Texas Rep. Ron Paul speaks during the CNN/Tea Party Republican presidential candidates debate in Tampa
Texas Rep. Ron Paul speaks during the CNN/Tea Party Republican presidential candidates debate in Tampa. Reuters

Texas Congressman Ron Paul was booed at the CNN Tea Party debate on Monday night for his remarks on the 9/11 attacks.

The exchange came about when his fellow debator Rick Santorum accused Paul's Web site of posting an article that basically blamed the United States for 9/11.

You said it was our actions that brought about the actions of 9/11. ...That is irresponsible. ... [You] should not be parroting what Osama bin Laden said on 9/11, said the former Pennsylvania senator.

Santorum said the U.S. was attacked by the Muslim Jihadist not because of what it did, but because of who it is and what it stands for.

We stand for freedom and opportunity for everybody around the world and I am not ashamed to do that, added Santorum.

In response, Paul said as long as this country follows that idea, we're going to be under a lot of danger.

This whole idea that the whole Muslim world is responsible for this and they're attacking us because we're free and prosperous is just not true, said Paul.

Before Paul even finished the sentence, the audience started booing.

He went on to say that al-Qaeda claimed to attack the U.S. because of the U.S. military occupation of Muslim holy land in Saudi Arabia and the unfair treatment of Palestinians.

We have been bombing and killing hundreds of thousands of Iraqis for 10 years. Would you be annoyed? added Paul to louder boos from the audience.

The context of the whole exchange was foreign policy, and the role of the U.S. military in the world. Paul recommended that the U.S. base foreign relations on trade only, and withdraw from its unofficial role as the world's police.