1999 Ron Paul 100:2 Mr. PAUL.
Mr. Speaker, I thank the
gentleman for yielding. The gentleman
makes a good case for the humanitarian
needs of the people. My point is
that sometimes our efforts do not do
what we want.
1999 Ron Paul 100:3 For instance, the gentleman talks
about the thugs that are in Indonesia,
those who are violating the rights of
the East Timorese. We have to realize
that they have been our allies and we
helped set up the situation. So our
interventions do not always do what
we want.
1999 Ron Paul 100:4 Also, the gentleman talks about the
Soviets. We supported the Soviets.
Mr. LANTOS. Reclaiming my time, if
I may, Mr. Speaker. If I may remind
my colleague of history, it was President
Ford and under President Ford’s
tenure that we acquiesced in the occupation
of East Timor by the Indonesian
military.
1999 Ron Paul 100:5 Mr. PAUL.
Mr. Speaker, if the gentleman
will continue to yield, I think
the gentleman is absolutely correct.
But I happen to see these things in a
very nonpartisan manner. So to turn
this into a Republican versus Democrat
issue, I think, is in error.
I would like to suggest that the careless
use of the word isolationism does
not apply to me because I am not a
protectionist. I believe in openness. I
want people and capital and goods and
services to go back and forth. When we
trade with people, we are less likely to
fight with them.
1999 Ron Paul 100:6 So the proposal and the program I
am suggesting is a constitutional program.
I believe it is best for the people.
It has nothing to do with isolating ourselves
from the rest of the world. It is
to isolate ourselves from doing dumb
things that get us involved in things
like Korea and Vietnam, where we do
not even know why we are there and we
end up losing. That is what I am opposed
to.
Note:
1999 Ron Paul 100:2
Mr. Speaker, I thank the gentleman for yielding. Here, Ron Paul thanks The Honorable Tom Lantos of California, a Democrat.
