Oh really? Care to provide some citations? Because I can.
CNN: Under what circumstances, if you were president, would you intervene outside the borders of the US in some sort of crisis around the world?
PAUL: When Congress directed me to in the act of war. If our national security was threatened and we went through the proper procedures, Congress would say, “Our national security is involved, it is threatened and we have to act.” And Congress has that responsibility. The president is the commander in chief, and then he acts.
Source: CNN Late Edition: 2007 presidential series with Wolf Blitzer, Dec. 2, 2007
CNN: What do you say to the criticism that you’re blaming the victim, the US, for the policies?
PAUL: Well, that’s not correct. Because I don’t blame the American people, and I don’t blame somebody who gets murdered for the murder. You have to look for the cause and the incentive and the motive. And the motive is that our foreign policy does aggravate a lot of people. I know there are radicals, and I know they will attack us, but if we don’t understand the motive, if we continue to believe they attack us because we’re free and prosperous, we can’t win this fight.
Source: CNN Late Edition: 2008 presidential series with Wolf Blitzer, Jan. 6, 2008
Shall I keep going?
I read every single item in his record on foreign policy and could not find a single statement where Ron Paul said "I blame the American people for 9/11," unless you count the interpretations of folks like Giuliani.
I did, however, read lots of statements in which he was literally pleading--and his words basically falling on deaf ears--for folks to follow the Constitution.
Nor has Ron Paul ever, even once, said that America’s to blame for 9/11.
If he has said such a thing, then I certainly have not heard of it.
What he DID say was that some of the Policies of the federal government (which is NOT America, by the way) caused some serious blowback amongst the ignorant in the region, but even so that there was NO JUSTIFICATION for what they DID to us.
That is correct.
The only thing that the American electorate is guilty of is stupidity, for electing incompetent and foolish statists to run the United States government.
Did he cast a vote in favor of Afghanistan and is now backing up? Yes.
Did he not label terrorist attacks as a "Backlash?" Yes
Hate to tell you, but declaring it a "backlash" is pointing fingers and assiginng blame, not to individuals, but to America as awhole.
Splitting hairs is so Ron Paulian. When he says "we," how is that only selected people within governments he disagrees with or selected policies?
Why does he and his devotees have to follow up with "what he really meant?" He said what he said and then must back up and explain it?
"Have you ever read the reasons they attacked us? They attack us because we've been over there; we've been bombing Iraq for 10 years." (GOP Debate, May 15, 2007)
What's ridiculous on this claim is that for how long have we been told there was no connection between Iraq and Al Qaeda? No coordination between bin Laden and Saddam? Saddam was secular and not religious, yet bin Laden will attack us because we fought his enemy?
How does he explain Jihadist attacks against those who oppose our foriegn policy for so long and did not support us?
Grand Mosque Seizure, November 20, 1979: 200 Islamic terrorists seized the Grand Mosque in Mecca, Saudi Arabia, taking hundreds of pilgrims hostage. Saudi and French security forces retook the shrine after an intense battle in which some 250 people were killed and 600 wounded.
Soviet Diplomats Kidnapped, Sept. 30, 1985: In Beirut, Lebanon, Sunni terrorists kidnapped four Soviet diplomats. One was killed, and three were later released.
Air France Hijacking, Dec. 24, 1994: Members of the Algerian Armed Islamic Group (GIA) seized an Air France flight. The four terrorists were killed during the rescue effort.
Egyptian Embassy Attack, November 19, 1995: A suicide bomber drove a vehicle into the Egyptian Embassy compound in Islamabad, Pakistan, killing at least 16 and injuring 60 persons. Three militant Islamic groups claimed responsibility.
Bombing of Archbishop of Oran, Aug. 1, 1996: A bomb exploded at the home of the French archbishop of Oran, killing him and his chauffeur. The attack occurred after the archbishop's meeting with the French foreign minister. The Algerian Armed Islamic Group (GIA) is suspected.
Tourist Killings in Egypt, November 17, 1997: Al-Gama'at al-Islamiyya (IG) gunmen shot and killed 58 tourists and four Egyptians and wounded 26 others at the Hatshepsut Temple in the Valley of the Kings near Luxor. Thirty-four Swiss, eight Japanese, five Germans, four Britons, one French, one Colombian, a dual Bulgarian/British citizen, and four unidentified persons were among the dead. Twelve Swiss, two Japanese, two Germans, one French, and nine Egyptians were among the wounded.
Airliner Hijacking in Istanbul, March 15, 2001: Three Chechens hijacked a Russian airliner during a flight from Istanbul to Moscow and forced it to fly to Medina, Saudi Arabia. The plane carried 162 passengers and a crew of 12. After a 22-hour siege during which more than 40 passengers were released, Saudi security forces stormed the plane, killing a hijacker, a passenger, and a flight attendant.
Parade Bombing in Russia, May 9, 2002: A remotely-controlled bomb exploded near a May Day parade in Kaspiisk, Dagestan, killing 42 persons and wounding 150. Fourteen of the dead and 50 of the wounded were soldiers. Islamists linked to al-Qaida were suspected.
Truck Bombing in Chechnya, May 12, 2003: A truck bomb explosion demolished a government compound in Znamenskoye, Chechnya, killing 54 persons. Russian authorities blamed followers of a Saudi-born Islamist named Abu Walid. President Vladimir Putin said that he suspected that there was an al-Qaida connection.
Explain how those were "because we are over there."
Explain how those are because of our foreign policy.
As I posted in #83. The federal government is part of America. Its one in the same. Its powers are enumerated in the Constitution, clearly stating that the federal government, through the powers of the Congress and the leadesrhip of the President as CIC, is responsible for protecting America and its people. 911 was an act of war. Bush asked the Congress to give him the authority to invade Afghanistan and Iraq. The Congress said, go for it!
Paul has said: "They attacked us for being over there". A straight forward statement that sums up nicely Paul's overall foreign policy agenda and one that is consistent with a typical anti-war pacifist. No wonder Paul sees himself siding with the pacifism of Gandhi and MLKing Jr.
Ron Paul didn't support the Patriot Act or FISA. Paul doesn't believe the US should be involved in Iraq or Afghanistan and that we should pull our troops out of Germany, Japan and everywhere else around the world.
Back on Dec 23, 2007, Paul was on Meet the Press and he was asked about the 572K troops we have stationed around the world. "And you’d bring them all home?"
Paul answered: "As quickly as possible. They will not serve our interests to be overseas. They get us into trouble. And we can defend this country without troops in Germany & troops in Japan. How do they help our national defense? Doesn’t make any sense to me. Troops in Korea since I’ve been in high school! It doesn’t make any sense.
Ron Paul wants America to close our doors and become isolationists again, as we were between WWI and WWII. As if the Islamic world will just leave the USA alone.
That is both a naive and dangerous position Paul takes. Thank God Paul's position in elective office will never rise above the level of Congressman in the House of Representatives.