Rand Paul Takes Shot at Neoconservatives (Video)

In a veiled shot at influential neoconservatives within the Republican Party, Sen. Rand Paul tells The Brody File the following:

“There are people who will do or say anything who are your enemies,” Paul said. “Those who believe in perpetual war are some of the most dangerous to our country, and I think they will do everything they can to try and vilify people who are trying to find a more reasoned approach where war is the last resort not the first resort.”

While he didn’t mention any names, it doesn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that Paul is pushing back against neoconservatives like Bill Kristol and others who haven’t had too many kind words for the senator from Kentucky.

Overall, neocons don’t like Paul’s views on foreign policy and are no doubt concerned by Paul’s increasing platform and visibility as he sets his sights on the GOP nomination.

Remember, it was the Washington Free Beacon that blasted out the story on Jack Hunter, Paul's aide who has since resigned. The article dug up quotes from Hunter’s past that make him look like a racist.

Anyhow, it turns out that the editor of the Free Beacon is Matthew Continetti, the son-in-law of Fox News Commentator Bill Kristol, who is of course a leading influential neoconservative within the GOP. Rand Paul defenders are pointing to this as evidence that neocons have it in for the senator.

This interview was done at the Pastors and Pews event in Des Moines, Iowa, last Friday. Video and a partial transcription are below.

Sen. Rand Paul: There are people who will do or say anything who are your enemies.

I think also those who believe in perpetual war are some of the most dangerous to our country and I think they will do everything they can to try and vilify people who are trying to find a more reasoned approach where war is the last resort not the first resort.

Really.

Lyn Cheney is pro-amnesty and pro-homosexual marriage. She grew up in Virginia, attended college in Colorado, and has almost nothing in common with the values of people in Wyoming. It is up to those folks to decide whether they want her as their Senator. I know I wouldn’t.

As for Iraq and Afghanistan, you obviously do not know that Saddam Hussein was up to his neck in aiding and abetting Al Qaida in their 9-11 attack.

What we did wrong was arrogantly believe we could “nation build” in an area of the world that has no genuine nations. The Middle East is made up of pseudo-nations that function more like crime syndicates that nations, each controlled by a corrupt family or clan. That’s why it’s so damned hard to do business there; ‘trust’ isn’t a part of their culture, as everyone there is looking to undercut everyone else.

So what should we have done? What we did in Iraq, going in and removing Saddam Hussein, was correct. Then we should have left. No matter what we do, the people there will follow another dictator/tyrant.

What we should have done in Afghanistan is treat them like those who harbor pirates. You go in, destroy parts of their
country and kill many people. Tell them to stop supporting and protecting the terrorists or it will continue. After that, the Afghanis would probably kill the terrorists themselves. What we did, by trying to nation build, was arrogant and stupid.

Israel is the only rational, functioning democracy in the Middle East. Using oil as the reason for supporting Muslim nations rather than Israel...doesn’t make any sense, especially as the USA is well on its way to energy self-sufficiency. Israel and the United States share a belief in ‘free will’ and the rights of the individual. Islam does not, and will always be a threat to free people.

Basically I agree with everything else you’ve said. What I want to see now is our military brought home. There is no need to have a large, extensive presence oversea.

If Obamacare and the decision by Chief Justice Roberts taught us anything it is that there is no such thing anymore as federalism. Therefore, affiliation to a state in which one runs for Senate is a quaint relic of the horse and buggy days. Every Sen. in every state is either an ally or a threat and his vote counts for no more and no less because of an accident of geography. As to homosexual marriage, that battle is lost and has been lost. The only relevant question is whether Lynn Cheney will stir things up or remain a placeholder as Enzi has been. I'll take a chance on Cheney, Enzi has done nothing and in my view the country is going over a cliff. A placeholder from a safe state is worse than a cipher because he represents the loss of a real champion we so desperately need.

As for Iraq and Afghanistan, you obviously do not know that Saddam Hussein was up to his neck in aiding and abetting Al Qaida in their 9-11 attack.

You're quite right I am ignorant of Saddam Hussein's connection to Al Qaeda in connection with 9/11 and I hope you can disabuse me of ignorance and with actual facts.

So what? Nations do not have friends, only national interests. I agree with the description of Israel, and I agree with your description of the Muslim nations, but that has nothing to do whatsoever with American interests unless you can demonstrate that our support of Israel is worth unending, worldwide, war for national survival against 1.6 billion Muslims many of whom are suicidally fanatic. What is the trade-off?

You're right, we seem to be in agreement on the balance of what I wrote, as your repetition of it shows.

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