"Have you ever read about the reasons they attacked us? They attack us because we've been over there. We've been bombing Iraq for 10 years," he said.
Asked by a moderator if he was suggesting the United States invited the attacks, Paul said: "I'm suggesting we listen to the people who attacked us and the reason they did it. And they are delighted that we're over there because Osama bin Laden has said: I am glad you're over on our sand because we can target you so much easier."
Is this correct?
Yes, it is.
That is an explanation for why we got attacked.
It is not a justification for those attacks, and nowhere does he suggest we “deserved” or “invited” it as has been claimed.
It’s one thing to defeat your enemy from the outside. It’s another thing entirely, and often much more effective, to get inside his head, figure out why he does what he does, and use THAT to defeat him.