The senator from Arizona John McCain said Sunday that President Trump saying he would leave Syria “very soon” “emboldened” Bashar al-Assad and led to the chemical attack on innocents in a rebel town in Syria.
“President Trump last week signaled to the world that the United States would prematurely withdraw from Syria,” the Arizona senator said in a statement. “Bashar Assad and his Russian and Iranian backers have heard him, and emboldened by American inaction, Assad has reportedly launched another chemical attack against innocent men, women, and children, this time in Douma.”
CNN couldn’t get that comment up fast enough.
That is a ridiculous statement in any case. If anything, they were forcing Trump to stay and to act.
The McCain statement came hours after Trump tweeted, there will be a “Big price to pay.”
Many dead, including women and children, in mindless CHEMICAL attack in Syria. Area of atrocity is in lockdown and encircled by Syrian Army, making it completely inaccessible to outside world. President Putin, Russia and Iran are responsible for backing Animal Assad. Big price…
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 8, 2018
No one can even get in to help the people because it’s blocked by the Assad forces.
….to pay. Open area immediately for medical help and verification. Another humanitarian disaster for no reason whatsoever. SICK!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 8, 2018
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President Trump condemned Obama’s inaction when Assad crossed his “stated Red Line”.
If President Obama had crossed his stated Red Line In The Sand, the Syrian disaster would have ended long ago! Animal Assad would have been history!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 8, 2018
Democrat Alan Dershowitz said Obama’s lack of action created a vacuum in Syria, emboldening Assad and essentially inviting Russia and Iran to play more prominent roles in the Syrian civil war. That is what happened. He called it a “tragic mistake”.
Calls For a Response
McCain wants a strong response. “The President responded decisively when Assad used chemical weapons last year. He should do so again, and demonstrate that Assad will pay a price for his war crimes.”
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi said in a statement that the attack, if confirmed, “would be a war crime of staggering inhumanity.” She called for international unity and “a thorough investigation,” adding that members of Congress expected a comprehensive briefing on the matter.
Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham advocated for a significant ramp-up in anti-Assad actions.
“To me, I would destroy Assad’s air force,” the South Carolina Republican said on ABC’s “This Week.” “I would create safe zones in Syria where people can come back to their country from the surrounding area and live a better life. Train up Syrians to take on Assad so we can negotiate in Geneva from a position of strength.”
Graham called on the President to “follow through with that tweet,” claiming inaction would weaken the United States’ on the international stage.
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