Sen. Rand Paul argued Wednesday that the U.S. is partly responsible for the rise of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, an argument that is sure to roil the Republican Party’s ongoing debate over foreign policy ahead of the 2016 presidential elections.
In a guest editorial in the Wall Street Journal, the Kentucky Republican and likely 2016 contender argued that U.S. interventionist abetted the rise of ISIS, which the U.S. is now fighting in Iraq.
“We aided those who’ve contributed to the rise of the Islamic State. The CIA delivered arms and other equipment to Syrian rebels, strengthening the side of the ISIS jihadists,” Paul wrote.
In the editorial, Paul specifically criticizes likely Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton and her successor as secretary of state, John Kerry, for their past support of action in Syria as well as “hawkish members of my own party.”
Though he didn’t name him, that line appeared aimed at another Republican presidential contender, Texas Gov. Rick Perry, who argued in a recent speech in Washington that President Obama was wrong not to provide arms to Syrian rebels.
A June 2013 Gallup poll showed that 54 percent of American adults did not approve of even the more limited military aid that the Obama administration provided to the rebels.
