[mlmpetert]

Originally Posted by 12thMan

First let me say that I'm in no way questioning your love of country or Ron Paul's for that matter.

I don't know if Ron Paul is a pacifist, but I maintain I'm not sure if he would, under extreme circumstances, stand up and defend this nation. In a recent interview Mr. Paul said he wouldn't haven't killed bin Laden. He would have cooperated with the Pakistani government to try to bring bin Laden to justice and uphold the rule of law. These are his words. So I have a very difficult time reconciling his stance on matters of protecting our national interests with his interpretation of the Constitution and upholding the rule of law. I believe he's a good man, but following the Constitution to the letter can sometimes be a tricky proposition and doesn't guarantee that we will be at peace with the world.

Whether or not we can draw a straight line from our sometimes flawed foreign policy towards Arab nations over the past 60 years to the atrocities of 9/11 is somewhat of an open question, to be honest. Did the unprovoked invasion of Iraq fuel hatred towards the West, I believe so. (see my final comment below) But on the other hand, muslims are also guilty of murdering and oppressing muslims by the thousands through repressive regimes, without any U.S. involvement or military intervention. Interestingly enough, though, we're now seeing the Arab world reach out to the United States to get involved with the new wave of democracy spreading across the region. So no, it's not all about us shoving our way of living up their asses.

We both agree with your following statement: Marching all over the world, and acting like the police chief of the planet Earth isn't 'national defense'. It pisses people off, and we shouldn't be surprised when it comes back to bite us.

Not so sure those are his words..... although im not sure what interview you are reffering to?

Ron Paul says Fox News distorted his comments about bin Laden | Texas on the Potomac | a Chron.com blog

Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul accused Fox News of distorting his comments about the U.S. military raid that killed Osama bin Laden.
Appearing on Fox News Sunday, the Lake Jackson congressman rebuked Chris Wallace when the Fox host claimed that Paul had told an Iowa radio station earlier in the week that it was “wrong” for the U.S. to kill the al Qaeda leader.
Rep. Ron Paul speaks during a news conference at his newly opened Iowa campaign office on Tuesday.
“You distorted that,” Paul argued, by using the word “wrong.”
During the broadcast this morning, Fox aired a clip from the interview in which Paul declared “it was not absolutely necessary” to kill bin Laden.
“That’s different than saying it was wrong,” Paul told Wallace. “I’m saying there was a different way of doing that.”