WASHINGTON, Nov. 20 (UPI) -- Presidential candidate Ron Paul said he was sticking to his contention that U.S. military troops should be withdrawn from their longtime bases in Asia. The Libertarian-leaning Republican told CBS' "Face the Nation" Sunday that even though polls have him among the early leaders in the race for the GOP nomination, he was not backing off his contention that U.S. forces should not be stationed overseas.
"We can't afford it," Paul said when asked if that meant leaving Japan and South Korea. "It would save us a lot of money. All those troops would spend their money here at home."
Paul said overseas bases tend to aggravate other nations, and the United States has the capability to strike enemies anywhere in the world from the United States.
Paul dismissed any idea that the United States should confront Iran over its nuclear program. He said diplomacy had a better chance of succeeding as it did during the Cuban missile crisis in the 1960s and more recently with Libya's nuclear program.
"Iran doesn't have a bomb; there's no proof," Paul said. "For us to overreact and talk about bombing Iran, that's much more dangerous."
