Sen. John McCain visited rebels in Syria today, his communications director Brian Rogers confirmed to CNN. The Arizona Republican is the highest ranking elected official from the United States to visit the war-torn country.
McCain is the leading voice in Congress for a greater U.S. Role in ending Syria's civil war, which has been waged for more than two years. He has suggested establishing "Safe zones" For Syria's rebels and taking out the regime's air assets, along with providing lethal weapons to Syria's opposition. Ref. CNN
McCain calls for dramatic increase in US airstrikes against Islamic State:
McCain told Reuters that the beheading of American journalist James Foley by Islamic State militants should serve as a turning point for President Barack Obama's deliberations on how to deal with the group. Ref. Source 5
How John McCain Wound Up Canoodling With Terrorists: Analysis -
Did Senator John McCain, a leading advocate of arming Syria's Islamist revolutionaries, meet with members or allies of the Islamic State in al-Sham [the Levant] (ISIS) during his trip to Syria on May 27 of last year? Ref. Source 5
McCain to Obama: get over your temper tantrum:
U.S. Senator John McCain accused President Barack Obama of throwing a "Temper tantrum" Over comments by Israeli Benjamin Netanyahu. "The least of your problems is what Bibi Netanyahu said during an election campaign. If every politician were held to everything they say in a political campaign, obviously that would be a topic of long discussion." Ref. Source 7
Arizona Sen. John McCain withdrew his support for Donald Trump on Saturday in the wake of sexually explicit comments by the GOP presidential nominee that surfaced Friday.
McCain also cited Trump's controversial remarks earlier in the week about the "Central Park 5" -- Trump said he believed they were still guilty in a 1989 rape despite being exonerated years ago -- in making his decision.
"Donald Trump's behavior this week, concluding with the disclosure of his demeaning comments about women and his boasts about sexual assaults, make it impossible to continue to offer even conditional support for his candidacy," McCain said.
Trump is scheduled to debate Hillary Clinton on Sunday night in a town hall forum that is airing on CNN and co-moderated by CNN's Anderson Cooper. Ref. CNN.