Rand Paul Responds to Cheney Op-Ed in Interview with David Gregory

In an interview with "Meet the Press" moderator David Gregory today, Republican Senator Rand Paul (KY) responded to former Vice President Dick Cheney's criticism of President Obama's handling of the turmoil in Iraq. Paul, a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, suggested the same questions raised by Cheney in an op-ed earlier this week should be asked of those who supported the Iraq war, adding that he "blame[s] those who are for the Iraq War for emboldening Iran."

Gregory's extended interview with Senator Paul will air this Sunday, June 22, on "Meet the Press." A transcript of this early excerpt is below and video is available online here: http://nbcnews.to/1npsYDh.