Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) defended the use of drones on “Fox & Friends” on Monday amid the fallout of a strike in Pakistan that killed two hostages, including an American.
“I do think there is a valuable use for drones,” he said. “As much as I’m seen as this opponent of drones, I think in military and in warfare they do have some value.”
President Obama took responsibility on Thursday for the deaths of American citizen Warren Weinstein, and Italian national Giovanni Lo Porto, both of whom were killed in a strike on a group purportedly linked to al-Qaeda.
Paul, who announced his presidential campaign earlier this month, said that despite his reputation — he filibustered the nomination of drone-proponent CIA director John Brennan for 13 hours — he only opposed using drones on non-combatants.
“If there’s a kidnapping in New York, the police don’t have to have a warrant to go in,” he said, adding that the targets of the drone strike were “in a war zone.”
The senator once said he would shoot a drone out of the sky if one came near his property.
“[I]f they fly over my house, they better beware because I’ve got a shotgun,” he told CNN in January.
Paul added on “Fox & Friends” that he did not blame the President for the loss of life, saying he was “trying to do the right thing.”
“I agree,” said co-host Brian Kilmeade, “you cannot blame the President especially since these guys swore to destroy us.”
Watch the video:
This post has been updated.
I guess he’s not his father’s boy anymore.
It’s hard to have your cake and eat it too when you’re running for President. Stand with Rand.
Spin, Spin, Spin, Spinning the day away. Fucking hypocrite.
In his defense, the 'FOX ‘n Friends’ booster seat gave the Jr. Senator a nose bleed.