Could Ron Paul’s foreign policy be attracting voters in Iowa, contrary to conventional wisdom? Former Obama supporters who were seeking a new perspective on America’s view of the world, of its priorities and of its conflicts, may be part of Ron Paul’s orbit this time around. Obama had promised many changes in foreign policy, but in fact beyond more a rhetorical veneer the substance is highly similar – a continuation of George W. Bush policies: Gitmo is still open, the Afghanistan war continues without clear objectives, the talk on Iran is hot, genocide continues in Darfur, Israel and the Palestinians are no closer to peace, and Washington is seen as responsible, Arab Change has occurred largely in spite of Washington and it took 3 years to end US military presence in Iraq. To be fair, the latter characterizations present complex debates in fuzzy snapshots. For example, Obama can claim also successes lost in the shuffle - the US did play a significant role in getting rid of Colonel Gaddafi, and Osama Bin Laden is dead. Non-interventionist/Isolationist: However, while some on the Republican-Christian right are pre-occupied in characterizing President Obama as weak and/or apologetic on behalf of America, others are wondering why the US has so many international involvements or ”entanglements” using the terminology of America’s forefathers. Seeking to shape a clearly differentiated design from predecessor(s), many Americans are also looking to just cut the links – isolationism. Most pundits assumed that Ron Paul’s campaign policy statements urging no intervention on Iran’s nuclear program and distancing US monetary, diplomatic and military support from Israel would cost him votes and contributions. However, according to James Q. Lynch writing in “Iowa Caucus”: “His rivals are beating him up for his foreign policy positions, but Ron Paul is finding plenty of support among Iowa caucusgoers for his non-interventionist philosophy. Paul’s reluctance to get tough with Iran as well as his call to end foreign aid and bring all troops home has made him an easy target for other 2012 Republican presidential hopefuls. It’s also made him an easy choice for some caucusgoers…. ‘Ron Paul sees the value in not trying to control the world. There are several reasons, but the economy is the biggest – we can’t afford to keep doing it.’ (according to a new, young voter). Expressing disappointment for Barak Obama for whom he voted in his first election as eligible voter: ‘It’s not that I couldn’t caucus for him again, but I don’t think I will.'" “Peace” Vote: Paul is known for his support among younger voters, many of them committed beyond their youth. He has been perceived as weakest among the middle aged, more cynical perspective of the rest of the world and its “dangerous” despots. However, a middle-aged father offers that: "he plans to caucus for Paul because of his opposition to war – ‘current and prospective, They’re immoral, unnecessary and costly." “America First” Vote: A committed Ron Paul campaign worker offered the following view: “Everybody talks about who supports the troops, but the better question is who do the troops support,” According to the worker, Paul has received more support from members of the military than all of the other candidates, including President Obama. The Un-Warrior: Paul may be outflanking both Obama on the “peace” ticket and attracting more traditional Republican libertarian and/or non-interventionist/isolationist voters on the America first position. He has brought into his tabernacle America’s “value” voters along with those who want marijuana legalized – just as President Obama’s Justice Department cracks down on “medical marijuana” in California (Bottom Photo). Some of Paul’s greatest venom is reserved for the “military industrial complex” arguing that America’s strength lies in fiscal austerity rather than costly weapons systems as well as what he claims the inevitable wars that are designed to justify such. Love him or not, Ron Paul has managed to make a virtue of his contradictions rather than the cheap whorishness of many of his opponents who are labeled “flip-floppers” and “panderers.” Ron Paul’s greatest tour de force is that he is seen to be with the Force as the un-warrior. (Above Top Photo comes from Ron Paul’s 2008 Presidential Campaign, but he may have been too early for his time 4 years earlier or it just may be in 2012 the “Return of the Jedi.” Read our Article: - “Will This Man be America’s Next President – Ron Paul” - diplomaticallyincorrect.org/films/blog_post/will-this-man-be-americas-next-president-ron-paul-by-ambassador-mo/42293. Read More of James Q. Lynch at - iowacaucus.com/2011/12/22/pauls-foreign-policy-positions-attracting-iowa-caucusgoers/ By Ambassador Muhamed Sacirbey



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 Top Photo courtesy - www.neoperspectives.com/Ron_Paul_2008.htm Bottom Photo courtesy - blisstree.com/live/poll-do-you-agree-with-ron-paul-about-legalizing-marijuana-at-the-state-level-239/