Ron Paul: Friendship Best Way To Deal With Iran

[Sol Invictus]

Foreign Policy Experts Agree With Ron Paul’s Controversial Foreign Policy

Ron Paul is often chided by his Republican opponents for his extreme views on American foreign policy. His calls for ending all foreign wars and shutting hundreds of military bases across the globe have drawn howls from his GOP rivals, who have labeled the moves irresponsible and naïve.

His campaign pledge of cutting all foreign aid and withdrawing U.S. participation in the World Trade Organization and the United Nations has been at odds with even the most conservative members of his own party.

Yet as voting day in Iowa and New Hampshire draws near, Paul, the Congressman from Texas, is finding support for his non-interventionist positions from a growing number of foreign policy experts.

“He’s attacking our rich lazy friends, why is that not more popular,” said Harvey Sapolsky, emeritus professor of public policy and organization at MIT. He backs Paul’s calls for reducing America’s military budget, arguing that much of it is used to defend wealthy nations’ security.

A huge, Cold War-era global presence — with hundreds of overseas military bases — isn’t necessary, now that the Soviet threat is over and the collapse of communism, Sapolsky said.

“It’s not in America’s interest,” said Sapolsky, who added that despite the drumbeat in the media over the fear of terrorism, America is the safest it has ever been in its history.

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics...oreign-policy/

[Joe McCarthy]

http://abcnews.go.com/blogs/politics...oreign-policy/

Rather misleading headline. It cites all of two guys that agree with Paul - one from the libertarian Cato Institute, a group inclined to be sympathetc, and a specialist in bureaucratic red tape. Neither of them are notable IR theorists with prominent backgrounds in the making of foreign policy.

[Sol Invictus]

Rather misleading headline. It cites all of two guys that agree with Paul - one from the libertarian Cato Institute, a group inclined to be sympathetc, and a specialist in bureaucratic red tape. Neither of them are notable IR theorists with prominent backgrounds in the making of foreign policy.

Yeah, you're probably right. They're most likely the only folks who support Ron Paul's stance on Foreign Policy anyway. Given the population of the country, and the pool of potential FP experts, it just seems like it makes perfect mathematical sense. Otherwise, ABC News, being a shining example of the quality and genuinity American free press would surely provide a detailed list.

[Joe McCarthy]

Yeah, you're probably right. They're most likely the only folks who support Ron Paul's stance on Foreign Policy anyway. Given the population of the country, and the pool of potential FP experts, it just seems like it makes perfect mathematical sense. Otherwise, ABC News, being a shining example of the quality and genuinity American free press would surely provide a detailed list.

That ABC scrounged up such underwhelming figures speaks volumes in itself. Suffice it to say that while isolationism has some support among unlettered troops who are tired of fighting and deployments, its support is virtually non-existent in foreign policy circles.

[Sol Invictus]

That ABC scrounged up such underwhelming figures speaks volumes in itself. Suffice it to say that while isolationism has some support among unlettered troops who are tired of fighting and deployments, its support is virtually non-existent in foreign policy circles.

Won't disagree with you there.

Tell me: what foreign policy circles does Mitt Romney draw his support from?

[Joe McCarthy]

Won't disagree with you there.

Tell me: what foreign policy circles does Mitt Romney draw his support from?

Pretty much the establishment of the GOP. A lot of former Bush people work for him.

[Sol Invictus]

Pretty much the establishment of the GOP. A lot of former Bush people work for him.

Romney's foreign policy adviser seems to have quite the history behind him with regards to Israel and some interesting connections that are worth noting, to say the least. Would you say you support Romney's campaign in regards to his stance on foreign policy?

[Joe McCarthy]

Romney's foreign policy adviser seems to have quite the history behind him with regards to Israel and some interesting connections that are worth noting, to say the least. Would you say you support Romney's campaign in regards to his stance on foreign policy?

In broad outlines, yes. He wants to maintain American dominance.

[Sol Invictus]

In broad outlines, yes. He wants to maintain American dominance.

Yet you ardently maintain you are not a Neoconservative or a Zionist.

Interesting.

[Joe McCarthy]

Yet you ardently maintain you are not a Neoconservative or a Zionist.

Interesting.

Maintaining American dominance is not a uniquely neo-con item, and has nothing to do with Zionism. America must lead the world, or someone else will, and that someone else, is, well...