Rand Paul on Foreign Policy: A Start, But What’s Next?

[Draggingtree]

The American Conservative:

Rand Paul on Foreign Policy: A Start, But What’s Next?

 

By Leon Hadar • January 20, 2014, 1:03 PM

 

As an exposition of the principles that guide his policy on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee—as well as one day perhaps as president—Rand Paul’s recent presentation at the Center for the National Interest made a lot of sense to those who have criticized Washington’s global strategy of recent years.

 

His commitment to protect the national interest and the distinction he made à la George F. Kennan between “vital” and “peripheral” interests certainly appeal to a realist like myself, as do his cautionary notes about the need to embrace diplomacy before deploying force and the importance of respecting the interests of nations with whom we do not share the same values.

 

It was nice to get to know Senator Paul’s worldview. But here is the main problem I had with his address: Where is the policy beef, Senator? Provide us with the links between your worldview and the policies you would support and pursue.

But I believe that at the end of the day he would be better off politically and electorally if instead of delivering think-tank addresses and merely reacting to global crises, Rand Paul would initiate a true debate over American foreign policy

[Valin]

But I believe that at the end of the day he would be better off politically and electorally if instead of delivering think-tank addresses and merely reacting to global crises, Rand Paul would initiate a true debate over American foreign policy

 

Translation: We need to return to 1935.

These guys have yet to get over Robert Taft's defeat by Eisenhower.