White Will
November 14th, 2007, 11:23 PM
What an eloquent, straightforward statesman we have.
> http://usadaily.com/Article.cfm?articleID=163464
> Exclusive Ron Paul interview
> Joe Sansone
> USA Daily
> 11/14/2007
> >
> > Editor's note: This interview is the first in a three part series to
> > be conducted over the next couple weeks with Republican presidential
> > candidate and Congressman from Texas, Dr. Ron Paul.
> >
> > This interview deals mostly with foreign policy and national security.
> >
> > Foreign Policy and National Security
> >
> > Question 1: There seems to be a cooling of relations with Russia and
> > you've mentioned the possibility of a new Cold War with Russia
> > developing. This could be partly attributed to U.S. foreign policy and
> > partly attributed to Putin's apparent moves to retain power.
> >
> > What do you attribute the cooling in the U.S./Russia relationship to
> > and how if possible will you avert a new Cold War?
> >
> > Dr. Ron Paul
> >
> > If you look at US policy on Russia's periphery, you can see part of
> > the reason for the cooling relations. From Georgia to Kazakhstan and
> > the Ukraine, our foreign policy seems to be focused on provoking
> > Russia rather than seeking friendly and mutually-beneficial relations.
> > The United States has troops stationed in a ring around Russia and
> > regularly interferes in the internal affairs of the new states of the
> > former Soviet Union. The "Orange Revolution" in Ukraine, for example, was
> > partly funded by the US government.
> > There is no reason for a "new Cold War" with Russia, and the foreign
> > policy I intend to pursue as president - peaceful relations,
> > engagement, and trade - will greatly improve US/Russia relations.
> >
> > Question 2: The issue of Iran obtaining nuclear weapons and the
> > possibility of war with Iran seems to be increasing. You've stated
> > your opposition to a war with Iran.
> >
> > How will you resolve the Iranian issue? What policy if any do you
> > think the U.S. should have toward third world nations that seek to
> > obtain nuclear weapons?
> >
> > Dr. Ron Paul
> >
> > General William Odom, who directed the National Security Agency under
> > President Reagan, recently wrote an article titled "Exit From Iraq
> > Should Be Through Iran," claiming that cooperation between Washington
> > and Tehran "is the single most important step that could be taken to
> > rescue the US from its predicament in Iraq." I believe we can restore
> > such cooperation with Iran through diplomacy, trade, and travel,
> > rather than threatening a nuclear strike. Our extension of economic
> > sanctions against the Iranian people amounts to sheer war propaganda,
> > and we're losing out opportunity to pursue a peaceful option the more
> > we shut them out. We need to re-open the doors to diplomacy with
> > Iran, by removing sanctions and actually talking with them-as we did
> > with the Soviet Union during the Cold War. President Reagan was "the
> > Great Communicator," and we need to hearken back to his policy of
> > communication to prevent war with Iran or any other country that seeks > > to obtain nuclear weapons.
> >
> >
> > Question 3: You've stated that you do not support maintaining empire
> > overseas and that it is both dangerous and too costly. There seems to
> > be varying views here even among non interventionists.
> >
> > Can you clarify your non interventionist foreign policy? What will the
> > U.S. military look like under your administration? Do you still want an
> > international military presence around the world with the U.S. as the
> > arsenal or strategic reserve of Western civilization? Is there a risk
> > of a potential adversary like China filling the vacuum?
> >
> > Dr. Ron Paul
> >
> > The United States has troops stationed in 130 foreign countries >>worldwide.
> > Those are 130 countries whose own national development is thwarted by
> > our presence-a presence which is too costly for our federal budget to
> sustain.
> > I don't understand this talk of our presence as a "strategic reserve
> > of Western civilization". Instead, the best indication of our
> > civilization has been our prestige in international trade. We should
> > let the best measure of our American greatness come from free and
> > peaceful trade with other nations, not from displays of our military
> > might. While we engage in deficit spending to fund our military
> > exploits overseas, detracting from our own productivity, countries
> > like China are filling the void by expanding their trade
> > opportunities. We should seek to promote the Jeffersonian ideals of
> > friendly commerce with all nations, and entangling alliances with none.
> >
> > Question 4: You voted against the war. One of the reasons was because
> > Congress wasn't Declaring war and was basically giving the president a
> > blank check to use force. Some candidates like Senator Hillary Clinton
> > have recently claimed that they thought they were voting for diplomacy
> > when they voted in 2002 to authorize the president to use force.
> >
> > What are your thoughts on Senator Clinton's claim? Is there any
> > legitimacy to it?
> >
> > Dr. Ron Paul
> >
> > It is clear to anyone witnessing the US run-up to the war against Iraq
> > that the resolution passed by Congress at the end of 2002 would lead
> > to military action. The threatening rhetoric from the neo-cons in the
> > Administration and the almost weekly legislation threatening Iraq that
> > was passed in Congress left little doubt among serious foreign policy
> > observers that the US was on a course toward war. The resolution
> > passed in 2002 accelerated that course exponentially. Those who claim
> > otherwise after the fact are either not being completely truthful or were
> > at the time not paying attention.
> >
> > Question 5: The 2008 Beijing Olympics have been dubbed the 'Genocide
> > Games'.
> > Communist China continues to oppress its citizens and religious
> > minorities.
> > In particular their oppression of Tibet's Buddhists has garnered
> > international attention. Some have called on the U.S. to boycott the
> > Beijing Olympics.
> >
> > What are your views?
> >
> > Dr. Ron Paul
> >
> > I'm certainly troubled by oppressive actions by the Chinese Communist
> > Party in the wake of the 2008 Olympics. Communist China continues its
> > brutal legacy of egregious human rights abuses, especially as we have
> > seen recently against Tibet's Buddhists. The persecution isn't just
> > against religious minorities, either-how many tens of thousands
> > Chinese citizens have been displaced as the government razed hutongs
> > in Beijing and rice paddies in the western provinces? Communist
> > China, though increasingly globalized, has not accepted basic tenets
> > of freedom that we hold dearly in America, such as property rights and
> > freedoms of religion or association. The truth of the matter is that
> > the United States is heavily subsidizing these actions through taxes,
> > but the 2008 Olympic Games itself receives no federal subsidies from
> > the US government. The United States Olympic Committee is a private
> > organization funded by civilians and corporations, and the decision to
> > boycott the Beijing Games would best be left to them.
> >
> >
> > Question 6: President Bush and the Democrats all seem to not support
> > protecting and policing U.S. borders. Recently the Democratic governor
> > of New York struck a deal with the Bush administration giving driver's
> > licenses to illegal aliens. The deal seems to achieve both amnesty for
> > illegal aliens and advance a national ID card. (Editors note: The
> > governor of NY back peddled on illegal alien driver's licenses today)
> >
> > How can the U.S. government wage a war against terrorism yet remain
> > completely defenseless against the potential threat of being
> > infiltrated by foreign terrorists and saboteurs?
> >
> > Dr. Ron Paul
> >
> > It can't. We claim to be fighting a war to protect our national
> > security when we've left the back door unlocked at home. If we were
> > truly worried about national security, we would first secure our
> > borders, and oppose amnesty for illegal aliens. This is especially
> > important given that a number of the 9/11 terrorists were in our
> > country with expired visas-we cannot be complacent, or we run the risk
> > of jeopardizing our nation's safety. I have a six-point plan for
> > defending this country's borders, and strict enforcement of visa rules
> > is one of the most important measures we can take to prevent infiltration
> > by terrorists.
> >
> > Question 7: You have stated that U.S. foreign policy may have been a
> > contributing factor toward the 911 attacks.
> >
> > Do you think the immigration policies promoted by Hillary Clinton and
> > Rudy Giuliani in the 1980s and 1990s were a contributing factor to the
> > 911 attacks? If so should they apologize?
> >
> > Dr. Ron Paul
> >
> > Endorsing and promoting policies that give amnesty to illegals and
> > that make it easier for illegals to enter the United States are
> > leaving this country more vulnerable to terrorist attack. Certainly
> > voters should compare the records of those who have been consistently
> > in favor of controlling our borders and in opposition to amnesty with
> > those who have taken the opposite approach over the years. But what is
> > most clear is that the United States needs a president who understands
> > that to really make us safe against future terrorism, we must change our
> f> oreign policy and get control of our borders.
> > These two cannot be separated from each other
> >
> > Civil Liberties
> >
> > Question 8: Many of you're supporters consider you the first Civil
> > Rights leader of the 21st century because of your vigorous defense of
> > the Bill of Rights. Your campaign seems to be uniting people.
> >
> > Can you unite this divided country?
> >
> > Dr. Ron Paul
> >
> > I see no greater unifying message than that of freedom, peace, and
> > prosperity, and that is what this campaign is all about. Every day my
> > support grows exponentially as Americans realize that government has
> > overstepped its bounds and is threatening both their lives and
> > livelihoods with foreign and economic policies that are bringing the
> > nation to ruin. My message is what this country was founded on; what
> > this country ended slavery for; what every people across the world seek:
> > freedom.
> http://usadaily.com/Article.cfm?articleID=163464
> Exclusive Ron Paul interview
> Joe Sansone
> USA Daily
> 11/14/2007
> >
> > Editor's note: This interview is the first in a three part series to
> > be conducted over the next couple weeks with Republican presidential
> > candidate and Congressman from Texas, Dr. Ron Paul.
> >
> > This interview deals mostly with foreign policy and national security.
> >
> > Foreign Policy and National Security
> >
> > Question 1: There seems to be a cooling of relations with Russia and
> > you've mentioned the possibility of a new Cold War with Russia
> > developing. This could be partly attributed to U.S. foreign policy and
> > partly attributed to Putin's apparent moves to retain power.
> >
> > What do you attribute the cooling in the U.S./Russia relationship to
> > and how if possible will you avert a new Cold War?
> >
> > Dr. Ron Paul
> >
> > If you look at US policy on Russia's periphery, you can see part of
> > the reason for the cooling relations. From Georgia to Kazakhstan and
> > the Ukraine, our foreign policy seems to be focused on provoking
> > Russia rather than seeking friendly and mutually-beneficial relations.
> > The United States has troops stationed in a ring around Russia and
> > regularly interferes in the internal affairs of the new states of the
> > former Soviet Union. The "Orange Revolution" in Ukraine, for example, was
> > partly funded by the US government.
> > There is no reason for a "new Cold War" with Russia, and the foreign
> > policy I intend to pursue as president - peaceful relations,
> > engagement, and trade - will greatly improve US/Russia relations.
> >
> > Question 2: The issue of Iran obtaining nuclear weapons and the
> > possibility of war with Iran seems to be increasing. You've stated
> > your opposition to a war with Iran.
> >
> > How will you resolve the Iranian issue? What policy if any do you
> > think the U.S. should have toward third world nations that seek to
> > obtain nuclear weapons?
> >
> > Dr. Ron Paul
> >
> > General William Odom, who directed the National Security Agency under
> > President Reagan, recently wrote an article titled "Exit From Iraq
> > Should Be Through Iran," claiming that cooperation between Washington
> > and Tehran "is the single most important step that could be taken to
> > rescue the US from its predicament in Iraq." I believe we can restore
> > such cooperation with Iran through diplomacy, trade, and travel,
> > rather than threatening a nuclear strike. Our extension of economic
> > sanctions against the Iranian people amounts to sheer war propaganda,
> > and we're losing out opportunity to pursue a peaceful option the more
> > we shut them out. We need to re-open the doors to diplomacy with
> > Iran, by removing sanctions and actually talking with them-as we did
> > with the Soviet Union during the Cold War. President Reagan was "the
> > Great Communicator," and we need to hearken back to his policy of
> > communication to prevent war with Iran or any other country that seeks > > to obtain nuclear weapons.
> >
> >
> > Question 3: You've stated that you do not support maintaining empire
> > overseas and that it is both dangerous and too costly. There seems to
> > be varying views here even among non interventionists.
> >
> > Can you clarify your non interventionist foreign policy? What will the
> > U.S. military look like under your administration? Do you still want an
> > international military presence around the world with the U.S. as the
> > arsenal or strategic reserve of Western civilization? Is there a risk
> > of a potential adversary like China filling the vacuum?
> >
> > Dr. Ron Paul
> >
> > The United States has troops stationed in 130 foreign countries >>worldwide.
> > Those are 130 countries whose own national development is thwarted by
> > our presence-a presence which is too costly for our federal budget to
> sustain.
> > I don't understand this talk of our presence as a "strategic reserve
> > of Western civilization". Instead, the best indication of our
> > civilization has been our prestige in international trade. We should
> > let the best measure of our American greatness come from free and
> > peaceful trade with other nations, not from displays of our military
> > might. While we engage in deficit spending to fund our military
> > exploits overseas, detracting from our own productivity, countries
> > like China are filling the void by expanding their trade
> > opportunities. We should seek to promote the Jeffersonian ideals of
> > friendly commerce with all nations, and entangling alliances with none.
> >
> > Question 4: You voted against the war. One of the reasons was because
> > Congress wasn't Declaring war and was basically giving the president a
> > blank check to use force. Some candidates like Senator Hillary Clinton
> > have recently claimed that they thought they were voting for diplomacy
> > when they voted in 2002 to authorize the president to use force.
> >
> > What are your thoughts on Senator Clinton's claim? Is there any
> > legitimacy to it?
> >
> > Dr. Ron Paul
> >
> > It is clear to anyone witnessing the US run-up to the war against Iraq
> > that the resolution passed by Congress at the end of 2002 would lead
> > to military action. The threatening rhetoric from the neo-cons in the
> > Administration and the almost weekly legislation threatening Iraq that
> > was passed in Congress left little doubt among serious foreign policy
> > observers that the US was on a course toward war. The resolution
> > passed in 2002 accelerated that course exponentially. Those who claim
> > otherwise after the fact are either not being completely truthful or were
> > at the time not paying attention.
> >
> > Question 5: The 2008 Beijing Olympics have been dubbed the 'Genocide
> > Games'.
> > Communist China continues to oppress its citizens and religious
> > minorities.
> > In particular their oppression of Tibet's Buddhists has garnered
> > international attention. Some have called on the U.S. to boycott the
> > Beijing Olympics.
> >
> > What are your views?
> >
> > Dr. Ron Paul
> >
> > I'm certainly troubled by oppressive actions by the Chinese Communist
> > Party in the wake of the 2008 Olympics. Communist China continues its
> > brutal legacy of egregious human rights abuses, especially as we have
> > seen recently against Tibet's Buddhists. The persecution isn't just
> > against religious minorities, either-how many tens of thousands
> > Chinese citizens have been displaced as the government razed hutongs
> > in Beijing and rice paddies in the western provinces? Communist
> > China, though increasingly globalized, has not accepted basic tenets
> > of freedom that we hold dearly in America, such as property rights and
> > freedoms of religion or association. The truth of the matter is that
> > the United States is heavily subsidizing these actions through taxes,
> > but the 2008 Olympic Games itself receives no federal subsidies from
> > the US government. The United States Olympic Committee is a private
> > organization funded by civilians and corporations, and the decision to
> > boycott the Beijing Games would best be left to them.
> >
> >
> > Question 6: President Bush and the Democrats all seem to not support
> > protecting and policing U.S. borders. Recently the Democratic governor
> > of New York struck a deal with the Bush administration giving driver's
> > licenses to illegal aliens. The deal seems to achieve both amnesty for
> > illegal aliens and advance a national ID card. (Editors note: The
> > governor of NY back peddled on illegal alien driver's licenses today)
> >
> > How can the U.S. government wage a war against terrorism yet remain
> > completely defenseless against the potential threat of being
> > infiltrated by foreign terrorists and saboteurs?
> >
> > Dr. Ron Paul
> >
> > It can't. We claim to be fighting a war to protect our national
> > security when we've left the back door unlocked at home. If we were
> > truly worried about national security, we would first secure our
> > borders, and oppose amnesty for illegal aliens. This is especially
> > important given that a number of the 9/11 terrorists were in our
> > country with expired visas-we cannot be complacent, or we run the risk
> > of jeopardizing our nation's safety. I have a six-point plan for
> > defending this country's borders, and strict enforcement of visa rules
> > is one of the most important measures we can take to prevent infiltration
> > by terrorists.
> >
> > Question 7: You have stated that U.S. foreign policy may have been a
> > contributing factor toward the 911 attacks.
> >
> > Do you think the immigration policies promoted by Hillary Clinton and
> > Rudy Giuliani in the 1980s and 1990s were a contributing factor to the
> > 911 attacks? If so should they apologize?
> >
> > Dr. Ron Paul
> >
> > Endorsing and promoting policies that give amnesty to illegals and
> > that make it easier for illegals to enter the United States are
> > leaving this country more vulnerable to terrorist attack. Certainly
> > voters should compare the records of those who have been consistently
> > in favor of controlling our borders and in opposition to amnesty with
> > those who have taken the opposite approach over the years. But what is
> > most clear is that the United States needs a president who understands
> > that to really make us safe against future terrorism, we must change our
> f> oreign policy and get control of our borders.
> > These two cannot be separated from each other
> >
> > Civil Liberties
> >
> > Question 8: Many of you're supporters consider you the first Civil
> > Rights leader of the 21st century because of your vigorous defense of
> > the Bill of Rights. Your campaign seems to be uniting people.
> >
> > Can you unite this divided country?
> >
> > Dr. Ron Paul
> >
> > I see no greater unifying message than that of freedom, peace, and
> > prosperity, and that is what this campaign is all about. Every day my
> > support grows exponentially as Americans realize that government has
> > overstepped its bounds and is threatening both their lives and
> > livelihoods with foreign and economic policies that are bringing the
> > nation to ruin. My message is what this country was founded on; what
> > this country ended slavery for; what every people across the world seek:
> > freedom.