Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., delivered a speech on Thursday outlining his foreign policy philosophy.
Paul, widely regarded as a potential 2016 presidential candidate, delivered his remarks at the Center for the National Interest, a non-partisan think-tank.
“I want to spell out for you what I believe to be the principles of a national security strategy of strength and action,” said Paul during his speech.
Here are eight highlights from the speech:
1. According to Paul, America can be strong without being combative:
Americans want strength and leadership but that doesn’t mean they see war as the only solution.
2. Paul says that “the war on terror isn’t over:”
To contain and ultimately defeat radical Islam, America must have confidence in our constitutional republic, our leadership, and our values.
To defend our country we must understand that a hatred of our values exists, and acknowledge that interventions in foreign countries may well exacerbate this hatred, but that ultimately, we must be willing and able to defend our country and our interests.
3. Paul contends that many of the same governments who mistreat their people “have been chronic recipients of our aid:”
The world does not have an Islam problem.
The world has a dignity problem, with millions of men and women across the Middle East being treated as chattel by their own governments….
There is a time to eliminate our enemies, but there is also a time to cultivate allies and encouragers among civilized Muslim nations.
4. Paul said that we need a foreign policy that “recognizes our limits and preserves our might, a common-sense conservative realism of strength and action.”
5. The use of force “is and always has been an indispensable part of defending our country.”
6. In Paul’s view, “war is necessary when America is attacked or threatened, when vital American interests are attacked and threatened, and when we have exhausted all other measures short of war.” Before force is used, “there must be a clear end goal” and the “support [of] the American public” through their representatives in Congress.
Additionally, Paul believes America should only enter wars “when the consequences….intended and unintended….are worth the sacrifice.”
7. Paul argues that “peace and security require a commitment to diplomacy and leadership:”
Military force is meaningless if our leaders cannot reinforce American diplomacy through engagement and leadership.
8. Another principle of Paul’s foreign policy vision is that “we are only as strong as our economy:” “A bankrupt nation doesn’t project power but rather weakness. Our national power is a function of the national economy.”
Paul concluded by saying that “America aspires to peace, trade, and commerce with all” and that though we “will not abide injustice, we will not instigate war.”
Quotes were taken from Paul’s prepared remarks.
