Rand Paul: Some Republicans Want War with Russia, Which We’ve Avoided for 70 Years

RUSH TRANSCRIPT:

BAIER: "Now with Russia taking an active role in Syria. A lot of people want to know what you would do as president. We zd people to write in one person wrote in how do you feel about Putin Russia replacing U.S. As leadership role in the Middle East? What would you do?" 
PAUL: "I think the first thing we need to know is how we got here and then second thing we need to know is what is important to do so we don't get into a situation that we can't get out of. Dufrg the Cold War we had many altercations with Russia and the soviet union at a time when the tension was much greater, much more potentially dangerous. What I think is reckless and irresponsible of some of my colleagues who on the presidential stages, to say we're not going to talk to Putin, well, having no relations or communication with Putin is exactly the wrong thing to do. Others have been saying we need to be prepared to use force against Russia. It's like my goodness, we avoided that for 70 years in the Cold War, I don't think that's a good idea. Others are saying we need to draw a red line. We need to have a no fly zone. That's a recipe for disaster, for either an accidental or purposeful shooting down by one country or the other. I think we have to work at how we got here. How did we get here? We used to have Saddam hussein, a tyrant, who opposed Iran. He's gone now, Iran is stronger, Iran is allied with Iraq. Who gave flyover permission for Russia to go into Syria? Iraq. Who said today they're inviting Russia and want Russia to attack ISIS? Iraq. It's going to be a little hard for us to say Russia go home when Syria, Iraq and Iran are all saying they want Russia to be there." 
BAIER: "I get that looking back. But looking forward, what are you doing as president Paul? Are you okay, if Russia is doing what it's doing, even though they're attacking rebels on the ground by all accounts?" 
PAUL: "I don't think I would put it that way. That I'm okay with it what I would say is we need to stand up for our position, our position in the world. There's not a position, what are we going to do? Do you want to drive Russia out of Syria? Do you want to have a land war with sir Russia? There's no scenario where America can say be gone Russia. Make sure an accident doesn't happen, make sure we have open lines of communication. Make sure that Russia knows what our position is on this. We communicate our displeasure and we try to say, this is not"