A Foreign Policy of Freedom: Peace, Commerce, and Honest Friendship (Paperback)

by Ron Paul (Author)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Ron Paul has always believed that foreign and domestic policy should be conducted according to the same principles. Government should be restrained from intervening at home or abroad because its actions fail to achieve their stated aims, create more harm than good, shrink the liberty of the people, and violate rights. Does that proposition seem radical? Outlandish or farflung? Once you hear it stated, it makes perfect sense that there is no sharp distinction between the principles of domestic and foreign policy. They are part of the same analytical fabric. What would be inconsistent would be to favor activist government at home but restraint abroad, or the reverse: restraint at home and activism abroad. Government unleashed behaves in its own interests, and will not restrict itself in any area of life. It must be curbed in all areas of life lest freedom suffer. Ron Paul's singular voice on foreign affairs has done so much to keep the flame of a consistent liberty burning in times when it might otherwise have been extinguished. He has drawn public attention to the ideas of the Founders. He has alerted people to the dangers of empire. He has linked domestic and foreign affairs through libertarian analytics, even when others have been bamboozled by the lies or too intimidated to contradict them. He has told the truth, always. For this, every American, every citizen of the world, is deeply in his debt. We can't but be deeply grateful that Ron Paul's prophetic words have been collected in this book. May it be widely distributed. May its lessons be absorbed by this and future generations. -- Foreword to "A Foreign Policy of Freedom" by Llewellyn H. Rockwell, Jr.

Product Details

• Paperback: 372 pages
• Publisher: Foundation for Rational Economics and Educati (June 15, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0912453001
• ISBN-13: 978-0912453002
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (78 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #17,783 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

161 of 168 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A history lesson from a reputable source, June 19, 2007

By	Seth A. King (Portland, OR) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Dr. Paul is currently serving his tenth term as a United States Representative. His political career as a Congressman started in the late seventies, and ever since he has continually been an outspoken opponent of the United States' policy of foreign interventionism. This book is a compilation of Dr. Paul's speeches given to the House of Representatives concerning our foreign policy.

Dr. Paul repeatedly warns the Congress of the flaws of military interventionism and the consequences America will face if we are to continue our role as the world's policeman. He reminds us that only Congress has the Constitutional authority to declare war and that its failure to retain this power has caused numerous no-win wars since the Korean Conflict. It is this flagrant abuse of the Constitution, among others, which has caused the erosion of civil liberties at home, unnecessary American and foreign casualties, an outstanding and ever-increasing national debt, and loss of America's historical moral high ground and admiration of other nations.

I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for a better understanding as to the ramifications of America's foreign interventionism.

60 of 60 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Enlightening encapsulation of two decades of U.S. policy making, August 20, 2007

By	L. Wogan (Momence, IL) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

One might think a text that consists essentially of transcripted U.S. House floor speeches would be dry, slow reading. One would be mistaken. It is in fact highly interesting in that it reveals the sometimes stealth ways in which foreign policy is put into action. It is interesting that Rep. Paul was speaking out against even benign-seeming bills related to U.S. involvement in Iraq throughout the '90s, warning that such legislation was setting the stage for a full-fledged conflict. Ten-term Congressman Paul reveals himself to be the often lone voice in Congress for reasoned foreign policy based in the best common interests of the U.S. and respect for the sovereignty of other nations.

69 of 70 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars READING THIS BOOK IS LIKE BEING SLAPPED AWAKE!, July 11, 2007

By	Chester M. Mcateer - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I didn't realize just how big of a mess this country was in until I read this book by Dr. Paul. It must be one of the most eye-opening volumes that I have read in a long time and I highly recommend it to everyone concerned about the future of the Republic.