U.S. Senators Visit Turkish-Syrian Border in Solidarity with Opposition

U.S. Sens. John McCain (R-AZ) and Joe Lieberman (I-CT) said on Tuesday that the international community was “failing” the Syrian people, calling for the arming of the Syrian opposition. After visiting a refugee camp along the border, McCain spoke to reporters saying, “The only way to reverse this is to help the opposition change the military balance of power on the ground.” Echoing these sentiments, Lieberman said, “We must give arms to freedom fighters to help them defend themselves and their families, at a minimum.” McCain declared a message to Russia, China, and Iran stating, “Shame on you. Shame on you for blocking the efforts that could be made by the United Nations to stop the slaughter.”

Josh Rogin reported in Foreign Policy that McCain and Lieberman were in the Hatay Province Tuesday to meet with leaders of the Free Syrian Army (FSA) General Mustafa al-Sheikh and Colonel Riad al-Asaad. According to Rogin, the senators toured the Yayladagi refugee camp and are the first and most senior U.S. official to meet FSA leaders and visit the border.

“Make no mistake: The situation in Syria is an armed conflict. This is a war. Diplomacy with Assad has failed, and it will continue to fail as long as Assad thinks he can defeat the opposition in Syria militarily. And right now, using tanks and artillery and even attack helicopters, Assad has the upper hand,” the senators said. Earlier this month, the senators release a resolution calling for the arming of opposition. During their stay, the senators have met with SNC president Burhan Ghalioun, defected Syrian deputy oil minister Abdo Hussameldin, Turkish President Abdullah Gul, and recently recalled Turkish Ambassador to Syria Omer Onhon.

The senators have called for foreign air power to suppress Assad’s military. “Our deepest values and interests compel us to act in Syria, and we must do so before it is too late,” said the senators.