Critics, Including Late Senator, Call Rand Paul Russian Asset

John McCain Video Resurfaces – It’s Spreading Like Wildfire

(UnitedVoice.com) – Since the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, there have been ongoing discussions about NATO expanding eastward. Diplomats and politicians from all sides widely agreed the Western alliance shouldn’t expand and cited provoking Russia as the primary reason. On Tuesday, April 26, critics alleged Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) made comments in a Senate hearing with Secretary of State Antony Blinken suggesting he supported Russian President Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.

During the hearing, Paul argued by allowing Ukraine to consider joining NATO, the move provoked Moscow and ultimately led to the invasion. Paul further asserted Russia has only attacked former Soviet states. Despite past diplomats and experts agreeing with Paul’s assessments, critics alleged Paul was echoing Putin. A recent video uncovered by deceased former Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) alleges the Kentucky Senator worked for the Russian president.

McCain Video Resurfaces

On Tuesday, April 26, VoteVets tweeted a 2017 video clip of McCain calling out Paul as a Russian asset. The former Arizona Senator said Paul had no justification for voting against Montenegro’s application to join NATO and declared his vote a vote for Putin. Interestingly enough, Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) also voted against Montenegro’s application but wasn’t scolded or scorned.

Just a reminder that John McCain called out Rand Paul nearly a decade ago as a Russian asset. He was then, and he is now. pic.twitter.com/T7s22miygl

— VoteVets (@votevets) April 26, 2022

So, why did Paul vote against Montenegro’s membership in NATO? The next day, he said there was no benefit to a small country with little to no military being a NATO member. He stated the organization’s charter requires participating countries to defend member countries against attacks, and including a country with less than 2,000 soldiers was not in the US’s self-interest.

The feud with McCain resurfaced after Paul asked Blinken if he supported Ukraine’s interest in joining NATO. Paul inquired why it was important to agitate Russia after 14 years of inaction on Ukrainian membership in NATO.

Here’s where some have a rub with Paul. The Senator stated Putin had no justification for Russia’s war on Ukraine but added that doesn’t mean there wasn’t a reason for Putin’s hostile action. Additionally, Paul asserted Russia attacked what was once part of the Soviet Union. In 2008, Putin attacked the former Soviet country of Georgia. He did it again in 2014, by annexing Crimea from Ukraine, and now in 2022, Putin’s attacking Ukraine. Is Paul stating propaganda or facts?

It’s Been a Discussion Since the 1990s

In a Washington Examiner piece, the periodical argued Paul might be on solid ground despite the criticism. The article said historical precedent existed from the 1990s forward to indicate Russia might become provoked if NATO expanded eastward.

In 1997, US diplomat George Kennan said that expanding NATO eastward towards Russia’s borders would be a massive mistake. He told the New York Times it would inflame nationalistic and anti-American tendencies. Kennan warned an eastward NATO expansion could revive the Cold War and create an extremely hostile environment.

In 1998, former Sen. John Warner (R-VA) opposed NATO expansion eastward. Among his concerns… it would provoke Russia. He said it would be equivalent to poking the country with a red-hot stick and jabbing it in its side.

In perhaps the biggest warning, Former US Ambassador to Russia William J. Burns wrote in 2008 that Ukrainian membership in NATO was a Russian redline. He said his discussions with Russians led him to conclude that Ukraine’s membership in NATO was a direct challenge to the Kremlin’s interests. Today, Burns is Biden’s Director of the Central Intelligence Committee (CIA).

So, do you agree with Sen. Paul, or do you agree with McCain that Paul is a Russian asset?