Rand Paul: National security trumps all other spending

OXON HILL, Md. (AP) — Republican Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky says the first priority of the federal budget needs to be national security.

The likely 2016 presidential contender on Friday told activists at the Conservative Political Action Committee that he understands skepticism toward his foreign policy views. But he adds that he would not allow his libertarian bent to cloud his emphasis on keeping the Americans safe.

Paul says the United States needs to keep its military strong and must hunt down Islamic State militants before they can attack America.

Paul adds that the United States should not be bogged down by what he calls nation-building. Pointing to countries like Pakistan, he says a Paul administration would refuse to send American dollars to countries that are "haters of America."