The Obama administration’s inaction in Syria amid scores of massacred civilians is “shameful” and “incomprehensible,” Sen. John McCain said on “Fox News Sunday.”
“I think they’re writing one of the most shameful chapters in American history,” McCain said. “Sixty-thousand people have been massacred.”
The Arizona Republican said arming the rebels in an effort to oust President Bashar al-Assad’s regime not only would spare lives but also would constitute “the greatest blow to Iran in the last 25 years.”
“It’s incomprehensible, and the president of the United States, to say that because people are dying in the Congo is a reason to not act in Syria shows, to me, a lack of experience and knowledge, which is very dangerous to American national-security interests,” McCain said.
Regarding the confirmation of Chuck Hagel for secretary of defense, McCain said he has “very grave concerns” and wants to ask more questions of the nominee. McCain said he does not want the Senate to filibuster the process.
“We have never filibustered a presidential-cabinet appointee, and I don’t think we should start here,” he said.
McCain also weighed in on the automatic spending cuts set to kick in March 1, saying they will devastate national security.
“The world is very dangerous,” he said. “The consequences are severe. Republicans and Democrats are responsible for this new cliff. We’ve got to avoid it. We’ve got to stop it.”
On the topic of drone strikes in America, on Americans, McCain said the program should be overseen by the Department of Defense, not the Central Intelligence Agency.
“Since when is the intelligence agency supposed to be an air force of drones that goes around killing people?” he asked. “I believe it’s a job for the Department of Defense.”
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