Since the RonPaul-ites are insisting Rudy smeared him, let’s look at the transcript:
MR. GOLER: Congressman, you don’t think that changed with the 9/11 attacks, sir?
REP. PAUL: What changed?
MR. GOLER: The non-interventionist policies.
REP. PAUL: No. Non-intervention was a major contributing factor. Have you ever read the reasons they attacked us? They attack us because we’ve been over there; we’ve been bombing Iraq for 10 years. We’ve been in the Middle East — I think Reagan was right.
We don’t understand the irrationality of Middle Eastern politics. So right now we’re building an embassy in Iraq that’s bigger than the Vatican. We’re building 14 permanent bases. What would we say here if China was doing this in our country or in the Gulf of Mexico? We would be objecting. We need to look at what we do from the perspective of what would happen if somebody else did it to us. (Applause.)
MR. GOLER: Are you suggesting we invited the 9/11 attack, sir?
REP. PAUL: I’m suggesting that we listen to the people who attacked us and the reason they did it, and they are delighted that we’re over there because Osama bin Laden has said, “I am glad you’re over on our sand because we can target you so much easier.” They have already now since that time — (bell rings) — have killed 3,400 of our men, and I don’t think it was necessary.
You know what’s interesting in Paul’s last statement? Look at what’s missing.
The word, “No.”
As in, “No, I’m not suggesting we invited the 9/11 attack.”
Had he said that, he might have avoided having a bulls-eye on his back for Rudy and the other candidates. The other thing is, I have read the reasons they attacked us, and those reasons are so numerous and ever-changing that I’ve come to the conclusion it’s like the inverse of that classic breakup line: It’s not us, it’s them.
Osama bin Laden objected to U.S. forces stationed in Saudi Arabia. They’re gone now, and al-Qaeda’s hatred of America hasn’t lessened one iota. He objected to the trade embargo against Iraq in October 1996; that’s gone, and again, al-Qaeda’s hatred of America hasn’t lessened one bit. In that same message, he denounced the west for an arms embargo, designed to minimize the carnage in the Balkans, calling it “their withholding of arms from the Muslims of Bosnia-Herzegovina leaving them prey to the Christian Serbians.” That’s gone, and again, no effect on al-Qaeda’s hate.
A Western leader can change his policies all he wants – or, more specifically, all al-Qaeda wants – and they’re still going to hate them/us. Bin Laden has called for all non-Muslims to be driven from Saudi Arabia. He objects to U.S. military vessels cruising in the Persian Gulf, a demand that violates every international understanding of free passage on the seas. He wants to “liberate al-Aksa Mosque” which would put Jerusalem under Muslim control.
In 2002, he told America “you attacked us in Somalia; you supported the Russian atrocities against us in Chechnya, the Indian oppression against us in Kashmir, and the Jewish aggression against us in Lebanon.” Apparently the way to get in his good graces is to declare war on Russia, India, and Israel.
He blamed America for promising to move its embassy to Jerusalem, recognizing it as the capital of Israel. Only problem is, America hasn’t done it yet, and I doubt it ever will. He claims Israel is plotting to destroy the al-Aksa mosque.
He moves on to, “What are we calling you to, and what do we want from you? (1) The first thing that we are calling you to is Islam… We call you to be a people of manners, principles, honour, and purity; to reject the immoral acts of fornication, homosexuality, intoxicants, gambling’s, and trading with interest… the Jews have taken control of your economy, through which they have then taken control of your media, and now control all aspects of your life making you their servants and achieving their aims at your expense…”
Notice, all of this goes way beyond, “get out of my neighborhood.” It says, “you have to change the fundamentals of your life over there before we will stop trying to kill you.”
Hey Democrats, do you remember this one?
Who can forget your President Clinton’s immoral acts committed in the official Oval office? After that you did not even bring him to account, other than that he ‘made a mistake’, after which everything passed with no punishment. Is there a worse kind of event for which your name will go down in history and remembered by nations?”
That’s right. Osama bin Laden wants to fight over impeachment again.
Sorry, Ron Paul, there’s only one proper response to a list of demands like this, and it requires one finger and it’s not “we’re number one.” Bin Laden and his cronies will use any reason handy to denounce America and to justify attacks on us. They’re not rational people, and they won’t stop trying to kill us if we just make a few policy changes and become less interventionist.