Kerry: No Time for 'Armchair Isolationism' on Syria
The United States must "stand up and act" to punish the Syrian regime and cannot resort to isolationism in the face of "slaughter," Secretary of State John Kerry told lawmakers Tuesday.
"This is not the time for armchair isolationism. This is not the time to be spectators to a slaughter," Kerry told the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
"Neither our country nor our conscience can afford the cost of silence," Kerry said, according to prepared remarks.
"We have spoken up against unspeakable horror. Now we must stand up and act," he added.
Kerry also pointed out that failure by the United States to take military action against Syria would send a dangerous signal to Iran and Hizbullah.
"Our inaction would surely give them a permission slip for them to at least misinterpret our intention, if not to put it to the test," Kerry told senators.
Hizbullah "militants" in Lebanon are "hoping that isolationism will prevail" and "North Korea is hoping that ambivalence carries the day," he said.
"They are all listening for our silence."
Kerry made an impassioned case for punitive strikes against Syria over its alleged use of chemical weapons after President Barack Obama put off military action to first ask Congress for approval.
Source: Agence France Presse
| Copyright © 2012 Naharnet.com. All Rights Reserved. | https://www.naharnet.com/stories/en/96721 |