Gage Skidmore from Surprise, AZ, United States of America, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons, Cropped by Resist the Mainstream

Following Iran's drone and missile attack on Israel, Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) addressed the situation during an appearance on Fox News with Maria Bartiromo on Sunday Morning Futures, positing one question he believes has been neglected in the course of events.

“I think we’re very fortunate that it was ineffective and that Israel’s and U.S. defenses were able to stop 97% of this,” Paul said. “But I think one question that’s not being asked enough this morning. Everybody’s asking, ‘What is the next step to escalation?’ There’s another question: What [is] the possibility that we could de-escalate the situation?”

Paul suggested that the focus should not solely be on escalation, highlighting the cyclical nature of reactions in such conflicts, referencing a previous October attack by Iran-backed Hamas on Israel that resulted in approximately 1,200 casualties.

He also mentioned Israel's response, which allegedly included the targeting of Iranian generals in Syria.

“I think people ought to take a breath, wait a little bit. In medicine, we’re taught to check your own pulse before you check the patient’s pulse,” said the Sebator, drawing on his background as an ophthalmologist. “You need calm down and think with a clear head before we move forward.”

While discussing U.S. policy, Paul noted President Joe Biden's declared “ironclad” support for Israel. However, he mentioned that Biden reportedly advised Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu against a counterattack on Iran, given the potential for further destabilizing the region.

Amid these discussions, Paul urged U.S. legislative leaders to exercise restraint in foreign aid decisions, particularly concerning additional support for Israel. He criticized the lack of fiscal responsibility in past foreign aid measures and called for future aid to be fully funded without increasing national debt.

Paul also defended his vote in favor of a bill which would provide $14.3 billion to Israel to support its defenses while cutting the same about from the budget of the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), clarifying that he did not generally support legislation which would increase spending on Israeli military defenses.

“I haven’t supported foreign aid really in my tenure in the Senate, but I did support foreign aid that was paid for to Israel not too long ago. This was passed in the House, and then every Democrat in the Senate voted against foreign aid that was paid for,” Senator Paul said.

“What I would say to Speaker Johnson is, hold your ground, show some cojones, show some intestinal fortitude, for goodness’ sakes. You have already passed aid to Israel,” he added “Tell Chuck Schumer, when he’s ready to take it up, ‘Take it up and it’s going to be paid for.’ It’s a great precedent, if Speaker Johnson will stick by his guns. I have a feeling that we’re going to see capitulation.”

“There’s already talk of a new one that’s unpaid for. Why in the world would Republicans negotiate with themselves? Tell Chuck Schumer, bring it up. It’s been sitting in the Senate for two months now. If they want more aid to Israel, bring it up, but we’re going to have to cut somewhere else to pay for it,” Paul concluded.