Republican presidential candidate and Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul hit back at South Carolina Sen. Lindsey Graham's criticism of his foreign policy on Thursday, telling Fox News's Brian Kilmeade that "it's Lindsey Graham that has endangered the country just about as much – or more – than anybody else."
Paul made the remark after Kilmeade asked Paul about Graham's recent claim that Texas Sen. Ted Cruz "has done more to allow ISIL to gain a foothold in Syria than any senator other than Rand Paul."
Graham, also a Republican presidential candidate, is running on a hawkish foreign policy platform that is at odds with Paul's more non-interventionist stance.
"Well, you know, Lindsey Graham has always been someone who doesn't have a lot of concern for liberty or the Bill of Rights," Paul responded. "But he's also been part of the contingent who's been arming ISIS and the allies of ISIS in the Syrian civil war."
"So, I would argue that Lindsey Graham's foreign policy is very similar to Hillary Clinton's," Paul continued. "It's in favor of regime change in Libya, regime change in Syria and Iraq – but really, that's made us less safe," Paul continued.
Paul went on to say that he thought "we could have a good, intelligent discussion about this, because I think really Lindsey Graham has done more to endanger us in this country." Paul then brought up what he characterized as Graham's opposition to more border security.
"When I introduced an amendment that would have had more scrutiny for students coming here and refugees coming here, Lindsey Graham, like Marco Rubio, opposed this," Paul concluded. "I think really, if we talk about endangering the country, really I think it's Lindsey Graham that has endangered the country just about as much – or more – than anybody else."
