by Ron Paul
The attack on the US consulate in Libya and the killing of the US Ambassador and several aides is another tragic example of how our interventionist foreign policy undermines our national security. The more the US tries to control the rest of the world, either by democracy promotion, aid to foreign governments, or by bombs, the more events spin out of control into chaos, unintended consequences, and blowback.
Unfortunately, what we saw in Libya last week is nothing new.
In 1980s Afghanistan, the US supported Islamic radicals in their efforts to expel the invading Soviet military. These radicals became what is known to be al-Qaeda, and our one-times allies turned on us most spectacularly on September 11, 2001.
Iraq did not have a significant al-Qaeda presence before the 2003 US invasion, but our occupation of that country and attempt to remake it in our image caused a massive reaction that opened the door to al-Qaeda, leading to thousands of US soldiers dead, a country destroyed, and instability that shows no sign of diminishing.
In Libya we worked with, among others, the rebel Libyan Fighting Group (LIFG) which included foreign elements of al-Qaeda. It has been pointed out that the al-Qaeda affiliated radicals we fought in Iraq were some of the same groups we worked with to overthrow Gaddafi in Libya. Last year in a television interview I predicted that the result of NATO’s bombing of Libya would likely be an increased al-Qaeda presence in the country. I said at the time that we may be delivering al-Qaeda another prize.
Not long after NATO overthrew Gaddafi, the al-Qaeda flag was flown over the courthouse in Benghazi. Should we be surprised, then, that less than a year later there would be an attack on our consulate in Benghazi? We have been told for at least the past eleven years that these people are the enemy who seeks to do us harm.
There is danger in the belief we can remake the world by bribing some countries and bombing others. But that is precisely what the interventionists – be they liberal or conservative – seem to believe. When the world does not conform to their image, they seem genuinely shocked. The secretary of state’s reaction to the attack on the US consulate in Benghazi was one of confusion. “How could this happen in a country we helped liberate, in a city we helped save from destruction,” she asked.
The problem is that we do not know and we cannot know enough about these societies we are seeking to remake. We never try to see through the eyes of those we seek to liberate. Libya is in utter chaos, the infrastructure has been bombed to rubble, the economy has ceased to exist, gangs and militias rule by brutal force, the government is seen as a completely illegitimate and powerless US puppet. How could anyone be shocked that the Libyans do not see our bombing their country as saving it from destruction?
Currently, the US is actively supporting rebels in Syria that even our CIA tells us are affiliated with al-Qaeda. Many of these radical Islamist fighters in Syria were not long ago fighting in Libya. We must learn from these mistakes and immediately cease all support for the Syrian rebels, lest history once again repeat itself. We are literally backing the same people in Syria that we are fighting in Afghanistan and that have just killed our ambassador in Libya! We must finally abandon the interventionist impulse before it is too late.
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Vote me in and I’ll put a hollowpoint through the torso of the Nation, but who wouldn’t at this point? Blowback right? Hah, don’t go there. This man knows he will die, don’t hate him either. Please
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America needs to quit the UN. Too much money is wasted on the centerpiece of the New World Order (The UN).
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America needs to quit the UN. Too much money is wasted on the centerpiece of the New World Order (The UN).
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Ron Paul is okay. Perot would have been better.
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Ron Paul is okay. Perot would have been better.
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Too bad Ross Perot is too old and has lost interest in running for president.
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Too bad Ross Perot is too old and has lost interest in running for president.
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So true. So sad.
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So true. So sad.
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We had our chance..
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Ron Paul IS my president
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Voting for the lesser of two evils, still gets you evil.
Has anyone noticed the Barack creature looks more and more like a chimpanzee, and the Mitt creature like a statue in Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum…and that both are liars and cheats that hate Free Americans!
So, are you going to vote for Plastic Man or Monkey Boy…hoping whichever one of these evils “wins” will destroy our Free Nation at a slower pace…?
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Or, are you going to take a stand against these two anti-American subhumans, and vote your conscience instead!
Gary Johnson is THE ONLY ONE TO GET YOUR VOTE — if you are a Real American and want to save our Nation!
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I do not know what you were trying to reply to.. IT ISN’T her body were talking about with abortion, its the innocent kid she’s killing.
As far as the unconstitutional wars, yes end them all. Nobody is telling anyone “who to love”, they are telling some people they get benefits for being a couple, NOBODY straight people included, deserve to have their relationship subsidized. Adding gays to the list doesn’t make it fair, theres still single people being burdened and polygamists, unready, etc.
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Why is telling a woman what to do with her body more important that taking/adopting/helping those children who are hungry, beaten, lost and misplaced? Why is telling a person what he/she can do or who to love more important than ending the tragic lost of thousands of lives when our soldiers go into unconstitutional wars or when the govt allows GMO’s in our food while millions continue to die from unhealthy foods?
Why not divert the need to control other for saving the lives of millions TODAY?
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Why is telling a woman what to do with her body more important that taking/adopting/helping those children who are hungry, beaten, lost and misplaced? Why is telling a person what he/she can do or who to love more important than ending the tragic lost of thousands of lives when our soldiers go into unconstitutional wars or when the govt allows GMO’s in our food while millions continue to die from unhealthy foods?
Why not divert the need to control other for saving the lives of millions TODAY?
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I don’t get it? Ron Paul is either right or wrong. If the country is really in trouble, how can I throw away my vote? I figure my vote is more important now.
If Obama wins, will there even be a 2016 election?
I wanted Ron Paul, but am not just going to abandon my country to make a point. Romney is not a perfect candidate and I hate making the “lessor of two evil” argument, but it’s more than that. This really comes down to, is it over? If you really think the US will fall and your last, final message is hey I will vote for Ron Paul, then maybe you don’t get it.
It sounds to me like you have given up.
I wanted Ron Paul, did not get him, so I got my name on the ballot in my district for committeeman and will work to support candidates that share Ron Paul values. Stop feeling sorry for yourself, and get out there and do something.
Fellow Libertarians, don’t punish our children by allowing Obama to rule over us and destroy the constitution for another 4 years.
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“are too inept to understand the political system”
They understand it perfectly. They oppose it. It requires intelligence, bravery, and integrity to their principles to take down a Constitutional Republic. What they’re doing is treason. Don’t ever mistake these people for dumb or lacking understanding.
It’s probably Ron Paul’s greatest mistake to claim our representatives need us to wake them up implying they’re just dumb.
Nixon: “We’re all Keynesians now.”
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“Ron Paul is nothing but a fuckin’ jackass.”
This coming from a guy that says he’s Moses.
ROFL
IAMAGODLESSSELFWORSHIPER FTL
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Ron Paul speaks too much common sense for sum to handle, it’s these people that are far more dangerous to the United States than any number of flag burning Muslims in a far off land. The enemy is in the gates, the enemy that can do the most damage to this nation are the individuals that are too inept to understand the political system & see Senators & Congressmen, even Presidents are destroying this Nation one law at a time. NAFTA anyone?
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Ron Paul is nothing but a fuckin’ jackass.
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National security who gives a t, let us all die out of this misrebile life. so long the Israeli owned gov lives.
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Peace, Freedom, Love, & Justice for Our World! Ron Paul NEEDS to be placed in as POTUS Nov. 6, 2012!! & Gary Johnson & Jill Stein….the USA NEEDS all 3, NOW!
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I would also like to say that I believe I may have been wrong about my First amendment point. Thank you for educating me on the matter, however little you may actually have taught me.
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The 1st Amendment restricts govt, it does not restrict the private sector. This is a fundamental concept. You obviously do not know anything about the US Constitution. Does anyone have a right to get up on stage at the RNC and say whatever they want? Use your fucking brain you idiot.
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So what you’re saying is that any private company can legally suppress anyone’s rights? Or was there some secret thing that I missed that said the first amendment only applies SOMETIMES.
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The RNC is not part of the government. It’s a private non-profit corporation. The 1st does not restrict the private sector. It restricts govt. You’re pretty clueless.
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The RNC is not part of the government. It’s a private non-profit corporation. The 1st does not restrict the private sector. It restricts govt. You’re pretty clueless.
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Wow, i pray that I could be a good and wise father such as yours
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Wow, i pray that I could be a good and wise father such as yours
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