A Ron Paul Moment - The American Spectator | USA News and Politics
A Ron Paul Moment
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A few days ago, I was on Larry King Live on CNN. the topic was terrorism and specifically the Christmas Day aerial bombing effort by a self-described Al Qaeda agent of an airliner near Detroit.

One of the other guests was Rep. Ron Paul of Texas. He said, at least as I understood it — and I could be mistaken — that the real fault for this terror attack lies with the United States for provoking al Qaeda by “occupying their land” –this is a paraphrase. I expressed shock at this line of approach. Rep. Paul — as I recall — said again that the U.S. was causing these attacks by our being “occupiers.”

I said this line was something like “the tired old anti-Semitic line.” I said this because in my long experience, those who talk about the U.S. “occupying” Moslem lands soon go to criticism of the U.S. for helping Israel — a line long associated with Rep. Paul, as I understand, and again, maybe I am misinformed — and then to biting criticism of Israel and then to bitter comments about Jews generally.

I was about to add that I was sure that Rep. Paul was not going that far. But Rep. Paul became so upset that I could not get in a word.

So let me say right now that if Rep. Paul says he is not taking that line, and is not an anti-Semite, I believe him, good for him and I am happy to know him.

That is what I would have said if I had been allowed to talk. Happy New Year.

Ben Stein
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Ben Stein is a writer, actor, economist, and lawyer living in Beverly Hills and Malibu. He writes “Ben Stein’s Diary” for every issue of The American Spectator.
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