U.S. Sen. Rand Paul is weighing in on President Obama’s decision to initiate targeted airstrikes in Iraq.
The potential 2016 Republican presidential candidate spoke to the Greater Louisville luncheon on Tuesday.
With a record of skepticism when it comes to U.S. military involvement overseas, Paul sounded a familiar note when addressing the escalating tensions in Iraq. While he doubts Americans have the appetite for another war in the region, the junior senator from Kentucky said he’s not opposed to the airstrikes in principle but he believes the president should have asked for congressional approval first.
Paul had this to say at the event, which was covered by cn2 Pure Politics: "I am not saying we can’t help. There are people trapped on mountains. We can airlift them food. I am not even saying we couldn’t use our airforce like the president is doing. But it is wrong of him to have done it without asking the permission of the American people."
President Obama has argued action was needed to prevent an imminent genocide as militant ISIS forces seek to expand their control in northern Iraq.
