Ron Paul's Foreign Policy

Congressman Ron Paul is the only Republican to call for the immediate withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq. Such a position has made him anathema to many Republicans who believe that a precipitous withdrawal would send a clear message to the enemy that the United States doesn't have the will to endure a protracted military engagement. Many Republican leaders have called for him to be banned from the debates and say that he doesn't belong in the party. This debate raises a few interesting questions: how do you distinguish between a liberal and conservative foreign policy? And is Ron Paul a liberal lurking in the Republican field?

Let's look at some of the aspects of a liberal foreign policy and then ask if Dr. Paul fits the profile.

Liberals believe that the United States should show a humanitarian interest in other countries. While the United States doesn't have the resources to intervene everywhere in the world, there are a few situations that are so dire that they demand American involvement. Many liberals are calling for the United States to "do something" in Darfur, and, recalling the Clinton years, there was an intervention in Serbia to prevent further atrocities against the Albanian Kosovars. Liberals are not a monolith, of course, and some are more realistic and others idealistic in their approach.

Liberals tend to believe that we should work through global institutions, like the United Nations, and avoid "unilateralism." One of the more forceful criticisms of President Bush's decision to go to war in Iraq was that it was "unilateral" and did not receive the blessings of the United Nations. Now many countries -- Britain, Australia, Poland etc. -- did participate in the decision to oust Saddam Hussein, but there wasn't a United Nations resolution authorizing the use of force. Liberals believe any war must ultimately have the approval of the United Nations otherwise it is illegal.

Liberals also believe that the United States should defend itself if attacked, and that's why there was no debate about the decision to wage war in Afghanistan. However, this belief is common to various political persuasions, and is not something that is unique to liberals.

From the foregoing analysis it is clear that Ron Paul is not a liberal. Ron Paul argues that the United Nations is illegitimate and that we should withdraw our membership. He states, "The UN is neither wise nor neutral," and goes on to say "Perhaps the time has finally come when more Americans will choose to rethink our participation."

Dr. Paul also does not believe that we should intervene in the affairs of other nations. He proudly calls himself a "non-interventionist." And while Dr. Paul was against the war in Iraq, he was also against our intervention in Kosovo and opposes any use of U.S. troops in Darfur.

Dr Paul's foreign policy harkens back to the old Republican tradition, the tradition of Senator Taft, who thought that wars were inconsistent with our republic, and that we should never go to war unless it's to protect our liberties.

Ron Paul stands in this traditon, not the liberal one.