Ron Paul blames U.S. policy for radical Islamic hate

Fifteen of the 19 highjackers who attacked America on 9/11 were from Saudi Arabia.

Is that significant as an explanation for flourishing Islamic hatred for America?

Ron Paul told an interviewer he thinks it is.

“I don’t see Islam as our enemy,” Paul said. “I see that motivation is occupation and those who hate us and would like to kill us, they are motivated by our invasion of their land, the support of their dictators that they hate.”

He referred to a number of American military bases located in the holy territory of Saudi Arabia. Fundamentalists such as Osama bin Laden saw that as a desecration of holy land, according to Rep. Paul, a Texas City GOP candidate for President who hews the Tea Party/Libertarian line.

“After 9/11, (people said) ‘Oh yeah, it’s those very bad people who hate us,’ but 15 of (the hijackers) came from Saudi Arabia,” said Paul. “One of the reasons they attacked us, is we propped up this Sharia government and the fundamentalists hated us for it.”