Another article I appreciate on Ron Paul’s disastrous views on Israel, Islam, and the Middle East by my friend Joel Richardson.
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Let me begin by making it very clear there are a lot of reasons to love Ron Paul.
He is a man with incredibly refreshing principles, ideas, qualities and character. There have actually been a couple of occasions where after listening to Paul, I have come close to joining the Ron Paul revolution.
But despite the allure of Paul’s constitutional convictions, his perspectives on United States foreign policy, radical Islam and the nation of Israel are an absolute deal breaker. Paul’s emphatic trademark claim that the present rise of Islamic terrorism globally is the result of “blowback” from American actions abroad is nothing less than ridiculous and an absolute insult to my intelligence.
According to Paul, radical Muslims are not radical because they have drunk deeply from the trough of an expansionist, racist and murderous ideology, but rather because American actions abroad have brought about the natural response of resistance. And just so that none of his supporters accuse me of misrepresenting him, here is what Paul himself infamously declared during the Republican presidential debate in South Carolina in 2008, concerning 9/11:
Have you ever read the reasons they attacked us? They attacked us because we’ve been over there; we’ve been bombing Iraq for 10 years.
How is Paul’s position any different from Jeremiah Wright’s claim that 9/11 was simply a case of “America’s chickens … coming home to roost”? Paul may say it in a far less shrill manner than Wright, but his position is virtually identical. More specifically, on Paul’s own website, in an article titled, “Foreign Occupation Leads to More Terror,” Paul clearly lays out his position:
Though it is hard for many to believe, honest studies show that the real motivation behind the Sept. 11 attacks and the vast majority of other instances of suicide terrorism is not that our enemies are bothered by our way of life. Neither is it our religion, or our wealth. Rather, it is primarily occupation. …
But where did Paul get this idea? We learn exactly from whom in the next paragraph:
Robert Pape has extensively researched this issue and goes in depth in his book “Cutting the Fuse: The Explosion of Global Suicide Terrorism and How to Stop It.” In fact, of 2,200 incidents of suicide attacks he has studied worldwide since 1980, 95 percent were in response to foreign occupation.
It is essential to take note of the fact that the primary support for Paul’s belief concerning blowback comes from Robert Pape. The problem for Paul here is that by most accounts, Pape is an agenda-driven pseudo-scholar whose works and “studies” have been thoroughly debunked by several other scholars. I appeal to all supporters of Paul to read the following articles debunking Robert Pape’s, and thus Ron Paul’s, claims:
- “Design, Inference, and the Strategic Logic of Suicide Terrorism” in American Political Science Review
- “Contrasting Secular and Religious Terrorism” in Middle East Quarterly
But not only are Pape’s claims based on manufactured data, he has also been caught red-handed conspiring with the Hamas-linked group Council on American-Islamic Relations.
How many Ron Paul supporters can honestly say that they feel comfortable knowing that this is the man Paul looks to as one of his primary guides concerning foreign policy?
But beyond all of the high-minded analysis of data, I prefer to simply couch the discussion in terms that anyone can understand. Paul argues that if it had not been for our invasion of Afghanistan and Iraq, we would have lost far fewer soldiers and we would all be far safer today. Let me ask this question: Would far fewer police officers be injured or killed each year if they all simply remained in their police stations and avoided ever engaging criminals? Of course they would. But would this make us all safer? Of course not. This is not hard to understand.
Evil exists, and there are times when it must be resisted. Freedom requires both responsibility and sacrifice. To cast the radical Islamic terrorists as the victims and the American people as those who deserve blame, which Paul has done, is simply asinine and downright disgusting. Ron Paul’s soothing grandfather-like persona may be far more palatable to most than Jeremiah Wright’s obnoxious rage-filled rants, but his habit of victim-blaming is no less repulsive and should be rejected by all genuine American patriots.
“Why shouldn’t Iran have nukes?” – Ron Paul
“Death to Israel!” –Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
Finally – a few things about Paul’s stance on Israel and his Pollyannaish views concerning radical Islam.
To support his radical isolationist foreign policy, Paul has gone to some absurd lengths to deny the systemic evil of radical Islamism. Following his reliance on Pape’s debunked claims, according to Paul, the primary reason Israel is experiencing such resistance from the surrounding Muslim peoples is because of the Israeli “occupation.” I have heard this same claim made a thousand times by left-wing pro-Palestinian propagandists. Must I hear it from a so-called conservative as well?
But let’s think through the claim logically. Israel was officially established as a nation in 1948. But according to Islamic sacred tradition, it was roughly 1,300 years before when Muhammad himself, the founder of Islam, declared the following prophecy:
The Day of Judgment will not come about until Muslims fight the Jews (killing the Jews), when the Jew will hide behind stones and trees. The stones and trees will say O Muslims, O Abdullah, there is a Jew behind me, come and kill him.
It is worth noting that this “prophecy” is listed as an eternal command within the actual charter of Hamas. But this vision of a last-days slaughter and wholesale genocide of the Jewish people was not “revealed” at a time the Jews were “occupying” anyone. There wasn’t even a Jewish state at the time. So what inspired Muhammad from the very early days of Islam to call for an eventual genocide of the Jewish people? If it wasn’t blowback, then what caused it?
There is much to love about Ron Paul, but until he is willing to acknowledge the very real reality of evil in this world, and the equally real need at times to confront it, he can kiss my vote goodbye. Too many Americans are looking desperately for a hero, and I’m sorry to say that Ron Paul is not the man.
[originally posted at wnd.com]
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I agree with Joel just as I agree with you, Dalton, about Paul being out of touch with the reality of Israel, the Middle East, and Islam. But, as I hear more and more people bash his foreign policy, specifically in dealing with the Middle East and all involved, why doesn’t someone like Joel Richardson or Walid Shoebat reach out to Paul and help educate him? If Joel was in any way shape or form close to throwing support behind Paul, yet Paul’s Middle Eastern foreign policy was/is the deal-breaker, then I think that says that are a lot of great things about Paul. Just imagine if Ron Paul was educated and in touch with the reality of the Middle East and all involved, would you then consider voting for him? Honestly, because of the media script, I believe we are either going to end up with Obama or Romney unfortunately. And yet, in the end, God is going to provide our country with the president(s) that helps to fufill his master plan. Consider this though, during the final 3 and half years of Israel’s final/future persecution, are we supposed to end up with a president who didn’t stand with Israel as they suffer and die, or are we going to end up with a president who said they would stand with Israel but failed to do so? If 2/3 of the jews in Israel are going to die according to scripture over a 3 and half year period of time in the land, then it would appear that there will be a great failure to help them just like the failure of many to help during the Holocaust. Whether our country exists or not, and no matter who our president will be, Israel will be invaded, and people will suffer and die, and it should make anyone feel sick and weep to know that it will happen. But, if God’s plan is constantly at work, maybe our leaders are determined by him and not us. However, we do have a job to proclaim a kingdom, display the wisdom of God to the powers of the air, and prepare others for what we know is to come. In the meantime, it would be awesome if our country recovered, but if it’s not in God’s cards, I still know he is in control, and my allegiance to him takes away any of my fear of the unknown.
I disagree with your assessment of Ron Paul’s Foreign Policy, It seems to me that for being a pro-Israeli constituent that you have little faith in the God of Abraham, Issac and Jacob and seem to have more faith in the feeble, deteriorated and immoral United States Government to bail out Jehovah’s Israel. How dare one limit the attributes of almighty God and give way to the decayed and unreliable governance of men. Weather it be Romney, Gingrich, Obama or whomever it has no bearing when it comes to Israel.
As far as Muslim’s, I have never seen any in the United States that was radical or willing to kill me here that wasn’t egged on or framed by the FBI or self radicalized, only in Lebanon, Khafji and Baghdad– where I served in the Marines did I truly feel real hatred from Muslims. The reason for the hate wasn’t because of my countries American exceptionalism… it was because I was viewed as an invader. To me your opinion sounds only like it comes from from guess work not from reliable military intelligence studies or reliable sources. I would say that it would have the potential to have merit if Dr. Paul ‘s predictions weren’t so right so many times.
Hi Tim. With all due respect, I think you’re judgment on this issue is uneducated and misunderstanding why Paul is being taken to task. The issue is over his ignorance concerning the conflict over Israel. Prior to Israel becoming a State, a large contingent of the Islamic world was overtly anti-semitic. Yet Paul repeatedly blames the rage on Israel’s policies and American presence in the ME. Paul either is unaware of the history or chooses not to speak of it. Either way, he’s out to lunch. Being in the Marines I’m surprised to hear you speak of the Middle East this way. Where we agree is that much of the hate towards the US is because we are viewed as invaders. I don’t take issue with you over that. Where I think you’re naive is reducing the situation (like Paul does) so as to make the root issue American military presence in the ME (with regard to Israel that is). The enmity between “Isaac and Ishmael” was being expressed in the ME long before 1948/1967. This is why Paul lacks credibility: he places the blame on Israel and the US and fails to acknowledge the matrix of historical complexity.
Dalton
Let me just clear you you misinterpreting what Ron Paul said or just misleading people to what he never said you making alusions of Jeremiah Wright there is two diferent ideas betwen him and Ron Paul and diferent positions contrary what you said Paul said cleary Have you ever read the reasons they attacked us? They attacked us because we’ve been over there; we’ve been bombing Iraq for 10 years.
that was the reason they had given to attack America. Then you saying not only he is taking his ideas from Jeremiah but also from Pape Can the man have his own ideas there is nothing comparable to both but only in your mind. You are the one who says that Paul has Pape as his primary guide concerning foreign policy with your high-minded analysis data. and i do not think that anyone can understand you but only yourself. Paul has nothing to do with Obama´s friend Jeremiah. Now let me to simply couch the discussion in terms that you may understand. Let me ask this question: Would far more police officers be injured or killed each year if they all went abroad engaging criminals? Of course they would. But would this make us all safer? Of course not. This is not hard to understand.
Evil exists, and there are times when it must be resisted. So why dont you take your responsability and sacrifice for your cause. I do not think thtat you are showing a little respect when you say that Tim is uneducated. your are the one who is uneducated and impolite not even being grateful for a marine that went to risk his life for aparently seems to be your cause not his. You have named everybody of ignorant but you look to me much more ignorant. Ron Paul never said that American people are those to blame but who sent soldiers to cast the radical Islamic terrorists non existent in America that is why they have been sent abroad. You gone to some absurd lengths to deny the real reasons behind this. I do not think that Paul deny the systemic evil of radical Islamism. I am also a pro-Israeli constituent and i also have faith in god but i also know that god had nt been pleased with the jews . for they not serving him properly so has no one and^yes God’s plan is constantly at work, everything is determined by him and not us. We have a savior. So be strong keep the faith and do not fear cause wherever you go He will be with you.
“Have you ever read the reasons they attacked us? They attacked us because we’ve been over there; we’ve been bombing Iraq for 10 years. that was the reason they had given to attack America”
I stopped right there… so they attacked us because we were over there bombing for 10 years? So, I’m a but confused. Did they see into the future and decide we better attack them because they are going to be bombing us for 10 years? Yet if they didn’t attack us, would we be over there bombing them for 10 years? I see what you are getting at, but it was a different excuse. It’s beyond ridiculous to think that anyway. 9/11 wasn’t the first time they attacked us on home soil… hell, even the first WTC bombing in 1993 wasn’t the first attack against us.
“As far as Muslim’s, I have never seen any in the United States that was radical or willing to kill me here that wasn’t egged on or framed by the FBI or self radicalized”
This statement, from a former Marine no less is rather scary. Cognitive dissonance at its best. Not to mention doesn’t make sense… never seen a radical in the U.S. willing to kill me… yet then say there are self radicalized would be terrorists. So what radicalizes them then? What is their excuse du jour? This isn’t even getting on the topic of lying blame on the FBI for people plotting terrorist attacks. You know most people wouldn’t plan to kill en masse regardless of how easy some other party makes it. Glad you’re a former a marine, as much as I respect my fellow armed forces members, I can’t respect this highly apologetic dhimmi attitude that is ultimately self destructive to our nation.
“My public vehement opposition against International Zionism refers to the organ that is the successor of the “Sanhedrin” which altered the faith of the Patriarchs, the Prophets and the Righteous of the Jewish nation through the Talmud, the Rabbinical writings and the Kabbalah into Satanism, and always strives vigorously towards an economic empire set up throughout the world with headquarters in the great land beyond the Atlantic for the prevalence of world government and pan-religion.”
- Metropolitan Greek Orthodox Bishop Seraphim of Piraeus, Greece
This Bishop is correct. Why are some followers of Yeshua constantly prostrating themselves to appease the so-called “zionist” community? Haven’t they read Romans 2:28&29, which says, “For he is not a Jew, which is one outwardly; neither is that circumcision, which is outward in the flesh: But he is a Jew, which is one inwardly; and circumcision is that of the heart, in the spirit, and not in the letter; whose praise is not of men, but of God.”?
Why should our USA government disobey it’s own Constitution to send money to, and go to war for a nation who’s government (along with many of its citizens) harshly oppress those who follow Yeshua as the Messiah?