I'm speaking on the floor in support of two bipartisan joint resolutions of disapproval blocking a UAE arms sale. Someone must ask the question: Can a lasting peace be purchased with more weapons? Watch here: c-span.org/congress/?cham…
The Senate is debating, with these joint resolutions, whether to disapprove of the announced sale of 50 F-35s, 18 Reaper Drones, as well as missiles and other related equipment.
The buyer of all this military technology is the United Arab Emirates, a country that has recently taken encouraging steps—specifically towards Israel—but with an overall record that should give concern.
The primary questions we should be asking ourselves:

• To what ends has the UAE deployed its military—and its military technology—in recent years?

• Does the UAE have a record that we can trust?
• What military behavior are we encouraging and rewarding with this sale?

• Will the U.S. bear responsibility if the UAE misuses these incredibly sophisticated weapons?
The answers to these questions are far from clear. In fact, the UAE’s record should give us pause.
I urge my colleagues to consider the possible consequences of this sale. We should not accelerate an arms race in the Middle East. I urge a vote in support of these resolutions of disapproval.

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More from @RandPaul

10 Dec
I'll soon be speaking on the floor about our America's endless war. Watch here: c-span.org/congress/?cham…
Today, the subject is war powers. The hawks and neocons somehow want you to believe, in contrast to all logic, that the President of the United States has the unitary power to go to war anytime he wants, anywhere, free from interference from Congress.
The best part of any debate is when you see people twisting themselves in knots, going against their own alleged principles to get their desired results.
Read 7 tweets
26 Aug
I'm speaking at the @GOPconvention! Watch live: #RNC2020
I was planning a medical mission to Guatemala to perform charity eye surgeries. We needed money to fund the trip. Donald Trump offered to help and immediately came through for those kids and us.
Not only did he support my medical mission to Guatemala, but he also contributed to another mission trip to Haiti a year later.
Read 20 tweets
22 Jul
Prescient words from my dad @RonPaul, when Congress created DHS in 2002: "The Homeland Security department, like all federal agencies, will increase in size exponentially over the coming decades. Its budget, number of employees, and the scope of its mission will EXPAND.
Congress has no idea what it will have created twenty or fifty years hence, when less popular presidents have the full power of a domestic spying agency at their disposal.
The frightening details of the Homeland Security bill, which authorizes an unprecedented level of warrant less spying on American citizens, are still emerging. Those who still care about the Bill of Rights, particularly the 4th amendment, have every reason to be alarmed."
Read 6 tweets
21 Jul
Just came from Progressive Democrat, whoops, I’m mean Republican caucus:
They’re going to spend $105b more on education, more than we spend every year on the Dept of Education. Anyone remember when Reagan conservatives were for eliminating the Federal Dept. of Education?
The majority of Republicans are now no different than socialist Democrats when it comes to debt. They simply don’t care about debt and are preparing to add at least another trillion dollars in debt this month, combined with the trillions from earlier this summer.
Another genius idea heard from both caucuses today: too many schools closed this fall so we have to send more federal aid for day care.
Read 4 tweets
9 Jun
I visited Pastor Brooks' school and church in 2015. Even then he was worried that violence was chasing businesses, restaurants sway from South Chicago. I tried to convince a major restaurant chain to re-open in the neighborhood but my request fell on deaf ears.
Read his account of what’s happening now to understand the full problem and possible solutions. theamericanconservative.com/articles/chica…
These are some of the words I used in my speech to his church. We have been reminded of the issues we still have to conquer by multiple recent tragedies. Black lives matter. We must do better and we must heal.

We must rise up together and join hands.
Read 12 tweets
14 May
The Patriot Act was begotten of the most unpatriotic of ideas – that liberty can be exchanged for security.

The history of the Patriot Act shows that the exchange is a poor one. As our liberty wanes and wastes away, we find that the promises of security were an illusion.
The history of the Patriot Act is really a history of how power corrupts and how bias and malfeasance grow when power is unchecked.

The Patriot Act allowed a secret court, FISA, to grant generalized warrants to collect personal information from millions of Americans.
The spies who run these surveillance programs then lied to us about their extent. One of the most notorious of these liars is James Clapper. When cross-examined by Senator Wyden under oath James Clapper denied that the gov't was collecting personal data on millions of Americans.
Read 11 tweets

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