McCain: U.S. should arm Free Syrian Army

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US Senator John McCain (R-Ariz.), who recently returned from a trip to Turkey where he met with members of the Free Syrian Army, said Sunday that the United States should supply the group with weapons.

“For the United States to sit by and watch this wanton massacre is a betrayal of everything we stand for and we believe in,” McCain said on CBS’s “Face the Nation,” as he called on the U.S. to “lead for a change.”

“Not lead from behind, but lead from in front,” he said. “Over there, they’re waiting for American leadership. We have announced that we are now providing them with non-lethal equipment — that doesn’t do very well against tanks and artillery.”

McCain, the ranking Republican on the Armed Services Committee, recalled hearing stories about murder, torture and rape that’s taking place across the country from Syrians hiding out in refugee camps.

“We need to get a sanctuary for the Free Syrian Army, we need to get them supplies, we need to get them weapons. And there are many ways to get weapons to them. We showed that in Libya, we showed that in Afghanistan,” he said. “It’s not a fair fight.”

Independent U. S. Sen. Joe Lieberman of Connecticut, left, and Republican Sen. John McCain, of Arizona are seen with Syrian refugee at a camp in Yayladagi, Turkey, Tuesday, April 10, 2012. McCain and Lieberman toured a refugee camp at the Turkish border with Syria on Tuesday and met Syrians who have fled the violence in their country. Speaking to reporters at the Turkish camp in the southern province of Hatay, McCain had strong words for Damascus allies, Russia and China. (AP Photo/Umit Bektas, Pool) Umit Bektas /The Associated Press

Meanwhile, McCain emphasized that he doesn’t believe American troops should be sent to Syria, clarifying that he still supports a no-boots-on-the-ground policy.

“Of course not,” he said. “I think we saw in Libya that there were other countries that did some work on the ground that were willing to do so … We can lead and help coalesce a group of nations.”

“A massacre is going on as we speak,” he said.

Politico

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4 responses to “McCain: U.S. should arm Free Syrian Army”

  1. Sebouh80 Avatar

    Wow, I’m surprised that John McCain is still alive.

  2. Sebouh80 Avatar

    Wow, I’m surprised that John McCain is still alive.

  3. antar2011 Avatar
    antar2011

    i am interested to see if he was in the presidental’s seat would he be doing that?

  4. antar2011 Avatar
    antar2011

    i am interested to see if he was in the presidental’s seat would he be doing that?

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