Ted Cruz: I’m ‘somewhere in between’ McCain and Paul on foreign policy

Washington Post ^ | September 11 at 6:13 pm | Sean Sullivan

[SoConPubbie]

Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Tex.) said Wednesday he considers his views on foreign policy to be “somewhere in between” the poles of libertarian-leaning Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) and hawkish GOP Sens. John McCain (Ariz.) and Lindsey Graham (S.C.).

“I agree with Rand Paul that we should not intervene militarily in Syria, because it’s not in defense of our U.S. national security interests,” said Cruz during a question-and-answer session following a speech at the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank.

But, Cruz added, he also agrees “with John McCain that if Iran is on the verge of acquiring nuclear weapons that we should intervene militarily to prevent it from acquiring those weapons. Why? Because it is in the vital national security interest of the United States.”

Paul and McCain/Graham are on opposite ends of the foreign policy spectrum, leaving lots of room in between.

. . . . . . . .

There are three principles that should guide U.S. foreign policy, Cruz said: “Number one, we should focus directly on protecting U.S. national security and the interests of the United States of America. Number two, we should speak with moral clarity. And number three, we should always fight to win.”

In his speech, Cruz reiterated his opposition to a military strike against the Syrian government, which he detailed in Washington Post op-ed earlier this week. While he praised President Obama for consulting Congress on the matter, he also criticized the president’s approach to foreign policy, charging that he’s too focused on international standards and not enough on U.S. national security.

[montanajoe]

“I can live with that”

So can I..

[PieterCasparzen]

The time to intervene against Iran was during the last term of GWB. Now that window has closed. By acting against Syria the way we have, Russian and Iranian ties are now stronger then ever. An attack on Iran would be an attack on Russia now. So says the pact they have signed.

New world order will order up a CIA black op to plan and manage an Iranian "pro-democracy" revolution using Saudi/Israeli/Qatari intelligence services, giving the US government plausible deniability.

ALL US Senators can then line up to support the "pro-democracy" "Iranian" rebels.

They've had numerous other identical operations in Egypt, Libya, Lebanon, Syria, etc., with which to practice the skills of the operatives.

[Do Not Make Fun Of His Ears]

>>Advice to Ted: Avoid any references to McCain. They can only hurt you.<<

That was EXACTLY what I was thinking. A rare instance when a Ted Cruz soundbite made me cringe.

[bgill]

Ted, word of advice, stay far, far away from McIdiot. Don’t have your name associated with him in an form or fashion.

[justa-hairyape]

A rare instance when a Ted Cruz soundbite made me cringe.

A McCain quote represents the Oligarchy mindset.
(The above is true except in the following instances: where McCain is running to win reelection as US Senator; or running to loss the election as US President Wantabe; or when McCain has temporarily run out of medication.)

[justa-hairyape]

So they are going to build upon their success in Egypt ?

[grania]

Cruz might be in between McCain and Rand Paul on foreign policy. It's hard not to be. We really don't know where he's at on it until we see how he reacts to situations as they arise. He made me a little nervous in that ABC interview, when he seemed to accept that Assad was the one who used chemical weapons. On the plus side, he came out against Obama's Syria fiasco.

There's nothing in Cruz's background that would suggest that he's ready to develop his vision yet. He needs more study and experience.

[SoConPubbie]

There's nothing in Cruz's background that would suggest that he's ready to develop his vision yet. He needs more study and experience.

And I suppose you believe the exact opposite about Rand Paul, right?

[grania]

I suspect that Rand Paul was brought up with a lot of discussion about the US staying out of wars in places that aren't our business. Ted Cruz's background is more about what it means to be a US citizen, taught by a Cuban father who seems passionate about it. I think the two complement each other. And I'm glad that in this situation Cruz is with Paul and against the war and not with McCain and the other crazies. I agree with the posters who said Cruz would be better off not even mentioning McCain.

I hope Ted Cruz is the answer. So many others have looked promising and then disappointed us. I think part of getting it done will be for intelligent, passionate, informed people like Rand Paul and Ted Cruz putting together a coalition and figuring out what the US needs to save us.

My only disappointment was that Cruz seemed to go along with the assumption that Assad was responsible for the use of chemical weapons.

[PieterCasparzen]

I hope Ted Cruz is the answer.

He's only 1 person.

My only disappointment was that Cruz seemed to go along with the assumption that Assad was responsible for the use of chemical weapons.

That's the key. It's called, I'll put on a political show for my supporters, but at the end of the say, somehow I will rationalize the key essential point that let's new world order use the US government as a proxy to beat up on new world order's targets.

New world order makes conservatives tell other conservatives they are unpatriotic or worse if they don't support new world order's wars.

[Caipirabob]

That’s a little vague, because mccain is on flipping Mars...

[Jane Long]

True that.

[SunkenCiv]

Rand Slams Congress for Funding Egypt’s Generals:
‘How Does Your Conscience Feel Now?’
Foreign Policy | 15 Aug 2013 | John Hudson
Posted on 08/15/2013 5:44:10 PM PDT by Hoodat
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/3055253/posts

Sen. Rand Paul is hammering his fellow senators for keeping billions in financial aid flowing to Egypt’s military — even as Cairo’s security forces massacre anti-government activists.

[by “anti-government activists” is meant church-burning jihadists]

Sen. Cruz Statement on Egypt (Suspend aid over anti-Muslim Brotherhood ‘coup’)
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/3055492/posts

Ted Cruz blames Egyptian violence on Obama’s disregard for foreign aid law
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/3055589/posts

[SunkenCiv]

Rand Paul’s immigration speech
03.19.13 | Hon Sen Rand Paul (KY)
Posted on 03/19/2013 7:04:07 AM PDT by Perdogg
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2998395/posts

...The Republican Party must embrace more legal immigration.

Unfortunately, like many of the major debates in Washington, immigration has become a stalemate-where both sides are imprisoned by their own rhetoric or attachment to sacred cows that prevent the possibility of a balanced solution.

Immigration Reform will not occur until Conservative Republicans, like myself, become part of the solution. I am here today to begin that conversation.

Let’s start that conversation by acknowledging we aren’t going to deport 12 million illegal immigrants.

If you wish to work, if you wish to live and work in America, then we will find a place for you...

This is where prudence, compassion and thrift all point us toward the same goal: bringing these workers out of the shadows and into being taxpaying members of society.

Imagine 12 million people who are already here coming out of the shadows to become new taxpayers.12 million more people assimilating into society. 12 million more people being productive contributors.

[but he’s not in favor of amnesty, snicker, definition of is is]

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks SoConPubbie.

[SunkenCiv]

Here's the passage at issue:

In the 1980s, the war caucus in Congress armed bin Laden and the mujaheddin in their fight with the Soviet Union. In fact, it was the official position of the State Department to support radical jihad against the Soviets. We all know how well that worked out.

Let's leave aside for now the insulting, utterly asinine, sickening, inexcusable use of the phrase "war caucus" to describe those (including Reagan!) who supported the mujaheddin against the Soviets. That word choice alone is almost entirely disqualifying for its purveyor to ever be president.

Instead, let's just look at a little history here -- because the ignorance evident in this paragraph is truly astonishing. One would be hard pressed to find even a single historian, whether right, left, or center, who would argue anything other than that the Soviet failure in Afghanistan was not just a huge factor, but probably an essential one, in the Soviets' ultimate loss of the Cold War. [Rand Paul’s Really Ignorant Paragraph | 7 Feb 2013]

[bmwcyle]

Obama started the war in Syria. Let Obama finish it all by himself.

[ReformationFan]

Agreed.

[SoConPubbie]

There's nothing in Cruz's background that would suggest that he's ready to develop his vision yet. He needs more study and experience.

I don't even know how to answer that statement.

It's basically the same charge leveled against Sarah Palin.

He's an accomplished Supreme Court litigator, and first-term Senator who has clearly articulated conservative positions on every position, and held those posistions, especially Anti-Amnesty, in the face of wholesale surrender, including Rand Paul, on this issue of his Party, the GOP.

Being POTUS isn't about how much government experience you have, it's about your life experience, your leadership capabilities, and your policy positions.

In all three, Senator Cruz gets an A+.

He stands head and shoulders above any candidates you can present to me, with the possible exception of very few.

[grania]

In all three, Ted Cruz gets an A+

I agree. But not on his statement in the ABC interview that assumed that it was Assad who used chemical weapons. What I stated is that he needs more experience in evaluating world affairs, and we need to see more votes. We've been disappointed so many times by politicians who voted totally against their campaign promises.

As far as Sara Palin goes, now she seems fine on foregin affairs. During her VP campaign, she didn't have a record. The way things are going now, my dream ticket would be Paul/Cruz (either order) with a promise of Palin in charge of energy issues.