He is a multiple term Republican Congressman. Republicanism and conservatism are not necessarily inclusive of each other however. Ron Paul is first and foremost a traditional Conservative. His views on nation building wars have always been in line with the view that traditional conservatives have embraced for decades. This "new conservatism"(neo)of exporting American democratic values abroad at gunpoint is doomed to failure. Most Americans do not want to sacrifice their sons and daughters lives to secure freedom for ignorant backward peoples in third world cesspools. If they want to be free then they must be willing to pay the price and bear the burden themselves. If they are not willing to do so then they do not deserve anything from us at all. Least of all the lives of our children.
William F. Buckley once remarked that the defining element of conservatism is realism--realism about the limits of state power, the nature of human beings and societies, the complexity of international life. Yet many conservatives who believe that the state can do nothing right at home think that it can do nothing wrong abroad. (If things go badly, why, more money, bigger bombs and ground troops will straighten it out.) Many who are scornful of social engineering at home seem sure it will work beyond our borders. They seem convinced that good intentions and a burst of state power can transform the world. How conservative is that?
well said
Sure, and the enemy who wants to destroy all things non-muslim will just sit back and leave us alone if we but withdraw to within our own borders. Yeah, history is repleat with examples of how these peace loving muslims only desire to live within their own borders. Burying your head in the sand isn’t going to fix the problems in this world either. Ignoring it until it blows up into your face is a great way to deal with the serious problems were facing. Perhaps you want to wait until death comes to you, but I prefer to take death to them first.