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Paul: Bring troops home
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By GARRY RAYNO
New Hampshire Union Leader Staff
Thursday, Oct. 4, 2007
MANCHESTER – Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul said the United States does not face any real threats to its national security and does not need to extend itself militarily around the world.
In an interview at the New Hampshire Union Leader yesterday, Paul said military spending could be reduced. "There's no threat that anybody is going to invade us," he said.
The Cuban missile crisis was the biggest threat to national security this country has experienced in the nuclear age, he said, but that was resolved through diplomacy, he said.
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He downplayed concerns about Iran developing nuclear weapons. "That's not the end of the world. . . . We ought to put this in prospective, if we handled the Soviets, we ought to be able to handle the Iranians."
Paul said Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has no political power; the radical mullahs have the political power in that country. "We should not have anxiety over some third world country that might get a weapon some day," he said.
The United States does not need to guarantee Israel's national security, Paul said. By restraining Israel and treating it like a third world country dependent on American handouts, the United States has "done so much harm to Israel."
America does have interests in countries like Vietnam and Iraq, Paul said, but not by forcing itself on these countries militarily. Look what happened in Iraq when "we went to war for oil," he said, noting the price of oil has gone from $25 to more than $80 a barrel.
He said the troops should be brought home, including troops currently in South Korea. "We don't need a major military presence (in the Pacific), no one will come after us," he said.
The Texas congressman, who ran for President in 1988 as the Libertarian Party's nominee, said he sees little need for military bases on foreign soil.
He said that since World War II, the military conflicts the country has been involved in have not been constitutionally legal or worthwhile.
"One generation should not make promises the next generation will have to pay and die for," Paul said.
Young people have been particularly receptive to his message that the country can't afford to continue doing what it's doing, he said. "We can't do this without borrowing $3 billion a day from China. The younger people see we can't pay. They see the burden being placed on them," Paul said.
"We're going broke," he said, as the government tries to extend social welfarism and the country's military presence around the world. "The dollar will be undermined just as it was with so many other great nations."
In the 1970s there was a similar crisis that took 21 percent interest rates to correct, he said. Historically, the economy would crash, there would be a depression and then it would bounce back, Paul said, but instead the economy is going down at a slow rate but is not bouncing back.
"We need to get control of the size of government and return to the concepts of individual freedom and self reliance," Paul said. "We're on the verge of becoming less free and less prosperous."
He said the country would not have these problems if government stuck to the Constitution across the board. "Personal and economic freedom are all one and the same," Paul said.
When asked if the income tax was constitutional, Paul said it was because of the 16th Amendment which allows taxing income. "What is unconstitutional is the collection of the income tax," he said.
Asked if he would pardon convicted income tax evaders Edward and Elaine Brown of Plainfield, who have refused to turn themselves in to federal marshals, Paul said, "I don't know the answer."
Paul, a physician specializing in obstetrics/gynecology, has delivered more than 4,000 babies. He and his wife, Carol, live in Lake Jackson, Texas.
He served in Congress in the late 1970s and early 1980s, leaving in 1984. He ran for Congress again in 1997 and has been serving since then.
All trademarks and copyrights on this page are owned by their respective owners. © 1997-2010.
YOUR COMMENTS
Thank you for a positive article highlighting Ron Paul's courageous stances and accelerating campaign.
I am thrilled that many people are taking the commitment seriously to get our country back to principles of freedom, privacy, sanity in foreign policy, and fiscal responsibility.
He's the only GOP candidate who has a prayer against the Hillary machine.
Opponents have only one card to play against him and that is fear and more disinformation.
GO RON!@
- Herb Cameron, Canterbury, NH
It seems everyone that says Ron Paul is 'unelectable' is just trying to dismiss his candidacy. I once believed that, while working on another campaign, before I realized that so many other Americans woke up to the state of chaos we are in and continue to rally support behind him like no other politician I have ever seen. Every day, the more people that I talk to, the more supporters that I find. Don't believe you can't vote with your heart because you won't win. At some point, whether its now or in twenty years, America is going to take a stand with a candidate like Dr. Paul.
- Garret Ean, Concord
What a pathetic bit from a once-great paper. Do you remember endorsing Pat Buchanan?
Is this high school journalism? Because it certainly is not objective incisive reportage. Shame on you!
- Stephen Dedalus, Dublin
The popularity of the Clinton's is trumped up by the Washington Post and other liberal media, but Ron Paul is the only GOPer who could beat her.
This is because a large segment of his supporters are from the independent sector and even some democrats.
This would assure the GOP of victory over Hillary, since no GOPer worth his or her salt would vote for Hillary. Ron Paul is the next Ronald Reagan and can unite many against the forces of evil that Hillary would put upon us.
If the GOP wants to hand Hillary the presidency, they can just nominate one of the other republicans in name only...and be done with it.
- Jane Aitken, Bedford
Nate & J. Cline -
A NH resident can vote in the primary for any party. You have to register at the voting place for the party you are voting for, then you can change your party affiliation by filling out a form after you vote. I'm registered as an independant and have voted in both party primaries over the years, always changing back to independant.
- Richard, Londonderry
"There's no threat that anybody is going to invade us," he said.
The Cuban missile crisis was the biggest threat to national security this country has experienced in the nuclear age, he said, but that was resolved through diplomacy, he said.
Was he out of town on 9/11?
- Tyler, Farmington
Dr. Ron Paul truely understands what it takes to drive an economy and will help to bring the NH advantage to the rest of the nation with the elimination of the Federal income tax.
JM
- James Maynard, Temple
Ron is a gentleman stuck smack in the middle of swingers. Dr. Paul's best definition of himself was in his own words ".. a true conservative". Regardless of how much people may like him, point remains that he's an unelectable candidate: apparently, nowadays, views, beliefs and values of a true conservative seem so close to that of an activist's that Dr. Paul may not be able to even secure the GOP nomination; let alone win the elections. Let's face it: Ron Paul is the most informed, most pragmatic, and an overall best candidate from either of the two parties of whom majority of voters have not heard of. I sincerely hope that my words are proven wrong.
- Ray S., Chicago, IL
I would have liked to hear more about how an income tax is constitutional, but collecting it is not. Especially from someone who has served several terms in Congress, but has not asked for a judicial review of the matter.
Also at what point does Iran become our problem? When they take Iraq with a puppet government? When they take one of the other OPEC nations? When they train and support terrorist camps? Or is it simply when they directly attack American soil?
- John Edward Mercier, Belmont
This was an excellent article and I appreciate it. I further appreciate getting clarification on Dr. Paul's stance on the Brown tax case. Most people assumed that Dr. Paul may endorse a violent end, but that is certainly not the case. I look forward to more great coverage in the future. Thank you!
- Cameron, Bedford
I spent 16 years in the Air Force, and wholeheartedly support Dr Paul. His foreign policy of non-intervention would provide a stronger defense for our country and save taxpayers a ton of money. I urge everyone here writing nice comments to also send a letter to the editor. letters@theunionleader.com
- James Forsythe, Strafford, NH
Congressman Ron Paul is a light in the darkness for all who believe that individual freedom is more important than the socialized agenda’s coming from Washington. It is little wonder that he is running as a party candidate as he understands first hand the unfair election process to obtain ballot status. My personal experience bears this out. Congressman Paul has my unequivable support. Libertarian Candidate for U.S. Senate Ken Blevens
- Ken Blevens, Bow
J. Cline, your statement is not entirely true. Here in NH undeclared voters can vote in either primary. It is only the Democrats that wish to vote for Congressman Paul that need to change their affiliation to Undeclared or Republican.
- Nate, Canaan
I'd like to thank UnionLeader for providing excellent coverage of the candidate. I feel that it is important to not only hear the positions of the candidate but also to actually see actual quotations from the candidate. It really helps to understand their platform.
- litcigar, Rochester
Thank you for this piece on Ron Paul.
This gentle, ethical man of conscience has a wonderful message that so few have been able to hear, but that's beginning to change at last.
I truly believe that Dr. Paul is the only one who can defeat Hillary Clinton. Only he has the moral standing to challenge her support of the Iraq war, since he has voted against it from the beginning. The pro-war GOP candidates simply do not have a prayer against Hillary. Ron Paul really is the only hope of the GOP.
Please ensure your readers know that ONLY registered Republicans can vote for Ron Paul in the GOP primary. There are many Independents and Democrats who wish to cross over and vote for Ron, but they need to take action now.
The NH deadline to register Republican in order to support Ron Paul and the reinvigoration of the GOP is OCT 12th!
- J. Cline, Concord
Thank you very much for the kind words on Ron Paul. He and his message, of restoring the Constitution, are often overlooked.
- John, Amherst
Paul is the best of the GOP candidates, and you notice he's against exactly what the GOP jingoists are for: huge emphasis/focus on military. This is classic American thinking! Huge standing armies are a product of the money generated by the military industrial complex, not logic. We ramped it up and won in WWII in five years, because our people understood it was right, and we were told the only thing to fear was fear itself. These days the GOP is all about first generating needless fear, then spending like a fool to address the scare tactic. I say Vote Obama, but God bless Ron Paul!
- Alex Dudley, Lee
I expect the establishment media will see a surprising result from Ron Paul in the NH primary. When only about 30% of Americans vote, the true "fringe candidates" are those who squabble over the 10% "swing voters" within that 30%. Ron Paul is a "majority candidate", capturing the traditional New Hampshire spirit of small government, non-interventionism, and laissez faire policies.
- Kevin, Lancaster
Dear Mr. Rayno,
Thank you so much for this factual piece about Dr. Paul!
I am sure there are a lot of folks who are happy to learn more about what he actually says and stands for.
As a former resident of Tamworth, I am watching what's happening in New Hampshire pretty closely. A state as intent on Liberty as New Hampshire is will likely welcome Ron Paul with open arms.
- Dann McCreary, Escondido
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