Boehner Rejects McCain’s Call for Airstrikes in Syria
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Chris Maddaloni/CQ-Roll Call(WASHINGTON) — House Speaker John Boehner on Tuesday rebuffed Sen. John McCain’s call for U.S. airstrikes on Syrian forces to protect rebel forces.
“I think the situation in Syria is pretty complicated,” Boehner said. “Until there is clearer direction as to what’s happening there involving ourselves at this time would be premature.”
In a speech on the Senate floor Monday, McCain compared the turmoil in Syria to Slobodan Milosevic’s war crimes in the Balkans during the 1990s. The former presidential candidate said the only way to protect civilians in some major population centers would be with American airstrikes on Assad’s military.
“Time is running out. Assad’s forces are on the march,” McCain said. “Providing military assistance to the Free Syrian Army and other opposition groups is necessary, but at this late hour, that alone will not be sufficient to stop the slaughter and save innocent lives. The only realistic way to do so is with foreign air power.”
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