Ron Paul gets turn in spotlight at U.S. Republican debate

More perspective on the Ron Paul SC debate quote:

Paul, a nine-term congressman from Texas and the Libertarian Party candidate for the White House in 1988, stood out in a field of 10 Republican presidential candidates by standing up to front-runner Rudolph Giuliani in a spat over the Sept. 11 attacks ...
Paul initiated the exchange with Giuliani, the mayor of New York on Sept. 11, by implying U.S. policies in the Middle East had contributed to the attacks in New York and Washington. "Have you ever read about the reasons they attacked us? They attack us because we've been over there. We've been bombing Iraq for 10 years," he said. Asked by a moderator if he was suggesting the United States invited the attacks, Paul said: "I'm suggesting we listen to the people who attacked us and the reason they did it. And they are delighted that we're over there because Osama bin Laden has said: I am glad you're over on our sand because we can target you so much easier."
An irate Giuliani interrupted and asked for a chance to respond ... But Paul, who frequently strays far outside the Republican mainstream, would not back down. He said the Central Intelligence Agency was right to teach about "blow-back" and the United States cannot "do what we want around the world" without inciting hatred and a response.
Paul voted against defense spending bills and the 2002 authorization for war in Iraq. As a libertarian, Paul believes in limited government. He has proposed a diminishment in the power of the Federal Reserve, and called in the debate for abolishing the Homeland Security Department.
— John Whitesides, political correspondent for Reuters