David Edwards and Jason Rhyne
Despite a recent National Intelligence Estimate finding that Iran has halted its nuclear weapons program, libertarian-leaning GOP presidential contender Rep. Ron Paul (R-TX) says there is still "a great possibility" of US military action against the country.
Appearing on MSBNC's Morning Joe, Paul described what he characterized as a deteriorating situation on the ground in Iraq and Afghanistan, and said the US was preparing to kickstart yet another conflict -- this time in Iran.
"It is getting worse over there," he said. "Afghanistan is getting worse. Turkey is bombing Iraq. And Pakistan is blowing up and we're getting ready to bomb Iran. A bunch of those neocons want to bomb Iran."
Asked how the US could justify military action against Iran in the wake of the National Intelligence Estimate -- which determined that the country hadn't actively pursued a nuclear weapon since 2003 -- Paul said he didn't think the report would do much to deter a strike.
"I think it's a great possibility. Read Seymour Hersh. He is the expert over there," said Paul of the Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative journalist, who has previously reported that the US is preparing a preemptive strike against Iran.
"And the Iranian Revolutionary Guard has been declared a terrorist organization for the purpose of them being the targets rather than had the nuclear power plants," Paul said. "So, wait and see... there are still quite a few neoconservatives that want to go after Iran under these unbelievable conditions."
Concluded Paul, "That is the absurdity of the whole mess we have in there...stay out of entangling alliances, stay out of nation building. We ought to just get out of that place."
This video is from MSNBC's Morning Joe, broadcast on December 27, 2007.
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