Sen. John McCain (R., Ariz.) disputed the suggestion that U.S. aid for the Free Syrian Army is tantamount to aiding Al Qaeda Wednesday on "On the Record."
McCain praised the Free Syrian Army as a viable entity operating on their own independent of extremists.
The senior senator from Arizona also revealed he has learned not one weapon from the United States has been given to the Free Syrian Army, a statistic he termed as "shameful."
Additionally, requests from the moderate rebels for gas masks have been denied by the CIA, McCain said.
Moreover, McCain related he is concerned President Obama may decide to employ a "cosmetic" cruise missile assault on Assad without embracing any goal of regime change.
This course of action could be perilous, according to McCain, as it disinclines U.S. Arab League partners from putting their full weight behind the Syrian rebels, thus drawing out the conflict and destabilizing the region.