Ron Paul Salutes Veterans, Says He Plans to Bring Troops Home - East Idaho News
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Ron Paul Salutes Veterans, Says He Plans to Bring Troops Home

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P 121011 ABCDebateRP2?  SQUARESPACE CACHEVERSION=1325148148795ABC News(DES MOINES, Iowa) — Ron Paul told a room full of veterans Wednesday night that he plans to drastically cut overseas spending.

“It would mean that we would bring the troops home,” Paul said, smiling as he touted the economic benefit during a salute to veterans rally in Des Moines, Iowa.

Earlier in the day, Paul again questioned why the United States needed to maintain a military presence in Australia, Germany, Japan and South Korea — even as the death of North Korean leader Kim Jong Il raised concerns about the region’s stability.

“How long do we have to stay in Korea?” he asked at a campaign event at the Iowa Speedway in Newton.  “We were there since I was in high school.”

Paul’s non-interventionist view for America is sure to incite even more criticism from his GOP rivals, who have been hammering the Texas congressman for his view that Iran should be able to develop a nuclear program for peaceful purposes.

Mitt Romney became the latest in line Wednesday to take a swipe at Paul, a day after Newt Gingrich unabashedly said that he would not vote for Paul if he were to win the GOP nomination.

Romney indirectly blasted comments made by Paul earlier this month that cautioned against “jumping the gun” on Iran.

“At the same time, the greatest threat Israel faces and, frankly, the greatest threat that the world faces is a nuclear Iran,” the former Massachusetts governor said during a meet-and-greet at a coffee shop in Muscatine, Iowa.  “We have differing views on this.  Some of the people — actually one of the people running for president — thinks it’s okay for Iran to have a nuclear weapon.  I don’t.”

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