Politics

Shikha Dalmia on Why Both the Pauls Are Wrong About Charlie Hebdo

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rand.ron.paul
Gage Skidmore / Foter / CC BY-SA

Neither Ron nor Rand Paul has distinguished himself by his sagacity in the wake of the Charlie Hebdo massacre. Both have made statements that are tinny at best and injurious to the cause of freedom at worst.

The elder Paul went on air claiming the killings were blowback for French interventionism in the Muslim world.

And the younger Paul declared that it was time to rethink unrestrained immigration from this same world. In other words, if the War on Terrorism has made Muslims mad at us, then the War on Immigration will protect us from their rage.

But, notes Reason Foundation Senior Analyst Shikha Dalmia, both are wrong. Ron has misdiagnosed the illness and Rand has botched the cure.