Paul: Regime changes don't beat terrorism

CEDAR FALLS, Ia. — Sen. Rand Paul said his definition of foreign policy is defending the United States, “not picking the right leaders” in the Middle East.

The Republican presidential hopeful from Kentucky made three campaign stops throughout Iowa on Saturday with a similar message: Regime changes have not worked to reduce terrorism and instead have resulted in “a rise of radical Islam.” Later at the University of Northern Iowa, Paul spoke on his desire for a small government that does not give way to terrorism by buying into fear and making citizens give up their right to privacy.

The best example of the failures of regime changes, Paul said, is the Iraq War, where after $1 trillion and 4,000 soldiers’ lives lost, the country was still lost to ISIS and Iraq became an ally of Iran and Russia.

“I think Iraq is more of a menace with Saddam Hussein gone,” Paul said.

He said the same happened in Libya with the toppling of Muammar Gaddafi, and he predicts a repeat if President Bashar Assad is taken down in Syria. While he doesn’t consider Assad a “good person,” Paul said without him there protecting Christians, ISIS will take over the country.

The problem with other Republican candidates, he said, is they “want to bomb both sides of the war” in Syria — Assad and ISIS — calling it “the dumbest idea” he’s heard. He condemned Sen. Ted Cruz for saying he wants “to carpet bomb (ISIS) into oblivion,” Gov. Chris Christie for proposing a no-fly zone to shoot down Russian planes, and Donald Trump for saying the United States is not willing enough to use its nuclear weapons.

“You want somebody that’s going to be the commander in chief who has some temperament. That really isn’t eager to pull the trigger,” he said. “I want a foreign policy that defends America. That makes us strong again. But I don’t want a foreign policy that thinks that regime change in the Middle East is going to work.”

In Cedar Falls, Paul said the United States should defend itself from terrorists, but should not “succumb to fear” and give up certain rights, especially the bulk collection of cell phone records in exchange for a sense of safety.

“The problem is it’s a false allure of safety. It’s a false allure to say, ‘You will be safe if you just give up your liberty,’ ” he said. “ … You know what I would tell the government? My cellphone and your cellphone is none of their damn business.”

At the events

Setting: The Mid-America Events Center in Council Bluffs, the Holiday Inn in Sioux City, the Historic Park Inn in Mason City and the Maucker Union on the University of Northern Iowa campus.

Crowd: More than 150 in Council Bluffs and Sioux City, more than 200 in Mason City, and about 350 in Cedar Falls.

Reaction: Every crowd gave Paul a standing ovation and applauded several times throughout his speeches.

What’s next: Paul and his father, Ron Paul, will hold a joint rally in Iowa City on Sunday. See the candidate tracker for details.