‘US should mind its own business; it shouldn’t be in Syria’ Ron Paul – RT

Published time: 21 Jun, 2017 12:53

The US has no right to fly into Syrian airspace where it shouldnt be and set boundaries but should mind its own business. Otherwise, it is an act of aggression, says former US Congressman Ron Paul.

The US fighter jetdownedan armed drone belonging to pro-Syrian government forces in southern Syria, near a base in the al-Tanf region, on June, 20 as the drone was advancing on US-backed forces, according to a coalition statement.

This is happening at a time of escalating tension between Moscow and Washington. Also on Tuesday, Australia said it is temporarily suspending air operations in Syria.

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RT discussed the latest developments in Syria with former US Congressman Ron Paul.

RT:Australia halted its cooperation. How significant is this development? Why did they do it?

Ron Paul:I think that is good. Maybe wise enough, I wish we could do the same thing just come home. It just makes no sense; theres a mess over there. So many people are involved, the neighborhood ought to take care of it, and we have gone too far away from our home. It has been going on for too long, and it all started when Obama in 2011 said:Assad has to go.And now as the conditions deteriorate it looks like Assad and his allies are winning, and the US dont want them to take Raqqa. This just goes on and on. I think it is really still the same thing that Obama set up Get rid of Assadand there is a lot of frustration because Assad is still around and now it is getting very dangerous, it is dangerous on both sides. One thing that I am concerned about - because Ive seen it happen so often over the years are false flags. Some accidents happen. Even if it is an honest accident or it is deliberate by one side or the other to blame somebody. And before they stop and think about it, then there is more escalation. When our planes are flying over there and into airspace where we shouldnt be, and we are setting up boundaries and saydont cross these lines or you will be crossing our territory.We have no right to do this. We should mind our own business; we shouldnt be over there, when we go over there and decide that we are going to take over, it is an act of aggression, and I am positively opposed to that. And I think most Americans are too if they get all the information they need.

RT:Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said earlier that he wanted to ask his American counterpart why the US-led coalition isnt targeting Al-Nusra in Syria. What sort of answer do you think hell get?

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RP:I think it will be wishy-washy. Hell probably think it is in their interests not to do anything to damage the radicals, the extremists, the rebels because I think that our government thinks that they could be helpful in undermining Assad. I dont think they are going to sayYeah, they are our buddies now, we consult with them all the time.It wont be that. Theyll argueWe have to help the Kurds outor something along those lines and make excuses. I think that theres a net benefit to the radicals for us to get involved there and it is not helpful in the long run for our position which ought to try to bring about peace.

The propaganda the American people hear is such that they get them pretty excited about it, but I am very confident that if the American people had more informationbecause when I talk to them, they side with my arguments. It doesnt make a whole lot of sense to be doing what we are doing, and thats why I persist in trying to get to the facts but trying to eliminate the danger, try to obey international law, try to do the things that are in our best interest. And if we are talking about Americas interest it isnt helped by our policy in the Middle East for the last 15-20 years, I think it has all been negative.

Richard Black, Republican member of Virginia State Senate, told RT that"the US and the coalition are in Syria without any permission, without any lawful authority to be present".

"Some members of the coalition may say We are in clear violation of international law, maybe this is not right. Others bought into this coalition to be part of a group fighting ISIS, and now they are saying Wait a minute. We didnt go into Syria to fight the legitimate duly elected government of Syria; we went there to fight this terrorist organization.The coalition is certainly not there to help the Syrian people; it is there to help Saudi Arabia with its Wahhabi radical Islamic domination of the entire world beginning with the countries close to it".

The statements, views and opinions expressed in this column are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of RT.

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'US should mind its own business; it shouldn't be in Syria' Ron Paul - RT