Presidential election politics got down to business in Tampa, Fla., Monday night as GOP candidates participated in the country’s first Tea Party debate. The event came on the heels of 10th anniversary commemorations of the terrorist event that has since acted as a driving force in both foreign and domestic policy. For contenders, the debate represented an opportunity to distinguish themselves from the pack.
As much as his views on fiscal and monetary policies differ from the conventional Republican Party line, Ron Paul’s take on foreign policy demonstrated yet another vast distinction from the rest of the field.
Usual hawkish agendas touted by both mainstream and right-wing Republicans call for military reactions geared toward the general Muslim world. Besides retaliation aimed at whole countries, the reactionary-based policies tout protection of regional American interests.
By contrast, Texas Congressman Paul says one of the real tragedies of 9/11 is Washington politicians’ unwillingness to ask the right questions about the attack. Reiterating the themes expressed in his Sept. 12 weekly radio address, Paul cites the 2010 book Cutting the Fuse: The Explosion of Global Suicide Terrorism and How to Stop it by authors Robert Pape and James Feldman. The book, which reports findings of a comprehensive study of suicide terror bombings from 1980 through 2009, finds a direct correlation between occupation and suicide terrorism.
Islamic terrorists “don’t hate us for who we are — a free and prosperous people” and they’re not “bothered by our way of life, liberty, or wealth,” Paul said. The real affront is in the interventionist nature of U.S. policy and American empire-building. The situation becomes more grave, Paul argues, as Muslim leaders use U.S. action to support their “very threatening narrative,” painting a picture of attempts to Westernize Islamic countries and take over their national resources.
If Washington leadership had opted for a squarely targeted retaliation and retribution response to the 9/11 perpetrators, the United States would be “safer, more prosperous, and more free,” Rep. Paul said.
Although audible boos came from the audience when the congressman expressed his viewpoint, he argues the key to fighting terrorism is in asking the right questions.