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Rand Paul's New Foreign Policy Realpolitik
Communities Digital News ^ | September 6, 2014 | Richard Cameron

Posted on 09/06/2014 5:00:29 PM PDT by Noremac

 photo RandPaul1_zps2e7639a5.jpg

WASHINGTON, September 6, 2014 — Rand Paul’s opinion piece in the Wall Street Journal sums up his analysis of how the menace of the Islamic State developed, and clearly declares that it must be dealt with:

"The Islamic State represents a threat that should be taken seriously. But we should also recall how recent foreign-policy decisions have helped these extremists so that we don’t make the same mistake of potentially aiding our enemies again".

The Christian Science Monitor wonders, “Has Rand Paul become a Hawk?” and outlines his pre-existing image:

His relatively dovish foreign-policy views have long been seen as perhaps his biggest handicap in Republican primaries. Some pundits have gone so far as to leave him off their lists of serious contenders because they judge his anti-interventionist philosophy to be too far out of the mainstream of his party’s thinking.

Has Rand Paul crashed the Old Hawk’s Club? Paul himself doesn’t think he’s become one. Instead, he presents a new iteration of Realpolitik for the 21st century. Paul writes in a Time magazine editorial:

"Some pundits are surprised that I support destroying the Islamic State in Iraq and Greater Syria (ISIS) militarily. They shouldn’t be. I’ve said since I began public life that I am not an isolationist, nor am I an interventionist. I look at the world, and consider war, realistically and constitutionally."

Paul takes aim at the Obama administration — really at the President himself — when outlining the failures of the White House in taking measures to stop the Islamic State in its tracks:

"If I had been in President Obama’s shoes, I would have acted more decisively and strongly against ISIS. I would have called Congress back into session — even during recess. This is what President Obama should have done. He should have been prepared with a strategic vision, a plan for victory and extricating ourselves. He should have asked for authorization for military action and would have, no doubt, received it."

Paul notes the irony of the King of Saudi Arabia issuing a warning about the threat of ISIS to Europe and the United States, when it is commonly known that Saudi Arabia, Qatar and various other Arab states worked in conjunction with the U.S. to nurture the metamorphosis of al Qaeda into the Islamic State:

"Important partners such as Turkey, a NATO ally, Israel, and Jordan face an immediate threat, and unchecked growth endangers Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Gulf countries such as Qatar, and even Europe. Several potential partners — notably, the Turks, Qataris, and Saudis — have been reckless in their financial support of ISIS, which must cease immediately."

Paul echoes this column’s conclusions on our supporting role with ISIS when he observes:

"Three years after President Obama waged war in Libya without Congressional approval, Libya is a sanctuary and safe haven for training and arms for terrorists from Northern Africa to Syria. Our deserted Embassy in Tripoli is controlled by militants. Jihadists today swim in our embassy pool.

Syria, likewise, has become a jihadist wonderland. In Syria, Obama’s plan just one year ago — and apparently Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s desire — was to aid rebels against Assad, despite the fact that many of these groups are al-Qaeda- and ISIS-affiliated. Until we acknowledge that arming the Islamic rebels in Syria allowed ISIS a safe haven, no amount of military might will extricate us from a flawed foreign policy.

Unfortunately, Obama’s decisions — from disengaging diplomatically in Iraq and the region and fomenting chaos in Libya and Syria — leave few good options. A more realistic and effective foreign policy would protect the vital interests of the nation without the unrealistic notion of nation-building."

No question that this is another area in which Senator Paul is positioning himself to declare for a run at the 2016 GOP Presidential nomination, and is doing so in a way that distinguishes himself with respect to foreign policy, from the other likely contenders in the pack. In doing so, he seems to correctly observe that the American voter finds the growth and atrocities of the Islamic State very disturbing, but on the other hand, isn’t ready to write a blank check for more unfocused and widespread military engagement on multiple fronts.

Read more at http://www.commdiginews.com/politics-2/tea-party/rand-paul-stakes-out-his-foreign-policy-realpolitik-on-isis-25306/#WOJwEwPQvzBeJz6f.99


TOPICS: Government; Military/Veterans; Politics
KEYWORDS: antiwardotcom; isis; islamicstate; lewrockwell; obama; paultardation; putinsbuttboys; randnesty; randpaul; randpaultruthfile; randsconcerntrolls; realpolitik; ronpaultruthfile

1 posted on 09/06/2014 5:00:29 PM PDT by Noremac
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To: Noremac

Pound sand, Rand.

Let’s extract ourselves militarily and monetarily from this latest (oh no…another crisis!) iteration of a foreign entanglement and see how this plays out without us.

The “religion of peace” (/sarcasm) has enough manpower and weaponry to defeat those (like ISIS) who have hijacked (/sarcasm) the “religion of peace” (/sarcasm) Let them duke/nuke it out.

(R.I.P. America’s finest)


2 posted on 09/06/2014 5:19:57 PM PDT by PGalt
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To: PGalt; P-Marlowe

I heard Charles Krauthammer say it is preposterous that the US actions against Assad in Syria and favoring the jihadists gave rise to ISIL.

I say that Charles is seriously missing history as it actually unfolded. I simply have to go back a year in the headlines to find attacks on Assad and pleadings that we ‘arm’ the Islamic insurgency. Is Charles really so misinformed?

In any case, the case for an invasion of Iraq cannot be made with Obama as president.

I will support no effort that does not involve the entire nation and our entire military in an effort to totally win any conflict.

Short of that, there is the constitutional provision for reprisal. A short-term action to take out the head of ISIS and exact vengeance for the slaying of Americans is exactly why the reprisal option was included in the Constitution. My preferred method for doing this would be heavily arming the Kurds and Iraqis and providing intensive US strategic and close air support.

My least preferred option is a two division airborne/air assault attack on the main body of ISIS that lasts no more than the time necessary to render ISIS militarily ineffective. Then we pull out and provide air support, etc., as outlined above.

I don’t know what has overcome Charles Krauthammer. He knows we sided against Assad. Rand Paul is right on that.


3 posted on 09/06/2014 5:29:21 PM PDT by xzins ( Retired Army Chaplain and Proud of It! Those who truly support our troops pray for victory!)
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To: Noremac

Paul is a fruitcake, just like his father.


4 posted on 09/06/2014 6:08:49 PM PDT by tennmountainman (True conservatives don't like being rained on by their own party!)
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To: Noremac

Shut down the nuke facilities in Iran first.


5 posted on 09/06/2014 6:21:48 PM PDT by familyop (We Baby Boomers are croaking in an avalanche of corruption smelled around the planet.)
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Paultardation takes its toll, doo-dah, doo-dah.

Meanwhile, in America:

Cruz to Introduce Bill to Stop Americans Who Join ISIS From Returning to United States
Cruz.Senate.gov ^ | September 5, 2014 | Senator Ted Cruz
Posted on 9/6/2014 1:15:56 PM by SoConPubbie
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/3201227/posts


6 posted on 09/06/2014 8:39:49 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
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Rand Slams Congress for Funding Egypt's Generals: 'How Does Your Conscience Feel Now?'
Sen. Rand Paul is hammering his fellow senators for keeping billions in financial aid flowing to Egypt's military -- even as Cairo's security forces massacre anti-government activists. [by "anti-government activists" is meant church-burning Christian-murdering jihadists]
[Posted on 08/15/2013 5:44:10 PM PDT by Hoodat]
Rand Paul On Shutdown: "Even Though It Appeared I Was Participating In It, It Was A Dumb Idea"
I said throughout the whole battle that shutting down the government was a dumb idea. Even though it did appear as if I was participating in it, I said it was a dumb idea. And the reason I voted for it, though, is that it's a conundrum. Here's the conundrum. We have a $17 trillion debt and people at home tell me you can't give the president a blank check. We just can't keep raising the debt ceiling without conditions. So unconditionally raising the debt ceiling, nobody at home wants me to vote for that and I can't vote for that. But the conundrum is if I don't we do approach these deadlines. So there is an impasse. In 2011, though, we had this impasse and the president did negotiate. We got the sequester. If we were to extend the sequester from discretionary spending to all the entitlements we would actually fix our problem within a few years.
[Posted on 11/19/2013 12:16:51 PM by Third Person]
Rand Paul: Time for GOP to soften war stance
...by softening its edge on some volatile social issues and altering its image as the party always seemingly "eager to go to war... We do need to expand the party and grow the party and that does mean that we don't always all agree on every issue" ... the party needs to become more welcoming to individuals who disagree with basic Republican doctrine on emotional social issues such as gay marriage... "We're going to have to be a little hands off on some of these issues ... and get people into the party," Paul said.
[Posted on 01/31/2013 5:08:50 PM PST by xzins]
Rand Paul's immigration speech
...The Republican Party must embrace more legal immigration.

Unfortunately, like many of the major debates in Washington, immigration has become a stalemate-where both sides are imprisoned by their own rhetoric or attachment to sacred cows that prevent the possibility of a balanced solution.

Immigration Reform will not occur until Conservative Republicans, like myself, become part of the solution. I am here today to begin that conversation.

Let's start that conversation by acknowledging we aren't going to deport 12 million illegal immigrants.

If you wish to work, if you wish to live and work in America, then we will find a place for you...

This is where prudence, compassion and thrift all point us toward the same goal: bringing these workers out of the shadows and into being taxpaying members of society.

Imagine 12 million people who are already here coming out of the shadows to become new taxpayers.12 million more people assimilating into society. 12 million more people being productive contributors.
[Posted on 03/19/2013 7:04:07 AM PDT by Perdogg]
Rand Paul calls on conservatives to embrace immigration reform
Latinos, should be a natural constituency for the party, Paul argued, but "Republicans have pushed them away with harsh rhetoric over immigration." ...he would create a bipartisan panel to determine how many visas should be granted for workers already in the United States and those who might follow... [and the buried lead] "Imagine 12 million people who are already here coming out of the shadows to become new taxpayers...
[Posted on 04/21/2013 1:52:42 PM PDT by SoConPubbie]
[but he's not in favor of amnesty, snicker, definition of is is]

7 posted on 09/06/2014 8:41:31 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (https://secure.freerepublic.com/donate/)
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To: xzins

well stated.


8 posted on 09/07/2014 2:23:34 PM PDT by Noremac (During times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act – George Orwell)
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To: familyop

and you propose to do this how? Let’s hear your plan.


9 posted on 09/07/2014 2:25:07 PM PDT by Noremac (During times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act – George Orwell)
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To: SunkenCiv

I like his position on use of military force, but his completely wrong stance on immigration is a deal killer. I’m still a Ted Cruz guy, until something major changes on that front.


10 posted on 09/07/2014 2:30:22 PM PDT by Noremac (During times of universal deceit, telling the truth becomes a revolutionary act – George Orwell)
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To: Noremac

Fascist Russia supports the fascist Iranian nuke buildup along with the nuke buildup in North Korea. There are sanctions against Romanesque Russia and low oil prices.

The low oil prices can be supported only in our western countries with high refined fuel prices in tourist areas and other affluent areas, while refined fuel prices must be far lower in fascist countries.

Russia needs oil prices over $101 dollars per barrel to break even. With the current situation, Russian leadership is over a barrel and weakening. Allow the ISIS gremlins to run over Russian, Syrian and Iranian interests in Syria and Iraq while protecting friendlies from the renegade gremlins (protect Kurds, Americans and other friendlies).

And eventually, drought-ridden Iran is more isolated and easier to pounce on. Oh...looks like its not my plan. It’s already being done. ;-)


11 posted on 09/07/2014 5:17:04 PM PDT by familyop (We Baby Boomers are croaking in an avalanche of corruption smelled around the planet.)
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