One might think that somebody who cares about the U. S. Constitution would also care about the Constitution of a new Iraqi nation and its people striving against decades of murderous oppression - instead of rationalizing the murderous oppression, both there and when it is exported here in the form of terrorism.
Paul's remarks have a place - in academia and related venues. They have no place in government when we are fighting an enemy sworn to kill us all; and when the failure to overcome that enemy means that the enemy's intent may well become reality.