Lindsey Graham Has a Long History of Saying Really Crazy Things About Foreign Policy

Today, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) is expected to launch his campaign for president. The longtime legislator is one of America's most hawkish politicians, and will be running almost solely on a foreign policy platform. The tenor of his campaign will be grim: "I'm running because I think the world is falling apart," he explained.

Indeed, Graham—who is a leader on the Senate Armed Services Committee—has a long record of sharing his views on national security matters and the use of military power, particularly when it applies to the Middle East. Here are a few of his greatest hits, which offer a preview of the foreign policy he will be promoting as a candidate.

"Everything I learned about Iranians I learned working in the pool room…I met a lot of liars, and I know the Iranians are lying." —May 22, 2015, speaking at a conference about his job in a pool hall as a young man

"If I'm president of the United States and you're thinking about joining Al Qaeda or ISIL, I'm not gonna call a judge. I'm gonna call a drone and we will kill you." —May 16, 2015, speaking at Iowa's Lincoln Dinner

"Al Qaeda, Al Nusra, Al Qaeda in the Arab Peninsula…Everything that starts with 'Al' in the Middle East is bad news" —May 3, 2015, while delivering the keynote speech at an American-Israel Public Affairs Coalition event

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http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2015/05/lindsey-graham-has-some-thoughts-middle-east-you