Posted on 09/28/2015 5:59:01 AM PDT by McGruff
U.S. Senator John McCain (R-AZ), Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, released the following statement on the meeting between President Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin scheduled for today at the United Nations General Assembly in New York City:
“President Obama's decision to meet with Vladimir Putin is as misguided as it is unnecessary. It plays right into Putin's hands by breaking his international isolation, undermining U.S. policy, and legitimizing Putin's destabilizing behavior – from dismembering Ukraine to propping Bashar Assad in Syria.
“The White House has said that it wants to de-conflict U.S. and Russian military operations in Syria. Any number of our military commanders could do that. It does not require a head-of-state meeting.
“The White House has also expressed confusion about Putin's intentions and plans in Syria. If that is actually true, then the United States is in even worse trouble than many fear, because it is not at all hard to discern what Putin wants. In fact, from Russia's military build-up in Syria, to its recently announced military and intelligence coalition with Syria, Iran, and Iraq, Putin's ambitions are blindingly obvious: He wants to prop up Assad, play kingmaker in any transition, undermine U.S. policy and operations, and ultimately expand Russian power in the Middle East to a degree unseen for the past four decades. None of this requires President Obama to meet with Putin. That will only make matters worse.
“Since the risks of this meeting outweigh the potential rewards, President Obama needs to ensure that he does not embolden Putin and further weaken the United States in the process. He should reinforce that Putin's actions in Ukraine are totally unacceptable, and that the United States will continue to impose costs on Russia for its actions. He should also make clear that under no circumstances will the United States join with Russia to fight alongside Bashar Assad, the tyrant responsible for the deaths of more than 200,000 Syrians and the rise of ISIL. Finally, the President should emphasize that greater Russian military action to prop up Assad will only prolong this horrific conflict and exacerbate the threat that ISIL poses. These messages must be delivered directly to Putin and publicly after the meeting.
“Ultimately, the proper response to Russia's actions in Ukraine, the Middle East and elsewhere is not a tet-a-tet with Putin. It is a foreign policy that recognizes that peace requires U.S. strength and leadership, and a strategy to further our interests and values. That may be beyond the ability of President Obama, but it cannot happen soon enough.”
This is from the guy who endorsed the election of Obama.
To say he’s disappointed, is too little, too late.
After all, John lost by over 10 million votes.
Did crazy Juan pull his nose out of 0bama’s backside long enough to smell the coffee? I doubt it. Must have been a random cosmic ray that stirred him up. OR MAYBE he’s getting afraid of conservative voters since he’s about as far from conservative as you can get and still not be Bernie Sanders
Juan blames Assad for ISIS. Hmmn? Seems we have pictures of McCain schmoozing it up with Al Big-Daddy.
McCain is never honest.
Geez, people. McCain is 100% correct on this. Knock off the partisan bullshit.
Only place he belongs is the rubber room. Trump was right in deflating the back-stabbing POS posing as a war hero.
Didn’t McCain meet with a Syrian guy who ate human hearts?
McCain is the wrong messenger for this. His name and reputation are just as controversial as the subject he is addressing.
John doesn’t want us to lose any good opportunities for war.
“The White House has said that it wants to de-conflict U.S. and Russian military operations in Syria”
Oh for F’s sake, how much is this going to cost us...I’m sure a ton in more ways than one.
I can hear the conversation now, “Vlad, while I’m bent over grabbing my ankles, don’t do anything bad, mmmkay...?”
He says he opposes Putin but offers no solution to Islamic State.
Putin is far more of a man than he will ever be.
Geez, I wonder who wrote that one for him? McCain, Lindsey and this administration created the problem (Libya domino effect), and you think he is novel enough in any sort of long range thinking to come up with a solution?
Weapons running is at the root of how all of this got out of control and the entire DC establishment was in on it. Did anyone ever figure out where all of Ghadafi’s gold went? I would wager that a sizable portion is stashed in an account with tentacles to the Clinton Crime Foundation.
This from a guy who paraded in the Mideast in the midst of avowed terrorists like an oblivious fool - even posing for picture.
He should just STFU and go home - well, you can be sure he won’t go home to Arizona....somewhere in DC where he can still do damage as a K-street wonk or something.
Insane. Certifiably.
Isn’t McFluffy up for re-election this time?
If so, there’s your answer....
Putin and Jintao are running circles around the US.... And they are cleaning up the ISIS mess for us (which in the end is not good either).
Clap on...Clap off.
Shouldn’t he be in a home drooling in his Jello by now?
” Did anyone ever figure out where all of Ghadafi’s gold went? I would wager that a sizable portion is stashed in an account with tentacles to the Clinton Crime Foundation.”
How about where is all the Ukrainian gold? Remember, agents of the US State dept seized it and moved it out of the country “for safe keeping”.
About the same time this happened:
“Hillary Rodham Clinton’s brother, Tony Rodham, sat on the board of a self-described mining company that in 2012 received one of only two “gold exploitation permits” from the Haitian government—the first issued in over 50 years.”
Connected? Can you think of a better way to launder gold?
If McStain’s agains’t it you know it can’t be all bad. LOL!
excellent points.
Maybe Hillery will take a vacation to Aruba.
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