Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) on Sunday called on President Obama to expand U.S. airstrikes to Syria so the militant group the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS) does not have a base of operation.
“There is no boundary between Syria and Iraq,” McCain said on “Fox News Sunday.” “One of the key decisions the president is going to have to make is airpower in Syria. We cannot give them a base of operations. And we have got to help the Free Syrian Army.”
{mosads}McCain said the recent beheading of U.S. journalist James Foley by ISIS should work as a catalyst for the administration to define a comprehensive strategy in Iraq and other parts of the world. The United States has launched more than 90 airstrikes in Iraq against ISIS.
“This is an administration of which the kindest word I can use is ‘feckless,’ where they have not outlined the role that the United States has to play. And that is a leadership role,” he said.
“No more ‘leading from behind,’ no more ‘don’t do stupid stuff,’” he added.
McCain has continuously called for an expanded U.S. strategy in degrading ISIS in Iraq and Syria.
McCain acknowledged Americans are weary of war, but he said the threat of Western foreign fighters returning to the United States for an attack is real.
“Mr. President, don’t be ashamed of re-evaluating your view of the role of the United States in the world, because we have shown over the last six years exactly what happens when we don’t lead and create a vacuum,” he said.