McCain Raises Prospect of Military Option in Syria

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U.S. Senator John McCain raised the prospect Sunday of possible armed intervention to protect civilians in Syria where a crackdown on pro-democracy protests has killed more than 3,000 people.

"Now that military operations in Libya are ending, there will be renewed focus on what practical military operations might be considered to protect civilian lives in Syria," McCain told a World Economic Forum meeting in Jordan.

McCain, the top Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee, said Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's "regime should not consider that it can get away with mass murder.

Libya's ousted leader Moammar Gadhafi, who was captured and killed on Thursday, "made that mistake and it cost him everything," he said.

"There are even growing calls among the opposition for some foreign military intervention. We hear these pleas for assistance. We are listening to and engaging with the (opposition) National Council," he added.

The United Nations has said more than 3,000 people, including 187 children, have been killed in a fierce crackdown on dissent since mid-March.

"The Syrian revolution may now be entering a new phase. The opposition has formed the Syrian National Council seeking to better organize itself. There are increasing reports of defections from the army," said McCain.

"More Syrians appear to be taking up arms against the regime."

McCain charged that "dark forces in this region, especially in Iran, are working harder than ever to hijack the promise of what many are calling the Arab Spring.

"These concerns are real and legitimate and merit our vigilance."

U.S.-Iran tensions have been running high since Washington accused Tehran of being behind an alleged plot to assassinate the Saudi ambassador in Washington. Iran has denied any involvement.

McCain held talks with key U.S. ally King Abdullah II on Middle East issues, Jordan's state-run Petra news agency reported.

The United States and Jordan on Sunday signed a $250-million agreement under a "small and medium enterprise loan guarantee program" to support the cash-strapped kingdom's economy.

Comments 15
Default-user-icon Gabby (Guest) 24 October 2011, 00:05

Ya Bashar......you are under a microscope now. There is no one else left to focus on. Are you shitting your pants yet? You should be. They are coming for you ya Bashar. You are the most deserving of the bunch. They let you slow roast longer than anyone else. When you are dead I will be the one with the biggest fireworks display on the highest mountain. Yalla ya Bashar. Sleep well tonight.

Default-user-icon TITUS (Guest) 24 October 2011, 05:11

Well said Senator! The military intervention in Syria to stop the blood shed and hold the Genocidal Criminal Assad Family regime accountable by its people can't come a day too soon. At this stage the STC should recognize that without the free world's help as in Libya this conflict can turn into a civil war since people are being massacred on daily basis and cannot but protect themsleves and their families in the end, that could cost thousands of more innocent lives... It might be as good a time as any to finally pull the plug on the life support machine that is keeping this monsterous regime artificially alive and is helping it kill more people everyday. Remember the Assad regime is trying to either play the fear card (divide and conquer communities based on sects) or to make it look like ALL of Syria as a nation would be violated which is not the case his regime alone is the one being targeted not the country as a whole. Dictators often do that, a very old worn out futile trick .

Thumb jabalamel 24 October 2011, 11:39

the filthy zionist information war department is happy because someone in usa mentioned invading syria.

keep on dreaming.

Default-user-icon HANNA (Guest) 24 October 2011, 12:24

Jabal, you are so weak minded it is not even funny...poor you. sure mouamar supporters thought like you a few month ago....

Zenga Zenga....lol

Thumb thepatriot 24 October 2011, 13:00

@mowaten
hahahahahaha...
"in Syria they have about 3000 terrorists out of whom 2000 have already been cleaned out"
Ok, so 1,000 "terrorists" to go right??
Now that's an extremely objective comment ya syrian mowaten...hahahaha...
You also forgot to mention the 15,000 to 20,000 "terrorists" who are either jailed or murdered...hahahaha...good post really!

Thumb canaanite 24 October 2011, 13:08

One targeted Assassination on Bashar and the whole game is changed.

The British MI6 are the best at that...

Thumb thepatriot 24 October 2011, 13:11

@canaanite
This is what I am expectiong...but from within the regime!

Thumb justice 24 October 2011, 13:40

For those willing to take a bet on their master Assad staying in power, I say read history you idiot(s). Your labeling the great Syrian revolution as "terrorist" will not affect the outcome of this matter nor will it delay the inevitable. The dawn of freedom is not measured by days or even years. It takes nine months for a baby to be born and when it does, it is almost instantaneous! The labor pains of freedom in Syria are in motion, and no matter what people like you say or claim or even "bet", you will never be able to change the course of history for one simple reason: you are insignificant!

Thumb Chupachups 24 October 2011, 14:57

very interesting, to see this come to fruit

Thumb thepatriot 24 October 2011, 16:46

@mowateh
I stoped reading at "Terrorists"... ;-)

Thumb thepatriot 24 October 2011, 16:49

My prayers are with the 187 "terrorist" children assasinated by the Syrian regime!

Default-user-icon Beiruti (Guest) 24 October 2011, 17:16

In an election year, the only way that Obama gets into this is if the Israelis want it. If they do not want to shake Assad out of his tree, trust me, the US will not only refrain but will keep the whole world at bay for the sake of Mr. Netanyahu and his ability to affect the voters in New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey and Florida.

Thumb thepatriot 24 October 2011, 18:17

You're confused! Send a link. It was not me who set a time frame for the collapse of the regime. Ur a waist of my time. Bye bye!

Thumb geha 24 October 2011, 18:19

there is no doubt Mowateh is syrian following bashar's regime: no point in discussing with this thug.
he will be silent once his masters are outhrown or killed like Kadhafi :)

Missing peace 24 October 2011, 18:38

could mowaten tell us what is wonderful by living under the syrian regime? what is wonderful with bashar? what is so wonderful that his friends thanked this regime for all the killings of lebanese they did?
what is wondeful with a regime that stole millions of dollars from lebanon? what is wonderful with a regime that erased entire villages in lebanon murdererd kidnapped tortured lebanese?

i wonder why he is so supportive of a regime that did so many horors in lebanon?
maybe he is proud that thousands of lebanese were killed by them and they continue to kill children who he dare call terrorists!....