Thoughts on Rand Paul & Israel

Earlier today on the AmSpec Blog, I made a comment about Senator Rand Paul being the apple that doesn't fall far from the tree.

I made the comment for several reasons. First, Senator Paul's call to end foreign aid to Israel is consistent with that of his father, Ron Paul. Second, because I share Philip Klein's concerns about the younger Paul's derisive use of the term "welfare" as well as his concerns about his father's long standing hostility to Israel.

Third, when you put Dr. Paul's policy prescription against the backdrop of an Obama Administration that has behaved boorishly towards Israel, a regime in Iran pursuing a nuclear program while calling for Israel's elimination and the possible loss of a long standing partner in peace in Egypt strikes me as penny wise and a pound foolish. It sends Israel gives the appearance that its closest ally is wavering and emboldens its enemies. Can you imagine the propaganda value of a U.S. Senator calling for an end to aid for Israel in the Arab and Muslim world? Rand Paul runs the risk of becoming a useful idiot.

Yet Paul's statement raises another question. If he feels so strongly about ending aid to Israel why didn't he say so when he wrote about "The United States Special Relationship with Israel" last April? Paul writes, "In the Senate, I would strive to eliminate all aid to countries that threaten Israel." Apparently, he neglected to mention he would also strive to eliminate all aid to Israel as well. It's the sort of thing one could tend to forget when one is trying to court Jewish voters.