Rand Paul on Syria: The U.S. Was not Attacked and the President Needs Congressional Approval

Sen. Rand Paul, the libertarian-leaning Republican from Kentucky, has released a brief but compelling statement to the American missile strike in Syria:

“While we all condemn the atrocities in Syria, the United States was not attacked. The President needs congressional authorization for military action as required by the Constitution, and I call on him to come to Congress for a proper debate. Our prior interventions in this region have done nothing to make us safer, and Syria will be no different.”

Paul led the charge against Barack Obama’s attempt to intervene in Syria back in 2013. That principled stand led to him being smeared (along with Michigan Rep. Justin Amash and other proponents of a restrained foreign policy) as a “wacko bird” by Sen. John McCain. Paul was right then and he’s right now.