Paul: US ‘really lucky’ Rubio wasn’t president during Cold War

by Jesse Byrnes - 10/19/15 11:23 AM ET

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) is hitting 2016 presidential rival Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) over foreign policy in a new interview.

Paul was asked about Rubio’s support for a no-fly zone in Syria, raising the prospect of shooting down Russian airplanes there.

{mosads}”Terrible idea,” Paul told CNBC’s John Harwood in the interview released Monday.

“We are really lucky he was never president during the Cold War,” Paul continued.

“I mean, Reagan avoided a Cold War by, one, not setting red lines like that; continuing to have open communication with the Russians; having a strong enough defense to repel attack and to worry the Russians. But we did not try to get involved with an altercation with them,” Paul said.

Paul has languished in polls for the Republican nomination recently, while Rubio has ticked upward. Both candidates are well behind front-runner Donald Trump, however.

Paul is a libertarian-leaning lawmaker who has sought to distinguish himself from the crowded GOP field on foreign policy. Rubio is among the most hawkish candidates.

“This is where the Rubios and the McCains of this world need to reexamine history,” Paul told CNBC, referring to the situation in Syria and the Middle East more broadly.

“When you look at what happened, Iraq, we spent a trillion dollars, we toppled Saddam Hussein. Who is their number one ally now? Iran. Who is Iran and Iraq allied with? Russia. Who gave Russia permission to fly over them to bring the equipment in? Iraq,” Paul said.

Tags 2016 Republican presidential primary Marco Rubio Rand Paul