[NYTr] Ron Paul: Give Peace a Chance

[All the News That Doesn't Fit]

The Washington Post - Oct 11, 2007
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/11/AR2007101101555.html

Ron Paul: Give Peace a Chance

By Michael D. Shear
Washington Post Staff Writer

Republican presidential hopeful Ron Paul said today that he could see
no possible reason to ever launch military action or initiate a war,
vowing instead to battle efforts he said are undermining the individual
liberties of people in America.

In an interview with Washingtonpost.com's PostTalk program, the Texas
congressman said he could see "no reason" to justify military action if
he were elected president. He compared the United States to a
schoolyard bully and said the country has no reason to flex its muscles
overseas. 

"There's nobody in this world that could possibly attack us today," he
said in the interview. "I mean, we could defend this country with a few
good submarines. If anybody dared touch us we could wipe any country
off of the face of the earth within hours. And here we are, so
intimidated and so insecure and we're acting like such bullies that we
have to attack third-world nations that have no military and have no
weapon."

Paul has been intensely opposed to the war in Iraq and to a potential
attack against Iran during his campaign for the presidency. During this
week's GOP debate in Dearborn, Mich., he once again became red-faced as
he blasted the Middle East war effort.

"The thought that the Iranians could pose an imminent attack on the
United States is preposterous," he said Tuesday night. "There's no way.
This is just war propaganda, continued war propaganda, preparing this
nation to go to war and spread this war not only in Iraq, but into
Iran, unconstitutionally. It is a road to disaster for us as a nation."

But during the PostTalk interview, Paul said he does not believe he is
too angry to be president.

"I certainly don't want to come across angry," he said, "although I do
get pretty annoyed when I see blatant abuse of the rule of law and
blatant ignoring of the Constitution and that is annoying because I see
the republic fading away."

Paul, an outspoken libertarian with only three percent Republican
support in the latest Washington Post-ABC news poll, said that he has
been pleasantly surprised by his campaign's ability to raise more than
$5 million in the third fundraising quarter that ended last month. But
he credited a groundswell of support from people who like his limited
government, anti-war message.

He said he has never made a single call to a supporter asking for
money, and said he will spend the fruits of his newfound largess
campaigning in New Hampshire, South Carolina and other states where
voting takes place early next year.

"I didn't raise $5 million," he said. "A lot of people sent me a lot of
money that added up to $5 million."

He also expanded on his answer during the debate that he would not
necessarily support the GOP nominee if he does not win. He drew a sharp
distinction between the Republican party and its current leadership
under President Bush.

"I feel like I'm sticking up for the Republican principles," he said.
"I've chastised the other candidates on the stage. You don't represent
the Republican base.... The Republican party is in shambles. We lost
desperately. You won't change your ways."