Political Quotes

Rand Paul: the morning papers today recorded that Russia was providing weapons technology to Iraq. We have known for years that…

On the recordFebruary 12, 1998
the morning papers today recorded that Russia was providing weapons technology to Iraq. We have known for years that China has done the same thing. Does this mean that we must attack them as well as Iraq? Instead, though, we give foreign aid to both China and to Russia, so indirectly we are subsidizing the very weapons that we are trying to eliminate. I would like to remind my colleagues that bombing a country, especially one halfway around the world that is not a direct threat to our security, is not a moral act. A moral war is one that is defensive and a legal war is one that is declared by Congress. We should only pursue an act of war when our national security is threatened. Bombing will solve nothing. It will open up a can of worms. We should not condone it. We should not endorse it. We should not encourage it. Please think carefully before we permit our President to pursue this war adventure.
Said by
Rand Paul
Republican · Kentucky

Editor's note · Context

Addressing the implications of U.S. military action in Iraq and foreign aid to Russia and China.

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