At a major foreign policy speech in Virginia, Mitt Romney laid out an aggressive new position on Syria Monday, saying that as president, he would want to see that Syrian rebels "who share our values" are armed with the help of the United States.

Sen. Rand Paul calls for an end to U.S. aid to Libya, Egypt and Pakistan: "We are bankrupt"

Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) is a strong supporter of the Republican presidential candidate, but disagrees with his stance on the Middle East and defense spending.

Is Rand Paul's foreign policy position closer to President Barack Obama's?

Senator Rand Paul questions some of his foreign policy speech in his opinion piece on cnn.com and will be on Erin Burnett OutFront tonight at 7p ET on CNN.

Rand Paul's 2016 presidential run?



Rand Paul: Romney's wrong on Middle East, defense spending

This week, I will campaign for Gov. Mitt Romney. I believe this election will and should be about moving America back from the edge of the abyss on which we stand, where our debt and spending threaten to overwhelm and drown us. Romney's belief in free markets, limited government and trade make him the clear choice to lead our country come January.

I do not, however, support a call for intervention in Syria. And, if such intervention were being contemplated, it is absolutely necessary that Congress give any such authority to the president. No president, Republican or Democrat, has the unilateral power to take our nation to war without the authority of the legislature.

At times, I have been encouraged by Romney's foreign policy. I agree with his call to end the war in Afghanistan sooner rather than later and with his skepticism of, and call for reform in, foreign aid, but I am a bit dismayed by his foreign policy speech Monday, titled "Mantle of Leadership."

Romney chose to criticize President Obama for seeking to cut a bloated Defense Department and for not being bellicose enough in the Middle East, two assertions with which I cannot agree.

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