Ron Paul not a fan of foreign aid
Washington (CNN) - Republican Texas Rep. Ron Paul said U.S. investment in Egypt was a "big mistake," partly because he's "not a believer in foreign aid" in an interview with Wolf Blitzer, anchor of CNN's "The Situation Room" Friday.
Speaking from the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), Paul compared U.S. investment in Egypt's military and economic assistance to the country with "propping up the Shah of Iran."
CPAC is the largest annual gathering of conservative-minded activists, which this year is extra-important because it's the first cattle-call of potential 2012 Republican presidential candidates.
Speaking on his disdain for foreign aid, Paul continued, "We should do a lot less a lot sooner and not waste all this money because it tends to come back and haunt us."
"I like the founders' advice, be friends with people and trade with people and negotiate and get along with them, but not to get involved in internal affairs and all these treaties and border squabbles…I'd like another option rather than just bombing people or giving them money. I would say friendship and diplomacy is a much better way to go," he said.
Paul affirmed that he didn't believe the support of Egypt was a good investment because "it wasn't well spent…it ended up in chaos, and we don't know who the next dictator is going to be and it helped contribute to our bankruptcy."
And when pressed on whether the perennial presidential candidate will seek the 2012 GOP nomination, the Texas Congressman replied "I haven't made up my mind, and that's a truthful answer, and I'm sort of glad nobody else has made up their mind either."
Of those in the field that have yet to decide, one potential candidate openly doubted the validity of a Ron Paul victory. Paul was able to respond to Donald Trump's blunt criticism that he "didn't have a chance" of winning the election and said "A lot of people said that about my views when I ran for Congress, and I was elected to Congress 11 times."
"They said there's no way you can win the election by basing everything on the Constitution. People aren't interested in that anymore. So winning 11 elections would sort of raise a question on whether or not that was an accurate statement."
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According to Paul, we don't need any allies around the world. Even China gave up isolationism 50 years ago.
I think most Americans agree with him, more now that we found out we give Egypt 1.5 billion yearly for their military.
Egypt helped stabilize the region and that helped Israel. Ron is definitely not ready for prime time.
Ron you saying what our wonderful president have been doing already so whx can"t you tell the world that Mr. Obama is doing a good job. Oh I forgot you afraid of the tea baggers thug that your son belong tn.
Paul's foreign policy views are 100% spot on. Sometimes the Tea Party and Liberal Democrat views are in unity as in the case of rejection of the Patriot Act. We should stop sending BILLIONS to foreign governments that have plenty of their own $. Ridiculous.
Back when the Constitution was written the US were not a Global potency, so isolationism MIGHT have worked well back then but today... liking it or not the USA have to deal with foreign countries Mr. Paul.
As for Mubarak, he was useful but was a dictator so there's no way the US could have sided with him 100% during the crisis. BUT, because he helped US interests during his (long) 'role' in Egypt the USA can't simply say 'Oh well, it was mistake to back you fella, you are on your own now...' and let things happen.
We need to start with a one year moratorium on ALL foreign aid.
["...Ron Paul said U.S. investment in Egypt was a "big mistake," partly because he's "not a believer in foreign aid"]
All is good in what Ron Paul believes – but when did he start believing this and how long were we supporting Egypt!! Everybody got something to say a day later!!! He got a BIG APPLAUSE @ the CPAC so now we are going to hear from him from now to forever!!
Ron, enough of this nonsense.....do not be another idiot....no one likes...why didn't you cry when Bush sent millions to Iraq...and Israel....????
Love to see Ron run in 2012!!!!