Voters for Peace and Security

Ron Paul says, “The best commitment we can make to the Iraqi people is to give them their country back.”

When asked if he was willing to make a long-term commitment to Iraq by stationing permanent military bases there, Ron Paul had this to say,

The best commitment we can make to the Iraqi people is to give them their country back. That's the most important thing that we can do.

Already, part of their country has been taken back. In the south, they claim the surge has worked, but the surge really hasn't worked. There's less violence, but al-Sadr has essentially won in the south.

The British are leaving. The brigade of Al Sadr now is in charge, so they are getting their country back. They're in charge up north -- the Shia -- the people in the north are in charge, as well, and there's no violence up there or nearly as much.

So, let the people have their country back again. Just think of the cleaning up of the mess after we left Vietnam. Vietnam now is a friend of ours -- we trade with them, the president comes here.

After a back and forth with McCain, Paul concluded saying,

But we have to realize why they want to come here. Wolfowitz even admitted that one of the major reasons that the Al Qaida was organized and energized was because of our military base in Saudi Arabia.

He says, ‘Oh, now, we can take the base away.’ He understood why they came here. They come here because we're occupying their country, just as we would object if they occupied our country.

Ron Paul Clarifies his position on Nuclear Weapons

During a meet-and-greet with Ron Paul, Republican presidential candidate, I was able to ask him directly about his position on nuclear weapons. He said that he “is opposed to the development of new nuclear weapons, and for reducing the current stockpile”. 

All of his positions are direct departures from the current administration's. He said that “more freedom will make us all safer," and that “we must end the US empire” beginning in Iraq. He also said that we must “bring all US military bases”, which currently exist in “130 countries,” home immediately. He stated firmly to wide applause that contrary to what many Republican and Democratic candidates say, the congressional vote to label the Iranian guard “a terrorist organization” opened the door for another disastrous war. He also took on what certain candidates stated was the goal of this vote - to impose sanctions - as a form of verbal persuasion, to make Iran obey US demands. “Sanctions” he said, “are an act of war.”

He goes on to say that today’s “problems are not that complicated” and calls for a “return to the constitution”. He said he aims to be a unifying force because he believes that the “message of freedom brings everyone together," and added there is “no reason that we must give up any of our liberty to be safe.”

 

                                                                                       

Fred Thompson, Ron Paul disagree on "Islamic Fascism"

As we reported, candidate Fred Thompson launched his campaign as an aggressive proponent of the Iraq occupation and the War on Terror by invoking the specter of "Islamic Fascism."

"It is a global war -- Islamic fascism has declared it upon us,"

"They play by no rules and they are intent on bringing down Western civilization and the United States of America."

Ron Paul, the Republican party's anti-war candidate, confronted Thompson's heated language head on. When a reporter from the Arab-American News asked Ron Paul what he thought of the term "Islamic fascism," Paul responded,

"It's a false term to make people think we're fighting Hitler,"

"It's war propaganda designed to generate fear so that the war has to be spread."

Ron Paul: Why are we still over there?

Ron Paul published a devastating critique of Iraq war policy today:

Faced with dwindling support of the Iraq War, the warhawks are redoubling their efforts. They imply we are in Iraq attacking those who attacked us, and yet this is not the case. As we know, Saddam Hussein, though not a particularly savory character, had nothing to do with 9/11. The neo-cons claim surrender should not be an option. In the same breath they claim we were attacked because of our freedoms. Why then, are they so anxious to surrender our freedoms with legislation like the Patriot Act, a repeal of our 4th amendment rights, executive orders, and presidential signing statements? With politicians like these, who needs terrorists?

Not only was the justification to invade Iraq in the first place severely lacking, but the justification to stay is completely absent. Paul continues:

we have achieved the goals specified in the initial authorization. Saddam Hussein has been removed. An elected government is now in place in Iraq that meets with US approval. The only weapon of mass destruction in Iraq is our military presence. Why are we still over there? Conventional wisdom would dictate that when the "mission is accomplished", the victor goes home, and that is not considered a retreat.

"Surrender Should Not Be an Option" By Ron Paul

UPDATE: Congressman Ron Paul at the Fourth GOP Presidential Debate 9/5/07 on Youtube

Ron Paul's Non-Inverventionalist Foreign Policy a Hit With Republicans

Ron Paul's grassroots support among Republicans is graining momentum across the country as the race for the good ol' party's nomination gets serious. More and more Americans of all political parties are realizing that the Iraq war is a colossal fraud and failure, and that the ambiguous "war on terrorism" may soon include an unprovoked attack on Iran. Dr Paul, who advocates an immediate and complete withdrawl from Iraq and direct diplomacy with Iran has gone from an fringe, "dark horse" candidate to a serious "top-tier" contender for the GOP nomination.

I would like to hear from Ron Paul supporters on this one. Is it the strong stance against the war that won your support, or another issue? Please comment freely...

Thanks to redpills.org for these recent straw poll results:

Ron Paul Won First Place
08/21/07 - South Sound, WA       28%
08/18/07 - Tuscaloosa, AL        81%
08/18/07 - Strafford Co., NH     73%
08/14/07 - Gaston Co., NC        37%
07/07/07 - Hopkinton, NH         62%
Ron Paul Won Second Place
07/28/07 - Georgetown Co., SC    18%
07/04/07 - Cobb Co., GA          17%
06/16/07 - Liberty Papers Conf.  17%
06/12/07 - Salt Lake City, UT     5%
Ron Paul Won Third Place
08/18/07 - Tippecanoe Co., IN    12%
08/16/07 - Springfield, IL       19%
08/05/07 - NFRA Conference       14%
07/01/07 - CA Rep. Assembly Cnf. 12%

Straw Poll Specifics

On August 21st the Ronald Reagan Club’s South Sound Republican straw poll showed Ron Paul is favored in Washington!  The results were:

1. Ron Paul (45)         28%
2. Fred Thompson (40)    25%
3. Rudy Giuliani (29)    18%
4. Mike Huckabee (12)     8%
4. Mitt Romney (12)       8%
5. Duncan Hunter (10)     6%
6. Newt Gingrich (8)      5%
7. John McCain (3)        2%
8. Sam Brownback (1)      1%

On August 18th the West Alabama Republican Assembly sponsored a straw poll at the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. The campaigns of Romney, Giuliani, Thompson, and Paul had representatives who gave speeches regarding their candidate.  When the dust settled, Ron Paul came in first place!

Results of U. of Alabama straw poll (votes):

1. Ron Paul (216)          81%
2. Mitt Romney (14)         5%
   Other candidates (36)   14%

Another straw poll was held on August 18th by the Strafford County Republican Committee in New Hampshire. In addition to Ron Paul, Mike Huckabee and Tom Tancredo attended.  When the votes were counted, Ron Paul walked away with 73% of the votes for first place!

Results of Stafford Co. New Hampshire straw poll:

1. Ron Paul (208)         73%
2. Mitt Romney (26)        9%
3. Mike Huckabee (20)      7%
4. Tom Tancredo (8)        3%   
   Other candidates (24)   8%

The results of the straw poll conducted by Tippecanoe County Republicans of Indiana on August 18th were:

1. Mitt Romney      26.8%
1. Fred Thompson    26.8%
2. Rudy Giuliani    14.5%
3. Mike Huckabee    11.7%
3. Ron Paul         11.7%
4. John McCain       3.9%
5. Sam Brownback     2.2%
6. Duncan Hunter     1.1%
7. Tom Tancredo      1.1%

The final poll results from the llinois straw poll conducted August 16th at the Illinois State Fair in Springfield, were:

1. Mitt Romney     40.35%
2. Fred Thompson   19.96%
3. Ron Paul        18.87%
4. Rudy Giuliani   11.61%
5. John McCain      4.12%
6. Mike Huckabee    3.04%
7. Sam Brownback    1.08%
8. Duncan Hunter     .65%
9. Tom Tancredo      .33%

The Republican Party of Gaston County, North Carolina, conducted their straw at their GOP meeting and barbecue at Alfred aand Charlie’s BBQ House on August 14th.  The results of that straw poll were:

1. Ron Paul        36.6%
2. Fred Thompson   31.7%
3. Mike Huckabee    9.8%
4. Newt Gingrich    7.3%
5. Mitt Romney      7.3%
6. Rudy Giuliani    4.9%
7. John McCain      2.4%

The Ames, Iowa straw poll was conducted August 11th.  The results were:

1. Mitt Romney (4516)     31.6%
2. Mike Huckabee (2587)   18.1%
3. Sam Brownback (2192)   15.3%
4. Tom Tancredo (1961)    13.7%
5. Ron Paul (1305)         9.1%
6. Tommy Thompson (1009)   7.3%
7. Fred Thompson (231)     1.6%
8. Rudy Giuliani (183)     1.3%
9. Duncan Hunter 174)      1.2%
10. John McCain (101)       0.7%
11. John Cox (41)           0.1% 

The 2007 National Federation of Republican Assemblies (NFRA) Convention was held in St. Louis, Missouri with 250 people in attendance.  The results of their August 5th straw poll were:

1. Fred Thompson   33%
2. Mitt Romney     15%
3. Ron Paul        14%
4. Duncan Hunter   11%
5. Tom Tancredo    11%
6. John Cox         6%
7. Newt Gingrich    3%
8. Mike Huckabee    3%
9. Rudy Giuliani    2%
10. Sam Brownback    2%

The Georgetown County Republican Party of South Carolina held its presidential straw poll on July 28th with 223 votes cast.  The results of the poll were:

1. Fred Thompson (102)   46%
2. Ron Paul (40)         18%
3. Mitt Romney (37)      17%
4. Duncan Hunter (15)     7%
5. Rudy Giuliani (13)     6%
6. John McCain (7)        3%
   Other candidates (9)   4%

Coalition for New Hampshire Taxpayers straw poll at their annual picnic in Hopkinton, New Hampshire results (7/7/07):

1. Ron Paul (182)          62%
2. Rudy Giuliani (24)       8%
3. Daniel Gilbert (20)      7%
4. Mitt Romney (13)         4%
5. Mike Huckabee (10)       3%
   Other candidates (45)   15%

The Young Republican National Federation conducted their straw poll on July 6th in Hollywood, Florida.  The results were:

1. Mitt Romney (163)      47.0%
2. Fred Thompson (103)    30.0%
3. Rudy Giuliani (37)     10.7%
4. Mike Huckabee (14)      4.0%
5. Duncan Hunter (14)      4.0%
6. Ron Paul (11)           3.2%
7. John McCain (5)         1.4%

On July 4th the Cobb County GOP of Georgia held their straw poll.  The results were:

1. Fred Thompson (73)     29.7%
2. Ron Paul (43)          17.5%
3. Mitt Romney (38)       15.5%
4. Mike Huckabee (33)     13.4%
5. Newt Gingrich (29)     11.8%
6. Rudy Giuliani (26)     10.6%
7. Tom Tancredo (2)        0.0%
8. John McCain (2)         0.0%

The California Republican Assembly convention held their straw poll July 1st.  The results were:

1. Fred Thompson         25%
2. Duncan Hunter         19%
2. Mitt Romney           19%
3. Ron Paul              12%
4. Tom Tancredo           8%
5. Newt Gingrich          7%
5. Rudy Giuliani          7%
6. Sam Brownbeck          3%
   Other canidates        0%

TheLibertyPapers.org conference was held in June and on June 16th a straw poll was conducted.  The results were:

1. Fred Thompson     25.7%
2. Ron Paul          16.7%
3. Rudy Giuliani     12.5%
4. Mitt Romney        9.0%
5. John McCain        5.6%
   Other candidates  30.5% 

The Utah GOP Convention straw poll was held in Salt Lake City on June 12th.  The results were:

1. Mitt Romney       80.0%
2. Ron Paul           5.4%
3. Rudy Giuliani      4.4%
4. John McCain        4.2%
   Other candidates   6.0%

Ron Paul warns of attack on Iran within a year

Speaking on the Alex Jones radio show today, Ron Paul warned that George Bush would attack Iran before the end of his presidency.

"If I were a betting man I would bet that they will attack Iran before the end of this administration, which means in the next year or so,"

Referring to the Naval and military buildup of US forces in the region, as well as contingency plans already in place at the Pentagon, Paul said:

The plans have been laid just like the plans were laid to go into Iraq a long time before they did but they had to wait for the right opportunity.

The radical Neo-Cons are still there - they may have been diminished a little bit but they're still very very influential and very very powerful and they have the President's ear so I think they're just laying the plans, waiting for the opportunity.

The warnings of Ron Paul, Dennis Kucinich, Pat Buchanan, and many, many others are underscored by the recent move by White House to label Iran's elite Revolutionary Guard corps, a military branch of 125,000 soldiers, as a "terrorist organization."

Ron Paul: Spend money on America, not Iraq war

Ron Paul speaks at the Iowa Straw Poll about the unsustainable war economy.

Anti-war Republican Ron Paul in the Iowa debate

Dr. Ron Paul's anti-war platform is highlighted in this montage. It is encouraging to see that ABC's post-debate online poll shows Paul with a commanding lead over all other candidates. Vote for yourself and check out the poll here.

Campaign website.

Ron Paul warns of attack on Iran

Dr. Ron Paul warns that a "contrived, Gulf of Tonkin type incedent" could be used by the U.S or Israel as a pretext to attack Iran, possibly with nuclear weapons.

Related: Gulf of Tonkin history on wikipedia.

Campaign website.

Ron Paul and Dennis Kucinich team up to end Iraq War

Ron Paul and Dennis Kucinich co-authored a bill to repeal congressional authority to use military force in Iraq within the next six months. Although this bill will not mandate a reduction in U.S troop levels, it is an inspiring gesture of bi-partisanship from true anti-war candidates on both sides of the aisle.

Full story and video available from The Raw Story.