Rand Paul responds to GOP criticism of his foreign policy views
(CNN) - Sen. Rand Paul penned an op-ed for the conservative outlet National Review Online, responding to critiques of the Kentucky Republican from the very same publication and other right-leaning commentators who disagree with his non-interventionist views.
Paul, who's considering a presidential bid, argued that conservatism has long had a "strain of libertarianism" on the topic of foreign policy. To back him up, he referenced NRO's own founder, conservative icon William F. Buckley Jr.
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"With regard to the Iraq War, Buckley came to believe not only that it was a mistake but that it was not a 'conservative' approach to foreign policy," he wrote. "In fact, in discussing foreign policy Buckley sounded quite the realist."
Paul has come under hot water after a 2009 video surfaced in which he made a speech suggesting that former Vice President Dick Cheney pushed for the Iraq War out of his own corporate interests with Halliburton, an oil field services company where he once served as CEO.
Rich Lowry, editor of National Review, published an opinion piece last week titled, "Rand Paul's Foreign Policy: For the Situation Room or the Dorm Room?"
Lowry referenced the 2009 speech but also hit Paul over his record on foreign policy issues involving Russia, Iran, and Syria, blaming Paul for "dewy-eyed foolishness" and saying his views are "immature."
"Rand Paul is running in a party that, while chastened on foreign policy, still has a hawkish reflex – and not because it is beholden to Halliburton," Lowry wrote.
Swinging back, Paul argued that Buckley himself did not agree with the Iraq War, and he invoked another conservative legend, Ronald Regan, saying the former president was criticized for not being as hawkish as some had hoped.
"So as today's young aspiring Buckleyites sharpen their knives to carve up conservatives who propose a more realist and nuanced approach to foreign policy, they should realize they're also pointing daggers at some of their own," Paul wrote.
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Rand Paul, who's considering a presidential bid, argued that conservatism has long had a "strain of libertarianism" on the topic of foreign policy.
Why are the Libertarians the first to snivel and complain with the light in the light house goes dark ?
Hail, Almighty Aqua Buddha. The clown car rolls on.
What foreign policy??
We must be ready to defend the USA! but nation building should not be the official business of america.
Thomas
Rand Paul, who's considering a presidential bid, argued that conservatism has long had a "strain of libertarianism" on the topic of foreign policy.
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Why are the Libertarians the first to snivel and complain with the light in the light house goes dark ?
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Because there isn't enough light for the chicken to cross the street....
Nothing conservative about being a conservative.
-–republican foreign policy meant WARS. THESE GUYS DON'T EVEN KNOW WHERE PAKISTAN IS, WHERE INDIA IS. These guys talk of foreign policy? Did they ever travel outside of USA? Pathetic.
A few years ago, wasn`t this man filling molars with silver? Why is he accorded any credibility on these topics of which he has no practical work OR life experience?
Does he know that he can't run for what will be a failed presidential bid and his current position?
Good for the country but not so good for aynd's long lost brother
Hasn't this half man had his 15 minutes yet?
This guy inserts himself into every issue on every talk show... But...does anyone actually support him? He seems like another Ralph Nader to me. He can't be elected, but adores the attention.
And he's right. Many members of the Republican party in the early 1900's were quite anti-war and "conservative." It's the Democrats who've traditionally been the war party.
It is fiscal reality, not mere politics, that dictates that our country needs to pursue a less interventionist foreign policy for the next couple of decades. GOP politicians in their twilight years, such as John McCain, may not care to acknowledge this reality, but the rest of us must face the fiscal facts.
The question is how does Paul respond to the charge of isolationism. We as a country can't retreat from the world. It sounds like that is what Paul is advocating.
Rand Paul is a loon just like his anti-Semitic daddy. Rand Paul is simply more shrewd and willing to hide his views in an attempt to gain the support of a broader electorate. He has admitted this himself in an interview with... guess who... 9/11 truther ALEX JONES! hah! I hope that this isolationist loon who spouts "liberty" but in reality supports the oppression of other people and apologizes for rogue regimes decides to run for President. If and when he does, the media and others will start to delve into his past and the racists he has associated with directly as well as his admittance that he shares almost the same views as his loon daddy Ron Paul (among other things!). Looking forward to the Presidential election in seeing this loon exposed in the same way that his conspiracy theorist daddy was.
Can't wait to see Sheldon Adelson,Rupert Mourdoch,Rove,Grover Norquist and the GOP stuff Jeb Bush down the tea party's throats Mitt the twit style.
Rand Paul's hypocrisy is palpable. He has claimed to be rogue in his party for opposing the Iraq War YET has never once praised President Obama for ending it.