Al Bhatti
SENIOR MEMBER
- Joined
- Nov 16, 2009
- Messages
- 5,686
- Reaction score
- 6
- Country
- Location
May 28, 2013
McCain secretly slips into Syria to meet rebels
Senate Foreign Relations Committee voted to arm rebels last week
Leaders of Syrias opposition forces got a chance to make their case for increased U.S. support directly with Senator John McCain when he slipped into that country for a surprise visit.
McCain, R-Ariz., favors providing arms to rebel forces in Syria. A State Department official said the department was aware of McCain crossing into Syrian territory Monday, but referred further questions to McCains office.
McCain spokeswoman Rachel Dean confirmed the Monday trip, but declined further comment.
McCain has been a fierce critic of Obama administration policy there while stopping short of backing U.S. ground troops in Syria, but he supports aggressive military steps against the Al Assad regime. Gen. Salem Idris, chief of the Supreme Military Council of the Free Syrian Army, accompanied McCain across the Turkey-Syria border.
McCain met with leaders of the Free Syrian Army from across the country, who asked him for increased U.S. support, including heavy weapons, a no-fly zone, and airstrikes on Syrian government and Hezbollah forces, according to The Daily Beast, which first reported the senators visit.
Such unannounced trips to world hotspots by U.S. politicians are not common. The White House declined to comment late Monday.
Last week, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee voted to provide weapons to rebels in Syria, as well as military training to vetted rebel groups and sanctions against anyone who sells oil or transfers arms to the Al Assad regime. McCain is a member of the committee.
McCain secretly slips into Syria to meet rebels | GulfNews.com
McCain secretly slips into Syria to meet rebels
Senate Foreign Relations Committee voted to arm rebels last week
Leaders of Syrias opposition forces got a chance to make their case for increased U.S. support directly with Senator John McCain when he slipped into that country for a surprise visit.
McCain, R-Ariz., favors providing arms to rebel forces in Syria. A State Department official said the department was aware of McCain crossing into Syrian territory Monday, but referred further questions to McCains office.
McCain spokeswoman Rachel Dean confirmed the Monday trip, but declined further comment.
McCain has been a fierce critic of Obama administration policy there while stopping short of backing U.S. ground troops in Syria, but he supports aggressive military steps against the Al Assad regime. Gen. Salem Idris, chief of the Supreme Military Council of the Free Syrian Army, accompanied McCain across the Turkey-Syria border.
McCain met with leaders of the Free Syrian Army from across the country, who asked him for increased U.S. support, including heavy weapons, a no-fly zone, and airstrikes on Syrian government and Hezbollah forces, according to The Daily Beast, which first reported the senators visit.
Such unannounced trips to world hotspots by U.S. politicians are not common. The White House declined to comment late Monday.
Last week, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee voted to provide weapons to rebels in Syria, as well as military training to vetted rebel groups and sanctions against anyone who sells oil or transfers arms to the Al Assad regime. McCain is a member of the committee.
McCain secretly slips into Syria to meet rebels | GulfNews.com
