John McCain on Syria: ‘A Weak Response is as Bad as Doing Nothing’
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Julia Schmalz/Bloomberg via Getty Images(WASHINGTON) — Some members of Congress do not think a military strike on Syria goes far enough in stopping Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad from using chemical weapons again.
Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz.,and Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., met with President Obama at the White House Monday afternoon to discuss the possibility of Congress approving military intervention in Syria.
While both Republican senators support a Syria attack, they urged Obama to broaden his strategy.
“We still have significant concerns,” McCain said. “A weak response is as bad as doing nothing.”
Graham said they will try to convince other members of Congress to go along with a resolution on the use of force.
“I want a statement from the Syrian opposition that if we get in charge of Syria with your help, we’re going to renounce chemical weapons in the new Syria,” Graham said. “There will be no chemical weapons because we’re going to turn them over to the international community.”
McCain said if Congress were to reject force, “the consequences would be catastrophic.”
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