Rand said that his conversation with Mike Pompeo about Middle Eastern policy helped change his position and support the nomination
as secretary of state. “What I heard from him in private — and what I think we’ll hear from him in public — is that regime change really hasn’t worked that well in the Middle East.”

Asked by an NPR reporter at the time -
US Senator Rand Paul stated that . . . in general "It's not like these nations have a Jefferson around" to replace a dictator.