Giuliani: Suggestion 9/11 was invited is

Nick Juliano

Published: Tuesday May 15, 2007 Print This Email This

New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, who skyrocketed to political prominence in the wake of Sept. 11, heatedly refuted a suggestion by quixotic candidate Rep. Ron Paul at Tuesday night's Republican debate that American involvement in the Middle East invited hostility directed at the US from international terrorists.

"I'm suggesting we listen to the people who attacked us (on Sept. 11) and the reason they did it, and they're delighted" that US troops are in Iraq because they provide easy targets for terrorists, Paul said.

Paul was responding to a question about the origins of terrorist attacks on US soil and noted the generations-long history of US involvement in Middle East politics, including a CIA-sponsored coup to overthrow Iran's leader in 1953 and regular bombing missions in Iraq over the last decade.

"I don't think i've heard that before," Giuliani said, "and I've heard some pretty absurd explanations for Sept. 11."

Paul said he was referring to what the CIA calls "blow back" in mentioning the hostility American involvement might ferment in foreign cultures.

"They don't come here to attack us because we're rich and we're free," Paul said. "They attack us because we're over there."

The following video is from Fox News Republican Debate.

Fox tees up Ron Paul for Giuliani 9/11 bluster.



