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Rand Paul Defends Drone Killings of Americans in Al Qaeda

No criticism from the president's major critic.
Senator Rand Paul announces his candidacy for the Republican presidential nomination during an event at the Galt House hotel in Louisville, Ky., on April 7, 2015.

Senator Rand Paul announces his candidacy for the Republican presidential nomination during an event at the Galt House hotel in Louisville, Ky., on April 7, 2015.

Photo by Luke Sharrett/Getty Images
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In the days after the Obama administration revealed that drone strikes had killed two Americans fighting with Al Qaeda—as well as an American and an Italian hostage—Kentucky Senator Rand Paul remained fairly quiet. The Republican presidential candidate released a short statement about the death of the hostage but said nothing about the killings of Adam Gadahn and Ahmed Farouq. He did not address them in his weekend speech to the Iowa Faith & Freedom summit or in a couple of campaign stops in the state.

On Monday, finally, Paul was pressed on drones by the hosts of Fox and Friends. He did not take the chance to criticize the strikes.