It's true that Cruz has displayed an extremely simplistic, "us vs. them" view of foreign policy in which "we" and our hand-picked allies, like Israel, are the "good guys" and everyone else is "the bad guys". There is no room for nuance in such a view, where America can operate as an honest broker between nations. This kind of thinking is why, for all the talk about minor nations recognizing Israel, the peace process has gone exactly nowhere.

Cruz also appears to have no idea of how international law operates. If, in fact, we "gave" $1.5 bn to Khomeini's government way back in 1979, it was because international law and obligations meant we had to. We frequently condemn other nations as "lawless". We only get to use that sort of language if we ourselves follow international law; not just when it's convenient or when we agree with it, but when it's difficult and when we would prefer to do as we please instead. That's why international law has to exist, so that everyone plays by the same rules.