Introduction
INTRODUCTION
A Personal Note
Chapter 1. 1976
“The means of defense against foreign danger historically have become the instruments of tyranny at home.”—James Madison
CHAPTER 1
Upon the death of the Chinese dictator, I made this statement, which may be more hawkish than I would be today, but we certainly have moral authority to state our position without violating the independence of others.
September 15, 1976
THE DEATH OF MAO TSE-TUNG
HON. RON PAUL of TEXAS
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Chapter 2. 1980
“I hope our wisdom will grow with our power, and teach us that the less we use our power the greater it will be.”—Thomas Jefferson
CHAPTER 2
The ongoing crackdown in Poland, and our funding of the oppressors, is yet again the focus here.
August 22, 1980
WORKERS OF THE WORLD, UNITE
HON. RON PAUL of TEXAS
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Chapter 3. 1981
“We must guard against the acquisition of unwarranted influence, whether sought or unsought, by the military-industrial complex.”—Dwight D. Eisenhower
CHAPTER 3
The stage is often set for foreign intervention in so-called “non-binding” resolutions. Here the United States is making a dangerous commitment to Lebanon.
June 17, 1981
LEBANON: ANOTHER COMMITMENT?
HON. RON PAUL of TEXAS
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Mr. Speaker, House Resolution 159 was passed almost unanimously yesterday, and it should have been.
Chapter 4. 1982
“Commerce wth all nations, alliances with none, should be our motto.”—Thomas Jefferson
CHAPTER 4
Mutual defense pacts are a tricky business and can be very dangerous. When Britain and Argentina faced off, we actually had defense commitments with both sides.
April 27, 1982
THE FALKLAND CRISIS: NOT OUR BUSINESS
HON. RON PAUL of TEXAS
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Chapter 5. 1983
“Our country is now geared to an arms economy bred in an artificially induced psychosis of war hysteria and an incessant propoganda of fear.”—General Douglas MacArthur
CHAPTER 5
These next two speeches focus upon our current Middle East morass, which has been in the making for decades. Our policy has harmed our interests without adding stability to the region. In an attempt to “balance interests” we anger all sides, and that anger has consequences for our service members, as well as American civilians in the region.
Chapter 6. 1984
“That we are to stand by the president, right or wrong is not only unpatriotic and servile, but is morally treasonable to the American public.”—Theodore Roosevelt
CHAPTER 6
February 7, 1984
THE MIDDLE EAST SITUATION
HON. RON PAUL of TEXAS
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
(Mr. PAUL asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
Mr. PAUL. Mr. Speaker, it is said that we are in Lebanon today for the purpose of protecting our national interests in that area.
Chapter 7. While out of Congress
“It is our true policy to steer clear of entangling alliances with any portion of the foreign world.”—George Washington
CHAPTER 7
Between stints in Congress, I wrote a petition to the body. These excerpts focus on foreign policy issues and indicate how the turn away from traditional American policy led us to where we are today.
While Out of Congress
Excerpt from Petition to the 103rd Congress
THE PROBLEMS WE FACE - JANUARY 1993
Chapter 8. 1997
“[T]he essence of so-called war prosperity; it enriches some by what it takes from others. It is not rising wealth but a shifting of wealth and income.”—Ludwig von Mises
CHAPTER 8
During my second tenure in Congress I began to once again seriously question our foreign interventionism on the floor of the House, focusing attention on how our policies were combining with the breakdown of the constitutional separation of powers to bring about a very dangerous situation.
Chapter 9. 1998
“Of all the enemies to public liberty, war is perhaps the most to be dreaded because it comprises and develops the germ of every other.”—James Madison
CHAPTER 9
My concern regarding our policy toward Iraq began long before the current conflict. I spoke out against President Clinton’s actions, and note below that Iraq was also a client state of adversaries we had long subsidized.
January 27, 1998
BOMBING IRAQ WOULD BE THE RESULT OF FLAWED
FOREIGN POLICY
HON. RON PAUL of TEXAS
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
