Ron Paul: Sanctions Against Iran Are an ‘Act of War’

Unwilling to back down from the growing criticism that his foreign policy would be “dangerous,” Ron Paul told voters in Iowa that western sanctions against Iran are “acts of war” that are likely to lead to an actual war.

ABC News,

30 December, 2011

Paul said that Iran would be justified in responding to sanctions by blocking the Straits of Hormuz, adding that the country blocking the strategically important strait is “so logical” since they have no other recourse.

He then compared the situation to China blocking off the Gulf of Mexico to trade.

“I think the solution is to do a lot less a lot sooner, and mind our own business, and we wouldn’t have this threat of another war,” Paul said.

Paul made the comments to a crowd of 100 people in Perry, Iowa, the first stop on his two-day campaign swing through the western part of the state.

The Texas congressman is not backing down from his view that a strike on Iran would cause economic hardship at home.

“If the Straits of Hormuz close, this whole financial thing could come down on our head. What would happen if oil doubled in price within a month or two?” Paul asked a crowd in Atlantic, Iowa.

Thursday was a tough day for Paul, beginning with a scathing editorial in the New Hampshire Union-Leader calling the Texas congressman a “dangerous man” who has been consistently spouting “nonsense,” adding, “it is about time New Hampshire voters showed him the door.”

That was followed by a new web ad from Gov. Jon Huntsman, who labeled Paul “unelectable” citing a decade worth of newsletters which were published by him and bore his name and contained bigoted statements against minorities.

But it wasn’t all bad news for Paul, who was greeted at his last campaign stop in Council Bluffs, Iowa by about 750 supporters who gave the congressman a boisterous welcome.

“I’m so disappointed,” Paul said smiling adding “I was told that I was coming to meet with a lot of undecideds.”