position since the beginning. It's only a surprise if you have been living under a rock for the last 10yrs. And by the way, he's right: 9/11 WAS retaliation for our violent and repressive foreign policy.
Funny, I never knew Muslim extremists were supposed to dictate OUR foreign policy. 9/11 occurred because we support Israel. And we will always support Israel.
You weirdos are never going to accept that, but then you will never change that either.
Again, I don't agree with all his positions, but he is definitely starting to seem like the lesser of all the evils. And he is spot-on here. Probably one of the few threads where the majority of us agree, and yet this guy gets NO RESPECT from the media. Shows you who they are working for.
Ron Paul is not un-American. He loves his country. He just happens to be an idiot and his supporters are fools who may give this election to Obama just like Ross Perot gave the '92 election to Bill Clinton. And, what is his son going to do when his Dad bolts the party for his "independent" run ego trip? Is he going to support the nominee of his party or, his Dad?
I dont agree with much of what Ron Paul says but i agree with him on this 110%. Its niave of Americans to think that they hate us because of our freedom as Bush said when he lied to everyone. They hate us because we take a dump on thier freedom.
Paul is spot on correct, but his party denies the truth that is why they are screwed up and won't win!
We Need Three good, BALANCED and Candidates. Not extreme wingnuts. Paul is a nice guy, but he is not one of them.
He is right. The United States' desire for freedom here and around the world, angered the terrorists and influenced their desire to destroy anything that stands in the way of their radical oppressive belief system.
His foreign policy AND his domestic policy are BOTH following the SAME plan...
Just like the Internet if you have Freedom you will have some bad actors doing bad and good actors doing good ... and a whole lot of inbetween ... but you WONT have 1 2 or 3 actors doing BAD on everyone else... not possible in a TRUE free market and a TRUE free world
As a liberal, I like Ron Paul. I'd vote for him, but there's something lurking behind the scenes that I'm just not sure of.
The intelect of evryone on this article shows how idiotic it is . To start with ROP paul is not a senator, he is amember of the house of Representativs, CBS has about as much validity as FOX.Haven't read this much crazy comments in ages. Criminal Arabic personnel showed that they can disrupt but not[ Destroy] the American people.
Ron Paul speaks the truth, but sadly is viewed as unable to beat Obama. He's another Ross Perot, less the big money and big ears......on second thought.
"To argue the case that they want to do us harm because we're free and prosperous I think is a very, very dangerous notion because it's not true,” Paul said.