Paul: We can't be allies with al Qaeda
(CNN) - The United States should not take action in Syria, because it would appear to be siding with an opposition force that has extremist elements, Sen. Rand Paul said Monday in the debut of CNN's new "Crossfire."
"We've seen priests beheaded by the Islamic rebels...We've also seen an Islamic rebel eating the heart of a soldier. So it's not like there's no atrocity on the other side, and al Qaeda is on the other side," he said. "I can't conceive of how we would go in and be allies with al Qaeda."
The Kentucky Republican has been a vocal opponent to President Barack Obama's August 31 proposal to take military action in Syria following the regime's alleged use of chemical weapons against the opposition.
For his part, Sen. Robert Menendez, D-New Jersey, argued he's not calling for the U.S. to align with al Qaeda but said there are "vetted elements of the Syrian opposition that we believe...would largely share our values."
"If you just sit back and say 'you know what, there's no consequences to the use of chemical weapons. Go kill another 1,400. Go kill another 14,000,' at what point do the consequences of those actions not only send a message in Syria, but globally we want the Ayatollah in Iran to head our message," he said. "We want the dictator of North Korea to understand 'Do not cross a line' as well. This is, I think, even beyond Assad."
Menendez is chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations committee, which passed an authorization resolution last week to grant authorization to the president. Paul is also a member of the committee but voted against the resolution.
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Thank you senator Paul for your comments.The rebels in Syria abducted 2 Archbishops few months ago.the rebels called Annasra damaged a lot holy places in Maaloula.The residents of are christians who speak Aramic,the language spoke by Jesus Christ.Most of the rebels are members of the Muslim Brotherhood and the rest are members of Aqaeda who told the citizens of Maaloula either yuo become Muslims or we are going to kill you.Thanks to any senator or congressman who votes against striking Syria.Christians suffered a lot in Iraq and they suffering from what goes on in Syria.Do politicians know churches were damaged in Syria by different groups of rebels.I am not supportive of,but we are worried about what is going to happen to the Christians their if the rebels will take over.Supporting the rebels will end up eliminating the Christians.
So we are supposed to listen to a guy that got his opthamalogist license and degree by sending in 100 box tops of fruit-loops? Really?
Rand, the adults are having a discussion. Come back when your intellectual maturity regarding foreign policy at least reaches puberty.
More BS from the GOP loser bland Paul trying to get his pubic hair on tv nobody is trying to support alcada and if theirs a strike they will probably get hit too.
So let's arm the very group we have been at war with for 12 years? And they think were the idiots
I seldom agree with Randi, but as out there as he is, even he can see this is ridiculous