Pushing President Barack Obama to escalate U.S. military intervention in Syria, 80-year-old Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee Sen. John McCain (R-Az.) called for the U.S. air force to shoot down Russian and Syrian jets. With U.N. officials railing about the Syrian and Russian assault on East Aleppo, McCain renews calls to set up a no-fly zone to protect civilians from Syrian and Russian assaults. McCain mention’s nothing about Saudi-U.S.-backed rebels stealing Syrian land in East Aleppo, prompting the Syrian and Russian militaries to stage an all-out assault on what’s left of the Saudi-U.S.-backed Free Syrian or Syrian Democratic Forces. Syrian President Basha al-Assad and Russian President Vladimir Putin see no difference between Saudi-U.S.-backed rebel groups and al-Qaeda’s Jabhat al-Nusra Front and the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria [ISIS].
Calling for attacks against al-Assad forces in Syria, McCain blames Putin for defending al-Assad from a nearly six-year Saudi proxy war to topple his Shiite Government in Damascus. “The Obama administration’s approach to Syria has failed miserably. Now is the time for a new strategy—including a necessary military component—that can achieve this more realistic objective,” McCain wrote in the Wall Street Journal. When McCain talks of a “more realistic objective” he’s referring to setting up a no-fly zone in Syria, something Obama’s Joint-Chiefs-of-Staff opposed. Unlike Democratic nominee former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton, Obama opposes military escalation in Syria, despite the failure of recent efforts by Secretary of State John Kerry and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov to implement a Sept. 10 ceasefire to get in vital humanitarian aid.
MeCain mentions nothing about the U.S. bombing a Syrian military convoy Sept. 17 killing nearly 70 soldiers, prompting Syria and Russia to break off the fragile ceasefire. Since the ceasefire ended Sept. 17, Syria and Russia have relentlessly bombed Saudi-U.S.-backed rebels in East Aleppo. Unlike the U.S., Russia believes that al-Assad is the sovereign power in Syria. He’s sees Saudi-U.S.-backed rebel groups no differently than ISIS and al-Qaeda. With the National Security Council meeting this weekend to plot new Syrian strategy, McCain believes the time is right to push for a more aggressive U.S. military strategy. Hillary and McCain agreed Oct. 1, 2015 on the need for a no-fly zone in Syria, against objections from Obama’s National Security team led by National Security Advisor Susan Rice. McCain urged Obama to implement a no-fly zone in Syria, something he’s strongly opposed.
When Kerry announced he suspended cooperation with Russia on Syria Oct. 4, it signaled U.S.-Russian relations hit rock bottom. McCain’s call to ground all Syrian and Russian military flights invites a major escalation in Mideast hostilities. “The administration likes to pretend that Congress is not prepared to support a more forceful approach because of its lack of support for military action to enforce President Obama’s red line in 2013. This is a myth,” said McCain, blaming Obama for giving al-Assad a pass after allegedly using chemical weapons. McCain said Congress never gave Obama an authorization for military action in Syria because they didn’t believe he’d do anything more than slap al-Assad on the wrist. McCain’s new call for aggressive military action directly pits the U.S. against Russia, currently defending al-Assad against Saudi-U.S.- backed rebels.
Like Obama and Hillary, McCain seeks to topple Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. When Putin started air strikes against Saudi-U.S.-backed rebels Sept. 30, 2015, it was to preserve al-Assad’s Shiite government. Putin told the U.N. General Assembly Aug. 28, 2015 that toppling al-Assad would repeat the same mistakes in Iraq, spreading more death, destruction and terrorism in the region. “The U.S. and its coalition partners must issue an ultimatum to Mr. Assad—stop flying or lose your aircraft—and be prepared to follow through,” said McCain, pushing Obama into a military confrontation with Russia. When McCain talks about “coalition partners,” he’s talking about openly joining the Saudi and Gulf State’ proxy war against Damascus. Putin committed himself to defending al-Assad’s sovereignty against a nearly six-year-Saudi proxy war.to establish a Wahhabi regime in Damascus.
With less than four months in office, it’s highly unlikely Obama will change his current Syrian policy. Any changes will be left to the next president, looking more-and-more like Hillary. “If Russian continues indiscriminate bombing, we should make clear that we will take steps to hold its aircraft at greater risk,” said McCain, confirming he’s ready to confront Russia militarily in Syria. McCain talks about U.S. national security but can’t say why toppling al-Assad’s in the U.S. national interest. Pitting the U.S. against Russia puts the world dangerously close to WWIII. There’s no compelling national security reason for the U.S. to confront al-Assad and Putin in Syria. If history’s any judge, toppling Mideast dictators, like Iraq’s Saddam Hussein, Egypt’s Hosni Mubarak or Libay’s Muammar Gaddaffi, hasn’t worked out well for the U.S. McCain’s plan pushes the world to the brink.
