For the first time since facing an onslaught of criticism this year over his foreign policy views , Sen. Rand Paul spelled out his national security principles Thursday in a comprehensive speech . The Kentucky Republican , who 's aggressively laying groundwork for a potential presidential campaign , sought to paint himself as a champion of `` conservative realism , '' a doctrine that skates between the hawkish and dovish ends of the foreign policy spectrum . `` Yes , we need a hammer ready , but not every civil war is a nail , '' he said in New York at the Center for the National Interest , a think-tank founded by former President Richard Nixon . `` We need a foreign policy that recognized our limits , preserves our might and a common sense conservative realism of strength and action , '' he added . Rand Paul : Washington 's 'barnacled enablers ' push for constant war . Paul attempted to address critics that characterize his views as isolationist and was aiming to approach his speech Thursday from the perspective of a major , would-be U.S. leader , rather than a lawmaker , a spokesman told CNN before the speech . He sketched out how and when he would advocate for the use of force , saying he would only do so if he felt the United States or its interests were threatened . He said he supported the response to al Qaeda after 9/11 , for example , but disagrees with the continued U.S. presence in Afghanistan . Rand Paul takes veiled swipe at Ted Cruz . `` It 's hard to understand our current objective . Stalemate and perpetual policing seems to be our mission now in Afghanistan , Iraq , Syria , '' he said. `` A precondition for the use of force must be a clear end and a goal . '' He went on to underscore his widely known position that a president should seek authorization from Congress before taking military action . Paul recycled his own criticism that President Barack Obama , `` urged on by ( former Secretary of State ) Hillary Clinton , '' took action in Libya without approval , yet now the country is a `` sanctuary for terror groups across North Africa . '' `` America should n't fight wars where the best outcome is stalemate . America should n't fight wars when there is no plan for victory . America should n't fight wars that are n't authorized by the American people , '' he said . Rand Paul responds to GOP criticism . `` America should and will fight wars when the consequences -- intended and unintended -- are worth the sacrifice , '' he continued . `` The war on terror is not over , and America can not disengage from the world . '' He also talked at length about maintaining diplomatic relationships abroad and expressed support for using sanctions to underwrite diplomacy against countries such as Russia and Iran . And he reiterated a stance he has consistently taken : that the country 's debt is one of its biggest national security threats . Dick Cheney : Rand Paul is 'not familiar with the facts ' His speech comes as he attempts to further distance himself from the more libertarian views trumpeted by his father , three-time presidential candidate and former congressman Ron Paul . With an eye on the presidency , Rand Paul has sought to broaden his appeal to establishment Republicans and even Democrats . The attention has attracted close scrutiny of his views and past statements on foreign policy , as Paul has been known to frequently break with his own party and lean toward staying out of foreign entanglements . ( Last month he slammed hawkish lawmakers for being `` barnacled enablers '' that have `` never met a war they did n't like . '' ) Rand Paul : Aid to Israel OK -- for now . He was widely panned this year when he evolved in his opinion about the crisis in Ukraine , as well as the threat of ISIS in the Middle East , as both situations continued to worsen . On ISIS , for example , he penned an opinion piece earlier this summer openly questioning the value of launching airstrikes against militants in Iraq . But not long after the beheading of American James Foley , Paul became supportive of a U.S.-led air campaign against the terrorist organization -- a change that critics made sure to highlight as a massive flip-flop but what Paul reluctantly admitted as a change in views based on the situation at hand , the `` realist '' side of his worldview . Thursday night , he stressed his support for airstrikes as a way to `` rebalance '' the region but reiterated his opposition to another key part of Obama 's strategy : arming Syrian rebels to fight ISIS militants . He expressed doubt that ISIS will be dismantled in the future , saying in the end it will be up to the countries in the region to take care of the situation . Michael Czin , press secretary for the Democratic National Committee , argued that Paul wo n't be able to overcome confusion about Paul 's foreign policy with just one speech . `` For months , Rand Paul has been twisting in the wind , trying to explain his foreign policy vision , '' he said . `` The fact is , a speech defending the indefensible wo n't make Paul 's worldview any more palatable to the American people . ''
Rand Paul hits back at critics with a big foreign policy speech . Paul outlines when he thinks the U.S. should use force in foreign entanglements . The Kentucky Republican is considered to be shaping a potential 2016 presidential run .