Paul calls GOP, Obama positions on Iran ‘reckless’
CNN chief national correspondent John King spoke with GOP presidential hopeful Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX) about his Super Tuesday thoughts and his foreign policy position on Iran. A highlighted excerpt is after the jump; a full transcript will be posted at http://archives.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/2012.03.06.html.
King’s full interview with Paul will air at 6 p.m. ET on a special John King, USA, ahead of CNN’s America’s Choice 2012: Super Tuesday special programming beginning at 7 p.m. ET. Visit http://on.cnn.com/zfCQff for more information on CNN’s Super Tuesday coverage.
Please credit all usage of the interview to CNN’s John King, USA
Highlight from Full Interview
THIS IS A RUSH FDCH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED
JOHN KING, HOST: Congressman Paul, you disagree with them on Iran. The Democratic president, President Obama, today said he’s worried about the casualness with which Republican candidates talk about a possible military conflict with Iran.
Is President Obama right?
REP. RON PAUL (R), TEXAS: He certainly is close to my position than the other candidates, because it — what the other Republicans are saying is very reckless. I mean to talk about, you know, already now, you know, McCain is advocating, in the Senate, why don’t we start dropping bombs on Syria?
And then they’re so anxious to go to war. It — it reminds me so much of our efforts before we went into Iraq, to try to alert the people, look, let’s pay attention to what’s going on. Let’s find the facts.
But, you know, Iraq was not a threat. They didn’t have weapons of mass destruction. There was no al Qaeda.
I think the same thing is going on here. There is no evidence whatsoever that the Iranians have or are on the verge of getting a nuclear weapon, according to our own military people, our own CIA, according to the the U.N.
So I think it’s blown why out of proportion. It’s very reckless and very dangerous and the last thing this country needs — and our military agrees — is another war, because ultimately, though, yes, we can beat anybody, you know, militarily. But the military operation around the world is bankrupting this country. So the greatest threat to us is a financial crisis. And this will enhance the chances of this financial crisis.
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