John MaverickMcCain
... the Senator-for-Life from Arizona, former presidential candidate and even more former
foot soldier in the Reagan Revolution...
on Monday called for U.S. air strikes on Syrian forces to protect population centers and create safe havens for opponents of the regime.
McCain, who lost to President Barack Obama
This is a teachable moment...
in the 2008 election, said while the White House "deserves a lot of credit" for helping to build global efforts to isolate
Hereditary President-for-Life Bashir Pencilneckal-Assad
Before going into the family business Pencilneck was an eye doctor...
, it was time for a "new policy."
The speech by McCain came as Syrian forces bombarded the city of Rastan, pursuing a deadly crackdown on anti-regime protesters that erupted a year ago, and which the United Nations
...an organization which on balance has done more bad than good, with the good not done well and the bad done thoroughly...
says has claimed more than 7,5 00 lives.
"Time is running out," McCain -- a hawk on both Syria and Iran -- said in remarks on the floor of the Senate.
"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," he said.
"The only realistic way to do so is with foreign air power," he said, urging the United States to join with Arab countries, as well as willing partners in the European Union
...the successor to the Holy Roman Empire, only without the Hapsburgs and the nifty uniforms and the dancing...
and NATO
...the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. It's headquartered in Belgium. That sez it all....
, especially Syria's neighbor Turkey.
At the request of the Syrian opposition, McCain said, "the United States should lead an international effort to protect key population centers in Syria, especially in the north, through air strikes on Assad's forces."
"To be clear: This will require the United States to suppress enemy air defenses in at least part of the country."