Republican presidential candidate Ron Paul says the assassination of Muammar Gaddafi shows a lack of respect for the “rule of law.” Gaddafi was wounded by a NATO air strike and then killed when rebel forces who toppled Gaddafi’s government caught up with the dictator.  

“This is victory for one world government. I mean, this is a NATO/UN operation with our money, in a pretence that we don’t have troops on the ground and yet we do have advisors and CIA agents there,” Paul says. “…It was our weapons and our money, so we have moral responsibility for it.” 

Paul says Libyans have a right to “self-determination,” but the United States should have encouraged the idea of having Gaddafi stand trial for his crimes. 

“This is sort of going backwards from the rule of law, I mean, we were further advanced at the end of World War II when they at least tried the Nazi war criminals,” Paul says. “And I think one of the things that disturbs me the most is the celebration…the president and others who say this is just wonderful. I don’t like to see the celebration of death.”

The “disarray” in Libya is exacerbated by Gaddafi’s assassination, according to Paul. Paul made his comments this weekend during an interview with Radio Iowa.