Sens. John McCain, Jeff Flake express support for missile strikes on Syria
Arizona members of the House of Representatives also react.
- Sens. John McCain and Jeff Flake on Thursday expressed support for U.S. missile strikes on Syria
- President Donald Trump targeted the Syrian airfield suspected of launching a chemical attack
Sens. John McCain and Jeff Flake on Thursday were quick to voice support for President Donald Trump's decision to hammer Syria with Tomahawk cruise missiles in reaction to its government's suspected use of chemical weapons in its ongoing civil war.
Calling the use of a deadly nerve agent on civilians "barbaric," Trump said the missiles targeted Syrian President Bashar Assad's "airfield in Syria from where the chemical attack was launched."
"I assumed it was coming, and I'm glad that it has," Flake, R-Ariz., told The Arizona Republic in a telephone interview.
Flake is a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and expects an official briefing on the U.S. missile strikes on Friday.
Though Flake has been pushing for, and still wants, passage of a new authorization of the use of military force for the fight against Islamic State militants in the region, he said Trump was right to hit Syrian President Bashar Assad's airfield without going to Congress first.
"This is something that there has been agreement on with regard to chemical weapons, which we have conventions on and protocols already outlined in international law," Flake said. "I'm glad we took decisive action here. ... We don't know the full extent of the chemical attack yet, so it's probably premature to say the response was proportionate. But this was one that it looks like we could do quickly, and I think it needed to be quick because you don't want to give Syria time to defend some of their assets that we want to target."
Flake said one outstanding question he had was whether there was any communication with Russia, an ally of Assad's in the civil war.
"Obviously, they have a lot of assets in Syria, and I don't want to speculate on any of that," he said.
McCain, the chairman of the influential Senate Armed Services Committee, applauded Trump and the military for sending "an important message the United States will no longer stand idly by as Assad, aided and abetted by (Vladimir) Putin’s Russia, slaughters innocent Syrians with chemical weapons and barrel bombs."
“Unlike the previous administration, President Trump confronted a pivotal moment in Syria and took action," McCain, R-Ariz., said in a joint statement with Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., who also serves on the Armed Services Committee. "For that, he deserves the support of the American people."
ANALYSIS: How will Syria respond to missile strike?
McCain and Graham called on Trump to follow through with "a new, comprehensive strategy in coordination with our allies and partners" to end the ongoing Syrian civil war, which they said should included targeting Assad's air force.
"The first measure in such a strategy must be to take Assad’s air force — which is responsible not just for the latest chemical weapons attack, but countless atrocities against the Syrian people — completely out of the fight," McCain and Graham said. "We must also bolster support for the vetted Syrian opposition and establish safe zones to address the ongoing humanitarian crisis. As we do, we can and must continue the campaign to achieve ISIS’s lasting defeat.”
Arizona lawmakers react
U.S. Rep. Andy Biggs, R-Ariz.:
“Days ago, the world watched in horror as men, women, and children laid lifeless in the streets of Khan Sheikhun, victims of an unthinkable chemical attack from their own government. In response, President Donald Trump showed decisive leadership by rightfully confronting these atrocities in Syria through a strategic military strike, targeting the airbase where the most recent chemical attack was launched from. Tonight, America sent an unmistakable message to the rest of the world that these actions will not go unchecked.
“I'm thankful for the President's leadership and for the brave men and women of our Armed Forces who commit themselves to defending our freedoms and national security. I am interested to learn more about the President's strategy going forward and to join my colleagues in Congress providing their expertise and oversight. My wife, Cindy, and I join many Americans in praying for the people of Syria.”
U.S. Rep. Trent Franks, R-Ariz., and a member of the House Armed Services Committee:
“In the strongest possible terms, I condemn the horrific and barbaric chemical weapons attack by the Assad regime, which has killed dozens of civilians including women and children. Such heinous attacks are an affront to humanity and cannot be tolerated. It is high time the United States unambiguously outline the consequences for using chemical weapons — especially against civilians. The Obama Administration undermined U.S. credibility and abdicated America’s leadership role when it abandoned its infamous red line in 2013. Thankfully, the Trump Administration refused to make the same mistake."
U.S. Rep. Ruben Gallego, D-Ariz., a veteran of the Iraq War and a member of the House Armed Services Committee:
“The Assad regime's terrible atrocities are worthy of every bit of condemnation they have received, and more.
"While the impulse to respond is entirely understandable, it is unclear what yesterday's strikes will achieve. President Trump's efforts to bar refugees from the very country whose civilians he is purporting to help belies the supposed humanitarian rationale of these strikes. And no credible expert believes pinprick strikes will meaningfully alter the strategic course of the civil war.
"There is little reason to believe that the President has adequately considered the larger implications of this action or has any kind of broader strategic plan. He clearly failed to exhaust every option before selecting an expedient but ultimately ineffectual military course. Trump has shown no appetite for punishing Assad's sponsors in Moscow or Tehran with additional sanctions and no interest in pursuing a negotiated political solution.
U.S. Rep. Raul Grijalva, D-Ariz., in a tweet Wednesday morning:
“The concern many of us in Congress have is what’s next? What’s the strategy? What’s the political strategy? What’s the diplomatic strategy? What is going to be the interface with Russia, who is key to what happens, and where do we go from here?
“Any further military intrusion and the demand from many of us in Congress is that you bring that to Congress and let Congress vote on the full use of force.
“I hope now that reality has hit home with the administration that we look at what are we going to do about the Syrian refugees? Are we still going to continue the ban on them? What are we going to do relative to the massive cuts at the State Department on humanitarian and diplomatic services within that department?”
U.S. Rep. Martha McSally, R-Ariz., a veteran of the Iraq War and a member of the House Armed Services Committee:
“Tonight the United States responded to the atrocities of the Assad regime with measured, yet decisive military action — launching approximately sixty Tomahawk missiles at the Syrian airbase used for recent chemical attacks. I’m proud that I have successfully advocated in Congress to keep the Tomahawk missile line at Raytheon in Tucson open so that this weapon was ready and available when our armed forces needed it. The use of banned and deadly chemical weapons to murder innocent men, women, and children is evil and deserves a just response."
U.S. Rep. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz.:
“The immoral chemical weapons attack on innocent men, women and children requires a strong, swift response. The airstrikes send a clear message that the United States will hold the Assad regime accountable for these horrific actions.
“The administration must now work with Congress to develop a clear, unified, and effective strategy to end the conflict in Syria, remove Assad from power, address the humanitarian crisis and defeat ISIS. I’ve introduced bipartisan legislation requiring a plan to achieve these goals, but we have yet to see a plan from the administration.
“Thank you to our brave servicemen and women who executed this mission and continue working to keep our country safe and secure.”
U.S. Rep. Tom O'Halleran, D-Ariz., and a member of the House Armed Services Committee:
“Yesterday’s retaliation against the Assad regime in Syria was an appropriate response to the horrific atrocities leveled against innocent men, women, and children. Bashar al-Assad’s use of chemical weapons on his own people is barbaric, and we must work to prevent future attacks like this. They have no place in this world.
“Congress has the constitutional obligation to immediately begin debating the use of future military force against Syria. I call on Speaker Ryan to bring Congress back to Washington to develop an Authorization for Use of Military Force in Syria.”
U.S. Rep. Paul Gosar, R-Ariz., could not be reached and did not make any public comments on his usual social media channels.
READ MORE:
Syria's civil war: How we got to this point