Dialogue is the cornerstone of peace.

Earlier this week Sen. Rand Paul Randal (Rand) Howard PaulThe Hill's Morning Report - Sponsored by Facebook - Trump previews SCOTUS nominee as 'totally brilliant' Rand Paul says he can't judge 'guilt or innocence' in Breonna Taylor case Overnight Health Care: Health officials tell public to trust in science | Despair at CDC under Trump influence | A new vaccine phase 3 trial starts MORE (R-Ky.) delivered a letter from President Donald Trump Donald John TrumpSteele Dossier sub-source was subject of FBI counterintelligence probe Pelosi slams Trump executive order on pre-existing conditions: It 'isn't worth the paper it's signed on' Trump 'no longer angry' at Romney because of Supreme Court stance MORE to Russian President Vladimir Putin. As he continues his visit, Rand is advocating for open dialogue and communication between the U.S. and Moscow.

“Our biggest issue right now is that there is no dialogue,” Rand told CNN on Tuesday.





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While his push for open dialogue has garnered criticism from both sides of the aisle, Rand touches upon a key component of successful foreign policy: communication.





Republican Sen. John McCain John Sidney McCainAnalysis: Biden victory, Democratic sweep would bring biggest boost to economy The Memo: Trump's strengths complicate election picture Mark Kelly: Arizona Senate race winner should be sworn in 'promptly' MORE (R-Ariz.) has ferociously advocated against any diplomatic communication with Moscow.



On the other hand, Robby Mook, Hillary Clinton Hillary Diane Rodham ClintonFox News poll: Biden ahead of Trump in Nevada, Pennsylvania and Ohio Trump, Biden court Black business owners in final election sprint The power of incumbency: How Trump is using the Oval Office to win reelection MORE’s 2016 presidential campaign manager argues that Russia wants Democrats divided and will disrupt their primary.

Communication and open dialogue beget resolution in all instances of policy, foreign or domestic. To shut ourselves off from opening lines of communication with Moscow because of deep seated antagonism and a stubborn desire to stay as far away from Russia as possible will only serve to hurt American interests.

That antagonism is rooted largely in part due to a mindset established during the Cold War that pervaded society. “Beware the hammer and sickle”, a Cold War slogan is still seen as a warning by many.

In an interview last month, Kentucky Rep. Thomas Massie Thomas Harold MassieGOP lawmaker praises Kyle Rittenhouse's 'restraint' for not emptying magazine during shooting Rep. Dan Meuser tests positive for COVID-19 Liz Cheney wins Wyoming GOP primary in reelection bid MORE (R-Ky. noted that we have more than just the options of going to a full-on war or a cold war or sanctions: diplomacy is also an option.

“...the GOP establishment and pretty much all of the liberals at this point...they completely underestimate the value of just talking to your would-be adversaries, but that doesn’t make anyone money in Washington, DC,” Rep. Massie told Breitbart.

“Those who believe in either country that we should not have diplomacy are greatly mistaken”, said Paul.

Paul and Massie are in the minority in Washington because they truly believe in war as the last resort. They understand that war means American lives lost and they should take every precaution to avoid war, while still maintaining a strong national defense.

Unfortunately, establishment, DC elites are driven by special interests and lobbyists, failing to do what is best for their constituents and the American people.

Let’s take a look at sanctions, the new buzzword surrounding Russia. Last week a Bipartisan Senate sought to push forward a bill that calls for “crushing” sanctions designed to punish Russia over alleged election meddling. But what purpose do these sanctions really serve?

Last year, Paul said sanctions towards Russia were “akin to tweaking their nose” and we need to focus on other issues such as improving cyber-security in the US.

That same sentiment still holds true today. Imposing any unjust sanctions on Russia that in turn serve to weaken Russia’s economy is not in our interest. Sanctions will only further deter dialogue between Moscow and Washington, thereby pushing us further away from the diplomatic resolutions that would be in everyone’s best interests.

Instead, we must move away from antiquated Cold War thinking and look forward to a state of peace inspired by diplomacy.

Summed up brilliantly by Dr. Martin Luther King, “Wars are poor chisels for carving out peaceful tomorrows.”

He’s right.

Call your elected officials in D.C. Tell them they should stand up to the lobbyists, stop the warmongering fear tactics, and to stand with the American people by supporting peace.

Cliff Maloney Jr. is the president of Young Americans for Liberty (YAL). He served as National Youth Director for the Rand Paul presidential campaign.