William Toler is a writer, photographer, videographer and editor from North Carolina. He writes for the site Independent Register, which is fantastic source of news and commentary with a patriotic/libertarian vibe. He was kind enough to share with us his views on the recent South Carolina debate, and his full editorial can be read below.
Golden Rule booed in S.C.
“[C]an’t believe the golden rule got booed in SC. wow.”
That was the status from a Facebook “friend” during the GOP debate Monday night in the Palmetto State.
The Golden Rule, treat others as you would like to be treated, was uttered by the media and establishment’s least favorite candidate, Texas Congressman Ron Paul. The audience, made up of apparently status quo, warhawk conservatives, promptly booed the libertarian-minded, predidential hopeful.
During a reubuttal to an answer by Rick Santorum, Paul said our nation should follow the Golden Rule in terms of foreign policy.
“If another country does to us as we do to others, we’re not going to like it very much. So I would say, maybe we ought to consider a Golden Rule in foreign policy. [Cue the boos] Don’t do to other nations what we don’t want them to do to us.”
I was a little surprised myself, considering Republicans, especially in the Bible Belt, teach and preach the Golden Rule.
|
“So…we endlessly bomb these countries and we wonder, wonder why they get upset with us. [More boos] And yet, it continues on and on.”
In relation to the seemingly looming (again) war with Iran, Paul brought up a history lesson in a previous debate. Actually, he schooled Santorum in that lesson. In 1953, the CIA helped stage a coup to overthow the democratically elected leader of Iran to make room for the return of the Shah.
From the CIA’s website:
The operation was orchestrated largely by a single CIA officer sent to the scene—Kermit Roosevelt, grandson of Theodore Roosevelt. After securing the approval of the Shah of Iran, Mohammed Reza Pahlavi, for the coup—the Shah also agreed to sign a decree dismissing Mossadegh that was to provide it legitimacy—Roosevelt set about to create a situation in which the coup could occur. Using a network of contacts left behind by British intelligence and the Agency’s own assets, he mounted an intensive propaganda campaign against Mossadegh, spurring demonstrations and protests across the country. When the time came to oust the prime minister, however, the effort faltered. Mossadegh had gotten wind of the coup and had the Iranian military officer who was to deliver the decree dismissing him arrested. The shah fled the country, fearing for his safety, and Mossadegh thought he had put at end to the coup.
Roosevelt tried again a few days later, however, first organizing violent “fake” demonstrations against the monarchy, which were in fact, joined by members of the Tudeh party; then organizing “backlash” demonstrations in support of the Shah. As these played out, the Iranian military units, police, and rural tribesmen under Roosevelt’s control were able to overcome the limited military forces that Mossadegh could muster. Mossadegh was arrested, and the Shah returned to Teheran to take control.
The report goes on to list other covert actions over the past 50 years. It’s amazing that we’re not being attacked by ”terrorists” from South and Central America.
However, in the same rebuttal Monday, Paul got a rousing applause for calling for an end to war.
“This country doesn’t need another war. We need to quit the ones we’re in. We need to save the money and bring our troops home.”
Paul’s non-interventionist foreign policy, which is often called “isolationist”, is a bone of contention for many mainstream Republicans. While the military-industrial complex booms during war, the nation’s coffers suffer a boon. As he has pointed out for years, the country can’t keep policing the world financially. He has also stated that his biggest contention with the “wars” that we’re in is that they are unconstitutional, as an official declaration of war has not been issued by Congress since WWII.
Despite an attempt to ignore him, or belittle him, Paul continues to stay close behind “frontrunner” Mitt Romney. “After all, freedom is popular.”
