Rand Paul Challenges Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz on Iran

The New York Times Taking Note Blog ^ | January 26, 2015 | Carol Giacomo

[2ndDivisionVet]

Politicians who oppose President Obama can bluster all they want, grab headlines and curry favor with donors yet don’t have to be responsible for their (too often) irresponsible critiques and prescriptions on foreign policy. So it was refreshing to hear Senator Rand Paul of Kentucky split with some of his fellow Republicans on Iran during a presidential forum on Saturday organized by Freedom Partners.

As far as Senators Ted Cruz of Texas and Marco Rubio of Florida are concerned, negotiations involving the United States and five other major powers on Iran’s nuclear program are endangering America and the world. “They’ve been negotiating for two years. This is the worst negotiation in the history of mankind,” Mr. Cruz told the forum. He predicted that Iran will soon be able to launch nuclear strikes against “Tel Aviv, New York or Los Angeles” and said the problem with Iran is that Ayatollah Mohammed Khomeini, the supreme leader, and the ruling mullahs are “radical Islamic nutcases.”

Mr. Rubio added, “At this pace, in five years, we’re going to build the bomb for them.”

There is a sliver of truth in those comments: Iran has an active missile program and like the nuclear program, it is worrisome. All in all, though, the comments were baffling and misleading. A year-old interim agreement between Iran and the major powers – the United States, Britain, France, China, Russia and Germany – has for the first time managed to significantly limit Iran’s nuclear activities. It required Iran to roll back its stockpiles of enriched uranium and open its nuclear facilities to international inspection. In return, Iran won the ability to sell more oil and access its overseas bank accounts....

[2ndDivisionVet]

Deja Vu, all over again.

[cripplecreek]

Will he miss Bibi’s speech to congress again too?

[dowcaet]

Rand wants to give Iran nukes just like his daddy would’ve done too. This man can never be president. The libertarian view on foreign policy is just as bad as the Democrats. This man ought to take on Hillary for the Democratic nomination. I don’t trust him one bit and you’re right friend. It’s Deja vu all over again. Rand is just like the old man.

[Mastador1]

I think Rand is like jello, all wiggly even when you think it’s firm it still wiggles.

[faithhopecharity]

the most ridiculous, albeit also very tragic indeed, girl and sign there

Zionists are shot on sight at the Obama White House (and mostly they can’t even get in, for all the IslamoNazis Occupying the place

she’d fit right in there, actually..
poor girl

[Steve Van Doorn]

said, "Rand wants to give Iran nukes just like his daddy would’ve done "

I don't see him giving them news. he doesn't like the way it is negotiated. Which i agree with him on that. But he clearly says, "all options (including military) strikes is on the table"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s0VrMuGWR7Y

[faithhopecharity]

Regardless of the young lady’s Naziism.
the issue with Rand is he just sounds unwilling or at least very unready to defend America (and our allies, not to get the little girl upset or anything like that!)

very unready to defend America

almost every time he talks about defense or foreign policy issues or international affairs, he sounds like he’s inviting any dictator on Rock Three to just attack us at will...

(rather like Obama, come to think on it)

It is all fine and dandy to be cautious about committing ground forces to various activities or campaigns overseas....maybe we can most all agree on some version of that... maybe.....but Rand really sounds like he won’t do a credible job of defending us

AFAIgo, Rand has disqualified himself for my vote.
We do, after all, have several pretty good candidates out there....no real reason to risk voting for Rand, sorry about that I really did try to warm up to him

[Steve Van Doorn]

news = nukes

[Steve Van Doorn]

I agree he sounds like his father for the most part but in terms of using military action he is more open about it then his father. His father would never us the military unless we here attacked at home.

Rand Paul does seem to know how to negotiate with Iran which is through China and Russia not directly because we have no ties with Iran. Just asking China and Russia isn't enough we need to persuade them to help us.

[faithhopecharity]

I am not sure I can accept your premise that we need or should go thru Russia or China

but let’s say yes....

Russia is mad as hell at USA right now (think: ‘subversion’ efforts in Ukraine) and
China is busy expanding and sees USNavy as its primarly or most immediate opponent

persuading either of them to help us ... seems unlikely at this time

and neither of them trusts Obama one iota

anyway, it would be a nice thing if it were possible....
it just doesn’t look that way

so we need to deal more directly with the problem. in my humble opinion, of course

best,
fhc

[Steve Van Doorn]

I agree with that. Russia is pissed at us and they shouldn’t have to be.

[Din Maker]

Uh oh. When you get an “Atta-boy” from the NY Times, that is the kiss of death.