Rand Paul: I’m a friend of Israel
Israel is a strong and important ally of the United States, and we share many mutual security interests. I believe we should stand by our ally, but where I think sometimes American commentators get confused is that I do not think Israel should be dictated to by the United States. I think that has happened too often, and it has been to the detriment of Israel. Too often we have coerced Israel into trading land for peace, or other false bargains. When President Obama stood before the world in 2011 to demand that Israel act against her own strategic interest, I denounced this as unnecessary meddling. As I wrote in May of that year: “For President Obama to stand up today and insist that Israel should once again give up land, security and sovereignty for the possibility of peace shows an arrogance that is unmatched even in our rich history of foreign policy.”
Israel will always know what’s best for Israel. The United States should always stand with its friends. But we should also know, unlike President Obama, when to stay out of the way.
Foreign aid is another example of how our meddling often hurts more than its helps.
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He had me until the last sentence.
Blake on November 19, 2012 at 7:29 PM
Good to know you are so generous to the people of Israel with my tax money…
JohnGalt23 on November 19, 2012 at 7:31 PM
If I recall, Palin specifically asked him about his support of Israel as a requirement of an endorsement.
Dongemaharu on November 19, 2012 at 7:36 PM
OK, but how is our tax money “meddling?”
stefanite on November 19, 2012 at 7:42 PM
stefanite on November 19, 2012 at 7:42 PM
Because it always comes with strings attached.
iwasbornwithit on November 19, 2012 at 7:45 PM
I view it as a good investment. Opinions may differ.
portlandon on November 19, 2012 at 7:47 PM
Using the term “investment” for government spending is what Obama and the left do. But what do American taxpayers get for our “investment”?
iwasbornwithit on November 19, 2012 at 7:53 PM
Using the term “investment” for government spending is what Obama and the left do. But what return do American taxpayers get for our “investment”?
iwasbornwithit on November 19, 2012 at 7:54 PM
Sorry for the double-post…it told me it was a duplicate comment but it didn’t post my first comment when it said that…
iwasbornwithit on November 19, 2012 at 7:55 PM
Meddling. He can’t help himself, being his kooky dad’s son. The Israelis don’t have to take the aid. The fact that they do shows that they might know what they are doing with it better than Sen. Paul does.
thebrokenrattle on November 19, 2012 at 7:58 PM
I’m not buying..
Dire Straits on November 19, 2012 at 7:59 PM
From a conservative, small government standpoint, what is kooky about reining in foreign aid?
iwasbornwithit on November 19, 2012 at 8:02 PM
According to this website, our aid to Israel is $3.1 billion. Divide that by a total US budget of $2.6 trillion and you get 0.12%. Why is this always where you paultards want to cut first?
stefanite on November 19, 2012 at 8:04 PM
I did not say it was kooky, I said Ron Paul, of the newsletter infamy, was kooky.
thebrokenrattle on November 19, 2012 at 8:06 PM
Actually, it’s the military as a whole. Foreign aid is just part of it. Don’t let your faux fiscal conservativeness get in the way.
Notorious GOP on November 19, 2012 at 8:14 PM
You want top cut the whole military out of the budget??? Is this the Paulian definition of “fiscal conservativeness?”
stefanite on November 19, 2012 at 8:19 PM
Sorry, NP. I missed your obvious sarcasm.
stefanite on November 19, 2012 at 8:21 PM
When you have to say it…
thebrokenrattle on November 19, 2012 at 8:26 PM
Tobin had to get the last word in. Cheap parlor trick. Try writing like you won’t have the last word.
An Objectivist on November 19, 2012 at 8:43 PM
Where did I say I wanted to cut this first? I want to cut this along with many, MANY other things that would blow your statist little mind.
Now answer my question fake conservative.
iwasbornwithit on November 19, 2012 at 8:58 PM
Yeah I’m giving him thumbs down for that too. A last-sentence sneak-in like that is a cheap lame trick. Either come out and say you’re against foreign ‘aid’ in the main article or just keep your big cowardly mouth shut.
MelonCollie on November 19, 2012 at 9:02 PM
“Step into my parlor”, said the
kooky old bigotspider to the fly.I don’t know who Rand Paul thinks he’s fooling — other than his merry band of lickspittles.
It’s not unusual for any politician to say what they think their constituents and party supporters want to hear — obviously. But making them believe it’s true — well — that only comes when the proof is in the pudding. And there is plenty of proof to contradict his claims about where he stands on the topic of Israel.
Rand Paul has been pretty much lock-step with his kooky old bigot Dad on Israel since — forever. Now all of a sudden — after an unflattering column and Hamas and Israel start duking it out again but with much more on the line this time — the leopard claims it’s changed its spots. The leopard’s not changed its spots — it’s just feigning having rearranged the same spots in a more favorable pattern in a vain effort to suit the beholders — which serves the leopard well if the beholder falls for it. Which — of course — is in fact the ultimate goal.
Rand Paul’s still a chip off the kooky old bigot block no matter what he claims. He’s not proven otherwise in any way, shape, or form other than self-serving platitudes and pithy regurgitated routine talking points.
FlatFoot on November 19, 2012 at 9:08 PM
FlatFoot on November 19, 2012 at 9:08 PM
Please provide evidence that Rand is anti-Israel.
iwasbornwithit on November 19, 2012 at 9:29 PM
Tobin is a virulent liar.
VorDaj on November 19, 2012 at 9:41 PM
FlatHead may have been confusing Rand Paul and David Petraeus.
VorDaj on November 19, 2012 at 9:43 PM
Rands right once again. This is none of our business, and it amazes me how so called conservatives love to redistribute our tax dollars to foreign countries. Individuals shoul feel free to donate their hard earned money to causes they see admirable. However, I shouldn’t be forced to subsidize foreign countries.
MoreLiberty on November 19, 2012 at 9:46 PM
What has this Tobin person ever had to say about how extremely anti Israel David Lietraeus is? I’m guessing nothing, and if so he has zero credibility on the matter.
VorDaj on November 19, 2012 at 9:47 PM
If you think that our tax dollars don’t come with strings attached you are a bigger fool then we all think. The fact remains that the US government should not take the hard earned money from middle class people and give it to foreign governments. That my liberal friend is called redistribution. If you want to give your money to Pakistan, Israel, Mexico, the EU or Israel please feel free. But don’t call people “bigoted” simply because they disagree with you. I must say, the left would be very proud of your tactics though.
MoreLiberty on November 19, 2012 at 9:55 PM
To the chickenhawk Zionists who feel compelled to spew their hatred all over the thread, I’d like to point out Rand Paul’s speech was not meant for people like you.
Because even if he had a photo op of himself wrapped himself in Israel’s flag while he lit a pile of Korans with one hand, shouted Glen Blech talking points, and waved a sign with the other hand saying “NUKE THE BUMS”…..you’d still hate him from the core of your wretched, stupid being.
His speech was meant for the rest of the right wing that possesses the means to think logically and the will to do so. Including the NeoCons who are finally admitting that the occupations are accomplishing nothing – especially not under the traitorous POTUS.
MelonCollie on November 19, 2012 at 9:59 PM
Because that is $3.1 billion that can go to free drugs for everyone. Like I have said before, Paultards only concern is the destruction of Israel and legal drugs.
The Notorious G.O.P on November 19, 2012 at 10:03 PM
Hey dummkopf, this Paulian hates Islam way more than he hates Zionists, and he will be against legal drugs to his dying breath.
MelonCollie on November 19, 2012 at 10:06 PM
Provide ONE example where a “Paultard” advocated using government money to buy drugs. You statists can’t help but lie and beck own yourselves in a thread about one of the few conservatives that is actually serious about cutting government spending.
iwasbornwithit on November 19, 2012 at 10:31 PM
Beclown. Autocorrect associated clown with Beck, go figure.
iwasbornwithit on November 19, 2012 at 10:32 PM