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Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) called for U.S.-led airstrikes against government forces in Syria on Monday, the first such call from the top Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee.
"The United States should lead an international effort to protect key population centers in Syria, especially in the north, through airstrikes on Assad's forces," McCain said in a speech on the Senate floor this afternoon.
According to McCain, the US-led airstrikes would be done with the goal of establishing and defending safe havens in the north of Syria, which would provide opposition forces a base to plan further military operations.
The call from McCain comes just a day after Republican Presidential Nominee Mitt Romney said he was "not anxious to employ military action" involving Syria, but said the country should "keep our options open."
McCain admitted that public sentiment in the country is against more foreign military involvement after two exhausting wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, but says that the US has a responsibility to step in to lead international opposition to the Assad regime.
"If Assad manages to cling to power -- or even if he manages to sustain his slaughter for months to come, with all of the human and geopolitical costs that entails -- it would be a strategic and moral defeat for the United States. We cannot, we must not, allow this to happen," McCain said.
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Is there anywhere in the world Sen. McCain does NOT want to bomb?
Wasilla?
I agree with you guys.
Let Assad slaughter everybody over there. We should have let Kaddafy do the same.
Rob,
It is way past time that the US is the world's policeman. Let the Arab League handle this. I have grandchildren. I don't want to see them have to face a US constantly at war.
And, while this is probably a very unpopular view with both sides of the aisle, I also say let Saudi Arabia and the Arab League handle Iran. Saudi Arabia and the other Arab countries have more at stake with a nuclear power Iran. Fine, the US and the West keep with the diplomatic sanctions, but as for dropping bombs and an all out war - leave it to the folks most directly impacted.
[Let Assad slaughter everybody over there. We should have let Kaddafy do the same.]
Raab suddenly becoming a righteous SOB? Say it ain't so!
You're a sad case Raab...
Lets play this out. A nuclear bomb goes off in Tel Aviv. What do you think happens next? Lets speculate a little shall we. Think Israel will be in the mood to negotiate at that point? I'm guessing not. So Israel will probably be very interested in making sure no other nuclear weapons come their way, so they'll respond in kind to Iran, but probably by times 10, or maybe 50, and they won't be waiting to see if Obama has their back, that time has passed. So now we've got missiles flying in the air, and the United States, sitting it out up until now, does what? Negotiate? With who and for what? The damage is done. Iran's leadership is most likely vaporized, Israels may be too leaving the military in charge of each. Maybe the US can talk to Russia and China, ask them not to join in the battle.
I guess the US can continue to sit back and see who fires the next shot. Maybe fly a few drones over the area, check out what's going on. Maybe the Saudi's join in, they don't much Israel and this is their chance. If Egypt can stop their civil war for a minute, they might do the same. So now we've got our allies and our enemies shooting at Israel, and Israel decides to go nuclear on all of them. And the US says, "Hey, not our problem". And about that oil . . .
nisl
I think that is the first place McCain would like to bomb.
Please subtract 1 vote from Rob from ma. I was laughing so hard reading his delusional post that my hands were shaking and I clicked by mistake.
JoAnnaSmith1
Joanna, the only thing you are good at is speculating...
Go play with the Dumb Fux bay, she's more at your level.
I wish you Conservatives would make up your mind.
Direct military action in Libya...no direct military action in Libya...which is it?
Arizona
Sorry, don't really care JAS1. The Saudis are more afraid of Iran getting a bomb than anyone else. And, if the reports are true, most Israelis aren't loving the sabre rattling either. Old Benji isn't that popular, from what I hear. How about for once, we let someone else take the lead.
Now, please note, this is just MY opinion. Not the opinion of any political party. I am tired of supporting Israeli policies - be they right or be they wrong. I want to support US policies that protect my daughter and granddaughters. NO MORE WAR!!!!!!
But, I do respect the right to your opinion. I just differ with you.
[Joanna, the only thing you are good at is speculating...]
OUCH!
Shhhhhhh...Smiffy's about to leave for her electrolysis appointment...
Well then we won't ask anymore. The only democracy in the Middle-East, and you don't care. Yeah, let those heathens kill each other off. Many think they're sub-human, maybe you think that.
Nice in fantasy land, but it doesn't play well in the Real World. Do prefer the Israeli's survive through war, or just wait for their slaughter?
I didn't give an opinion, just a scenario. One that grows more probable by the day. Sometimes someone has to deal with reality pp, like when their very existence depends on it.
You said it phinephancy.
Remember the GOPers all voted, unanimous consent, to request the UN enforce a No-Fly Zone over Libya among other things. The minute President Obama succeeded in getting the UN and NATO No-Fly Zone in Libya--the GOPers were all against it and complaining about who should be in charge, they were saying it wasn't enough, need boots on the ground blah blah blah. They still can't bring themselves to admit their giant flip flop let alone admit President Obama was right and they were wrong.
Every country is different and each crisis requires different tactics and different strategy. Unlike the GOP, President Obama gets that.
Wow. Just wow. The mid-east is in flames. Hillary is about the worst Sec. of State ever, and Obama continually turns his back to the problems. Have you seen Libya lately Jody? Yeah not too good. Egypt? Yeah, not too good.
Get your head out of you hind-side and quit your Obama worship.
You mean that there are die in the wool LIBERALS all for nuclear WAR? Wow, if you guys wanted Nuclear war, why didn't you vote for McCain last election?
Every war that America has ever won, someone else fired the first shot, Every war that we have lost, we fired the first shot, or forced someone to do it for us.....
PURE INSANITY!
Looks like I have to seriously start building the arsenal some more....
Egilman,
I want a bomb shelter, but, alas I live in Florida. The high water table prevents me from going underground!
JoAnnaSmith1
If you mean Feisty, Joanna, I will take it as a complement. I would love to call her my friend, and I can only wish to be at her level.
Your "reality" is the same tired talking points. I guess you have not gotten the TPGOP memo: the only thing you should be talking about is God, Gays, Birth Control, and Vaginal Probing. Even the Faux News stays away from talking about the economy (it's getting better = bad).
By the way, the "new" TP/GOP topic is the reincarnated Obama's Birth Certificate. The Republicans are getting really desperate! Get with the program, Ms. Joanna.
Bayllie,
I have long considered you my friend & admire your work! ☺
Thank you for the kind thoughts!
Keep up the fight!
Did he start singing the song again? Bomb-Bomb-Bomb------Bomb Iran... I guess he changed the lyrics
I shudder to think where we would be today, if this crazy old coot & his Barbie sidekick had won in 2008!
Feisty,
don't even joke like this! WTF???
The worst disaster in history.
Apparently not! Seems the TPGOP hardly ever meets a country or culture they don't think should be bombed into submission! I am so sick and tired of the war drums being constantly beaten. I am tired of our children being sent to die in other countries so the 1% can continue to make so much more money that they need or could possibly use!
"We have met the enemy and he is us!" Pogo by Walt Kelly
I am tired of our children being sent to die in other countries so the 1% can continue to make so much more money that they need or could possibly use!
I agree again. Obama is a warmonger and should be impeached
Hey RobMa - Impeachment, eh? Committed any more felonies you'd like to brag about on here?
[Committed any more felonies you'd like to brag about on here?]
Is Raab even allowed to vote now?
So RobMa, did you call for the impeachment of George W. Bush? I mean, he invaded two countries and put thousands of American troops on the ground. What country has President Obama invaded? You conservatives all sound the same--bomb, bomb and bomb some more as long as it's a republican president ordering the bombing; otherwise, it's impeach, impeach, impeach the democrat.
Bush consulted congress (both afghanistan and iraq) Obama did not (libya)
Rob, Congress voted by unanimous consent to authorize the UN to establish a No-Fly Zone over Libya. The GOPers tried to take it back after President Obama succeeded in doing just that; Congress had already given their support with their vote to support a No-Fly Zone. We did not invade Libya, there were no troops on the ground.
He might of, but he was too busy rigging elections by voting twice, once as himself and once as his neighbor.
Rob never get the facts on anything, except the marching orders to hate Obama.
Rob, you are just full of it. Compared to Bush and Co and the rest of the GOP, Obama is a dove of peace. Get your facts straight.
Bush never ordered the assassination of a US citizen without a trial. That was Obama. Facts are facts
And Bush went to Congress with his military plans. But not Obama he consults with no one.
What is it with the republican party of which Sen McCain and the other warmongers are always sabre rattling. If it was up to them alone, we would be in a perpetual state of war. He of all people who experienced the horrors of war should not be agitating to bomb some country. Syria, is going to have to solve its own problems, I admire their rebels for wanting to get rid of their president and seek regime change. The Arab League, is the body to help them. We do not need to interfere. And McCain sabre rattling is not helpful, he is just trying to undermine the WH efforts to work within the diplomatic community. One has to wonder, what else is behind his rhetoric.
Sorry, Rob, but that citizen denounced his country, was a terrorist who advocated for the killing of Americans whenever and wherever they could be found. Amazing that GOPers who were all-for invading the country of Iraq without any evidence to support the claims by telling people Saddam Hussein might have WMDs and telling lies that Iraq supported Al Qaeda and played a role in 9/11, the party which has no problem with locking up people and throwing away the key without so much as a trial objects to the killing of a terrorist just because he was an American. Where would we try him because according to the GOP, all terrorists captured cannot be tried in civilian court but rather in military tribunals. Astonishing hypocrisy.
P.S. Bush never bothered with Osama bin Laden either; in fact, he said he really didn't give him much thought; didn't really care where he was.
Any American citizen who plots to hurt or attack the US is a traitor, and deserves to die wherever. They are not worthy of due process. Their actions to me is the ultimate betrayal.
Amazing that GOPers who were all-for invading the country of Iraq
And a good many Democrats were all-for it too. A recent democrat presidential candidate and the current secretary of state if I'm not mistaken.
At least Bush gave everybody an opportunity to have a say so. Unlike cowboy obama who doesn't even give congress a heads up that bombs are on the way to libya.
Jody,
Lets be honest, it was both Republicans & Democrats that put our troops on Iraq soil.
In the House, 215 Republicans voted Yes, 6 No and 2 Present; 81 Democrats voted Yes, 126 No (61% of the delegation) and 1 Present; the sole Independent voted No. The final vote was 296 Yes (69% of the House), 133 No, and 3 Present.
In the Senate, 28 Democrats voted Yes (56% of the delegation, including Senators Clinton, Kerry, Edwards, Biden, Bayh, and Daschle) and 22 voted No; 49 Republicans voted Yes and one voted No (Lincoln Chafee of Rhode Island). Note that the Democrats controlled the Senate and could have postponed a vote on the Resolution until after the November election.
Any American citizen who plots to hurt or attack the US is a traitor, and deserves to die wherever. They are not worthy of due process. Their actions to me is the ultimate betrayal.
For some reason I sense that had Bush made the very same order your response would have been alot different.
Rob, I find your selective memory disturbing. But, where do you get your information.
theTotas, didn't say they didn't but those votes, including some from republicans, were because of false information provided by the Bush administration. My comment pertained to the lies the Bush administration told, the fear they preached on every network about mushroom clouds to start a war simply because they wanted to.
I can't believe Rob is defending Bush. Rob you can't be that stupid?
Good point Job1, Actually, I thought all GOP supporters liked to pretend Bush never exsisted!
Bush? Bush Who?
*waves to UAWMichiganJim!*
Nice to see you out & about this evening! ☺
Ah Rob.....you sense wrong. Some things dont have partisan side. Treason is treason, it is wrong anyway you want to look at it.
G Mamma,
Any traitors we catch, we'll let you have them after we have had a trial, THEN you can shoot them in the crotch right before we hang them!
Now is that a good compromise?
McCain was one of the GOPers who said President Obama's UN no-fly zone wasn't good enough and implied we should put troops on the ground in Libya. The situation in Libya is much different from the one in Syria; Syria isn't just killing people or threatening to wipe out the rebels in a concentrated area as Khaddafi was; he's killing them everyone he finds them. The collateral damage would be uncertain in Syria whereas in Libya we were able to clearly target the Khaddafi troops. We cannot always just bomb because we have the capability to do so.
Amen, Jody.
And how is Libya doing these days?
Rob,
If you are so all fired up to be in a war, enlist or join up with a mercenary group. Leave the rest of us out of it. I am disappointed we are still in Afghanistan. We need to get out of these countries and let their neighbors handle the problems. The US should only go in as a LAST resort and as a matter of national security (although, for the past 12 years national security seems to be an excuse for everything).
The president made a good judgement call when it came to Libya and he has much more classified information at his fingertips than McCain, so I will ignore McCain on this issue. He was wrong about Libya and wrong about Iraq, so his advice seems questionable to me. McCain should defer to the Commander in Chief. It is beyond me why so many are now pushing for war again. Haven't we had enough?
phinephancy, thank you.
Rob, Libya is doing pretty well these days; they will have their ups and downs as any new struggling government would have. The UN with our help was able to give the Libyans a chance. The same can be said for Iraq, and for Afghanistan when we leave. What those country's citizens decide to do is up to them. All we can do is help when possible but helping isn't always feasible as in Syria. That said, I have no doubt, the White House is working behind the scenes with the Arab League and UN to do something.
You got me pegged all wrong Phine. I do not support any intervention in Syria. In fact, after 911 when the Taliban refused Bush's ultimatum of turning over Bin Laden he should have ordered tactical nuclear strikes on afghanistan. No ground troops were necessary.
If I pegged you wrong, Rob, I truly apologize. I am just sick and tired of seeing our young people going off to wars that seem pointless. The citizens of the countries we occupy don't seem to want us there. I just had all the death and destruction.
Guess deep down inside, I am still the Flower Child of the 60's! :)
That's pretty darn stupid.
Obviously Sen. McCain is one who defys what President Eisenhower warned about, as Mc Cain supports the military industrial complex. Without constant war they don't get rich meaning guys like Dick Cheney and Halliburton miss out on billions of taxpayer dollars.
Right now, there are four private Armies being trained and equipped within the USA paid for by our tax dollars. TWO THIRDS OF OUR MILITARY BUDGET!
WE need to STOP funding these private armies! WE need to cut the balls off the military industrial complex ASAP!
When the troops come home they will not take arms against the Citizens, this is why they need these private troops.
Armies, who have not sworn an oath to our country, but have sworn an oath to the highest payer...
God Help us......
Other non-news headlines from the Republican party today:
Santorum: Only snobs (except me) send their children to college
Romney: I'm good at running a company, vote for me
What's your point Rob...besides being a stirring stick.?
Somebody give McCain a piper cub so he can have a airstrike
McCain calls for airstrikes in Syria
Only if Obama is against it. If Obama orders airstrikes, then McCain will flip positions and call him a war monger for interfering in an other country's affairs.
Its the same bull@!$%# we all heard during the operation in Libya.....
Obama/Biden 2012
Is "Insane McCain" off his medications?? Again! He should be in either a nursing home or a mental hospital. If "Insane McCain" keeps taling like a GOP "Hawk" they will put him in a Bird Zoo. Since "Insane McCain" is the official pilot of the "Romulian Romney" Bird Of Prey. So "Insane McCain," "Sanitorium Santorum," "Romulian Romney," and "Nutty Newt can bomb Iran in the "Romulian's" Bird Of Prey. Instead, "Nutty Newt" can take his "Death Star" and help bomb Iran from his "Mentally Ill" orbit. The "Gross Odd People" (GOP), and the "Really Not Competent" (RNC) have been wrong on all Foreign Policy issues. The GOP Lobbyists lead by "Mickey Mouse Mitch McConnell would rather poltically and economically bomb the White House than Iran. Now the GOP/RNC "Hoodlum's On The Hill" lead by "Bonehead Boehner" are "War Mongers." Now they have No fair jobs plan, no fair US tax plan, and no fair job training program. The GOP/RNC "War Clowns" have on their war paint, and are dancing around with rotten tea bags around their "Elephant" Ears. The GOP/RNC Clowns have NO problem sending others to war however, all they really want are more huge tax cuts. Here are some questions that the GOP/RNC "Cognitively Disabled GOP Clowns are unable to answer. Who is going to pay for another war? How are we going to heal our injured troops from the "Bush Wars?" How many wars can our nation afford?? America needs to lower the national debt, create jobs, retrain our troops coming home from the "Bush Wars," end the Bush tax cuts, and close all tax loop holes for corporations that send American Jobs to overseas. That is fact!
Watching a brutal regime kill scores of people day after day with impunity so that it may stay in power makes accomplices of us all. History will be unkind.McCain is right. We have sat this one out too long. The time to act is now. And we may already be too late.
We need to STAY OUT OF SOMEONE ELSE"S CIVIL WAR!!!!
Mr McCain........get thee to the house and take care of Cindy. Ya might wanna cut your daughter's chow down to 6 meals a day.
The Mideast is in flames is it? Really? I haven't seen too much smoke. Tell ya what... get a bunch of rebels firing on Federal troops in the USA and see what happens to their butt. Then have another Country tell the USA what to do. HA Fat Chance!
BTW all of you experts.......... we never flew over Libya...The French took care of that problem. They might take care of Iran one of these day too. Without telling anyone about it.
David,
Since all of us "Experts are wrong, you want to read about it?
How about the F-15E we lost? wanna read about that also?
Here ya go, read all about it.....
US involvement in Libya
Just because all us experts are wrong you know...
Yep. We are the international 911 number ! How come we don't do an airstrike in Rowanda ? Oh....they don't have any oil !!!!
How come we don't secure the trouble in Mexico ? Aren't we the world police ? Some folks are jaywalking in Tahiti.....send the drones !
Hey, here's an idea.....let's mind our own business & clean up our own mess for a change !
Has NcCain ever see a war he did not support? The man has no concern with what it costs our troops or our economy to police the world. He should retire.