Paul says he's closer to Obama than GOP opponents on 'reckless' Iran posturing

Ron Paul said Tuesday that President Obama's caution toward war with Iran was closer to his position than any of the other GOP candidates while reiterating his belief that the threat of Iran's nuclear weapons program was overblown.

Paul was asked about comments President Obama made Tuesday during a press conference at the White House, during which he cautioned that Republicans were discussing potential conflict with a disturbing "casualness."

"What's said on the campaign trail, those folks don't have a lot of responsibilities—they're not the commander in chief," Obama said. "When I see the casualness about which some of these folks talk about war, I think about the costs...This is not a game. There's nothing casual about it."

Paul agreed with the President, calling Republican posturing on Iran "reckless."

"He certainly is closer to my position than the other candidates, because it -- what the other Republicans are saying is very reckless.  I mean to talk about, you know, already now, you know, McCain is advocating, in the Senate, why don't we start dropping bombs on Syria?" Paul told CNN. "And then they're so anxious to go to war.  It -- it reminds me so much of our efforts before we went into Iraq, to try to alert the people, look, let's pay attention to what's going on.  Let's find the facts."

Paul said he found concerns over Iran's nuclear capabilities to be similar to those of weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, eventually revealed to be unfounded.

"You know, Iraq was not a threat. They didn't have weapons of mass destruction. There was no al Qaeda," Paul said. "I think the same thing is going on here.  There is no evidence whatsoever that the Iranians have or are on the verge of getting a nuclear weapon, according to our own military people, our own CIA, according to the the U.N."

The GOP presidential hopeful went on to describe concern for Iran as "blown way out of proportion."

"It's very reckless and very dangerous and the last thing this country needs -- and our military agrees -- is another war, because ultimately, though, yes, we can beat anybody, you know, militarily," Paul said. "But the military operation around the world is bankrupting this country.  So the greatest threat to us is a financial crisis.  And this will enhance the chances of this financial crisis."

Paul is hoping to pick up his first win in a GOP primary state Tuesday night, with his targets set on caucuses in Idaho and Alaska.

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