Rand Paul tells veterans ‘We must be more prudent in our foreign policy’
In a speech in front of 10,000 veterans at the Veterans of Foreign Wars 144th National Convention in Louisville, Ky., Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) went over a plethora of foreign policy issues with this thought in mind, “We must be more prudent in our foreign policy.”
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“Senators, like soldiers, take an oath to defend the Constitution against our enemies. I consider it the primary and foremost duty of the Federal Government to defend America, to defend our Bill of Rights and to defend our God-given liberties”, Paul states in the beginning of the speech.
Looking at the current state of US foreign policy, Paul says, “There is no greater priority for the Federal Government than the defense of the Constitution and the nation.
“Yet, sometimes I think our defense is weakened by our over eagerness to be involved in every civil war on the planet.”
Dr. Paul talks to the veterans about what we’re doing in Egypt, Syria and Pakistan.
“In 2012, I introduced an amendment in the Senate halting the transport of weapons to Egypt, Pakistan and Libya. In February of this year, I introduced an amendment that would’ve prevented the shipment of weapons to the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt.
“Over 75 percent of Americans are against arming the Muslim Brotherhood, yet over 75 percent of the Senate voted to continue arming Islamic radicals,” he said.
On Syria, he says, “The Assad regime is no friend to freedom or the United States. But this does not mean the enemy of our enemy is our friend. There are currently 17 different rebel groups in Syria, including the largest group, al-Nusra.
“Al-Nusra fighters are radical anti-American jihadists that are affiliated with al-Qaeda. Politicians in Washington, who are eager to send these weapons, promise they will not fall into the hands of our enemies.
“Do you believe that? Does anyone believe that? We have trouble telling friend from foe in Afghanistan. Syria is a thousand-fold more chaotic. Even our Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Martin Dempsey, warns that it is becoming increasingly difficult to tell friend from foe in Syria.”
Even if you believe we should arm Islamic fighters in Syria, shouldn’t, at the very least, Congress vote on the matter? The Constitution is very clear. Congress is to declare war, not the President.
Paul asks, “Why do we arm dictators and the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt? Why do we arm affiliates of al-Qaeda and endanger Christians in Syria? Why do we reward Pakistan with our tax dollars-as they continue to imprison the man who helped us catch Bin Laden?”
Paul also comments on US foreign policy with Libya and discusses the Benghazi incident, asking, “Who ordered the marines to stand down? Did a politician intervene to cause our marines to stand down?”
Paul was none to short on admiration for former President and General Dwight D Eisenhower, quoting, “”I have one yardstick by which I test every major problem – and that yardstick is: Is it good for America?”
“We must be more prudent in our foreign policy. Eisenhower was right to observe that little wars can often lead to big wars. Reagan was right that America’s purpose is to promote peace through strength.”
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