A Foreign Policy of Freedom

A Foreign Policy of Freedom by Congressman Ron Paul is a marvelous collection of speeches given by one of the few men who has consistently and boldly stood for a humble foreign policy and a change from the course our nation has taken since the 1950s in North Korea. Paul’s political and historical astuteness has stuck a cord with many people who are concerned today about the so called “War on Terror”. One can easily see in reading Paul’s book a man who has spent years battling every war hawk in that has set foot in the halls of Congress. From 1974 until present Dr. Paul has remained true to his principles of a humble foreign policy.
One remarkable thing about Congressman Paul is how during the ensuing weeks after the 9/11 attacks he was one of the few who did not let the tense emotions at the time deter him or sway him from his principles. On the fourteenth of September 2001 Dr. Paul addressed the House regarding the dramatic events. “It, so far, has been inappropriate to ask why the U.S. was a target and not some other Western country. But for us to pursue a war against our enemies, it’s crucial to understand why we were attacked, which then will tell us by whom we were attacked.”[1] Needless to say, his advice was not taken and the bumper sticker slogan “They attacked us because we’re free” was born. One can truly see the depth of Dr. Paul’s knowledge of foreign policy when he states in a speech given on April 12th, 1999 during the Kosovo crisis; “As ugly as the Yugoslavian civil war may be in Kosovo, and as heart wrenching as the pictures of mass refugees fleeing their homeland is, one evil can never justify another. If one is disinclined to be persuaded by law and morality and responds only to emotions, propaganda, and half-truths, then one must consider the practical failure of compulsive intervention in the affairs of other nations.”[2]
These are the questions that one can try to answer as they read through Dr. Paul’s many speeches over the years. A Foreign Policy of Freedom is a great book for those who desire to learn more about the route our foreign policy has taken over the years.
Notes
[1] Paul, Ron, A Foreign Policy Of Freedom, Free 2007; pg. 145
[2] Ibid 113