In the aftermath of Iran’s massive drone and missile strikes against Israeli civilians and military targets, Sen. Rand Paul, R-K.Y., said there’s “one question” that not enough people are talking about.
Amid calls for support for Israel among Republican lawmakers, “What is the possibility that we could de-escalate the situation?” he asked.
The Republican senator from Kentucky, known for his non-interventionist foreign policy views, emphasized the need for calm reflection during an interview with Maria Bartiromo on “Fox News Sunday.”
“I think people ought to take a breath, wait a little bit. In medicine, we’re taught to check your own pulse before you check the patient’s pulse,” Paul, a former ophthalmologist, said. “You need to calm down and think with a clear head before we move forward.”
While acknowledging the attack was largely thwarted by Israeli and U.S. defenses, Paul warned “every action has a reaction” after reflecting on the cycle of violence between Iran-backed Islamic terror groups and Israeli counterstrikes.
His comments came as President Joe Biden affirmed his “ironclad” support for Israel’s security. In private, Biden reportedly urged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu against escalating military retaliation over concerns of provoking a large regional war.
As Congress prepares potential aid packages for Israel this week, Paul cautioned leaders like House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-L.A., and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., against passing defense spending measures that could inflame tensions.
“Why in the world would Republicans negotiate with themselves? Tell Chuck Schumer, bring it up [for a vote],” Paul stated, referring to a previous $14.3 billion Israel aid bill that garnered no Democratic support after being paid for by cutting IRS funds.
“If they want more aid to Israel, bring it up, but we’re going to have to cut somewhere else to pay for it,” he added.
Paul’s calls for de-escalation and fiscal restraint reflect his broader critique of American interventionism fueling costly military entanglements across the Middle East.
The latest exchange of hostilities between Israel and Iran could lead to a hasty escalation of violence, and without diplomatic offramps that could prove counterproductive – both geopolitically and fiscally for America.
Stephen Dietrich is the Publisher of The Horn News