Invoking President Reagan’s policy of “peace through strength,” Sen. Rand Paul called on Western policymakers to implement a series of “specific and decisive measures” in response to Russian aggression in Ukraine.
“Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine is a gross violation of that nation’s sovereignty and an affront to the international community,” Paul
wrote in an op-ed in Time magazine
“I stand with the people of Ukraine against subjugation and support their efforts to restore freedom,” the Kentucky Republican added. “The Ukrainian people must be free to determine the fate and future of their own nation without unwarranted military or political intimidation from Russia.”
Paul called for a panoply of moves aimed at penalizing Moscow. They included instituting economic sanctions and visa bans for Russian officials “without delay,” ending the current ban on U.S. natural-gas exports, and immediate construction of the Keystone pipeline.
Paul also urged re-instituting missile shields for Poland and the Czech Republic that were abandoned by President Obama in 2009 on condition that European nations pay for them.
“America is a world leader, but we should not be its policeman or ATM,” Paul wrote.
“The problem with the foreign policies of both Democratic and Republican administrations is that they never give a second thought to how America can afford what they implement.”
The Kentucky lawmaker’s views on foreign policy and national security have come under fire from fellow Republicans, with
Rep. Peter King of New York attacking Paul on NBC’s “Meet the Press” Sunday and warning against a takeover of the GOP by isolationists.
Appearing on ABC’s “This Week,”
Sen. Ted Cruz used softer language to distance himself from Paul’s worldview. The Texas Republican said that although he's a big fan and good friend of Paul's, "I don't agree with him on foreign policy."
Paul said the United States should urge European allies “to leverage their considerable weight with Russia and take the lead” in instituting visa bans and economic sanctions. “I would do everything in my power to aggressively market and export America’s vast natural gas resources to Europe,” he wrote.
Paul added that he would “immediately remove every obstacle or current ban blocking the export of American oil and gas to Europe” and “lift restrictions on new oil and gas development in order to ensure a steady energy supply at home and so we can supply Europe with oil if it is interrupted from Ukraine.”
He said Russia should be “economically isolated” until all its forces are removed from Crimea and Putin “pledges to act in accordance with the international standards of behavior that respect the rights of free people everywhere.”
He wrote that if Putin’s troops remain in Crimea at the time of this summer’s G-8 summit, Russia should be expelled from the group.
Paul called for suspending American aid and loans to Ukraine on grounds that “these could have the counterproductive effect of rewarding Russia.” According to Paul, Ukraine “owes so much money to Russia that America would essentially be borrowing from China to give to Russia.”
He said Reagan’s “peace through strength” approach “requires strength of the sort President Obama now fails to project.”
Paul added that he believes that too many U.S. leaders “still think in Cold War terms and are quick to ‘tweak’ the international community.” But Putin’s invasion and occupation of Crimea go far beyond this, he said.
“Let me be clear: If I were President, I wouldn’t let Vladimir Putin get away with it,” Paul concluded.
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