Sen. John McCain (R., Ariz.) blasted President Obama and his policy towards Syria Tuesday, likening Obama to former president Jimmy Carter and warning that a rapidly deteriorating situation in Syria could pose a terror threat to the United States.
"I have never seen anything like this in my life. I thought Jimmy Carter was bad, but he pales in comparison to this president in my view," McCain told Phoenix radio station KFYI.
McCain said Obama’s inaction in Syria and lack of support for moderate rebels could lead to an al-Qaeda takeover of the country:
"We now have thousands of fighters of this — radical, extremist, al-Qaeda affiliated people pouring in from all over the world into Syria, fighting against our guys, who are the good guys and also not doing much fighting against Bashar Assad."
"[The conflict] is spreading throughout the region, and sooner or later it will affect the United States of America if you allow a place to become a base for al-Qaeda," McCain warned.
McCain did not spare Secretary of State John Kerry from heavy criticism either, denouncing Kerry for negotiating with Russia while that country continues to prop up the Assad regime in Syria.
Said McCain, "I’m telling you, this guy [Bashar al-Assad] is a monster. The people who are giving him the weapons are the Russians, and our secretary of State is buddy buddy and palsy-walsy with … his buddy Sergey in places like Geneva and others."
(H/T Roll Call)