McCain, McSally, Sinema approve of military strikes against Syria

PHOENIX – Shortly after President Donald Trump announced a joint military strike with France and the United Kingdom against Syria, U.S. Sen. John McCain, U.S. Rep. Martha McSally and U.S. Rep. Krysten Sinema all released statements of approval for the United States’ actions.

“I applaud the president for taking military action against the Assad regime for its latest use of chemical weapons, and for signaling his resolve to do so again if these heinous attacks continue,” McCain said.

“I am grateful to our British and French allies for joining in in this action.”

Trump addressed the nation Friday evening, announcing that he had ordered precision air strikes in retaliation for Syrian president Bashar Assad’s alleged use of chemical weapons against his own citizens Saturday.

Cruise missiles were reportedly launched outside of Syrian airspace in the attack, targeting three sites that U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis said helped provide Syria’s ability to create chemical weapons.

The strikes were similar to those ordered by Trump in April 2017 when Tomahawk cruise missiles struck a Syrian airfield in retaliation for Assad’s use of sarin gas against citizens.

However the strikes had little impact, something Sinema hopes will change with the latest barrage of missiles.

“The use of chemical weapons against innocent civilians is despicable and must be condemned by every nation,” Sinema said.

“Striking at Assad’s capacity to deploy chemical weapons sends a powerful signal that the use of these heinous weapons will not be tolerated.”

In similar fashion, McSally, who is former military, gave her full support to the president for the strikes on the Assad regime.

“These strikes were necessary because Assad is a murderous regime, his regime has crossed the line or breaking international law in using of weapons of mass destruction on his own people,” McSally told KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Ashley Flood Friday.

“It was a proportional but necessary response to both degrade Assad’s chemical weapon capabilities and research, but also to send a very strong message that this will not be tolerated.”

McSally added that it is now up to Assad, Russian President Vladimir Putin and the Iranian government to see whether that message from the U.S. was received.

Trump chastised Syria’s two main allies, Russia and Iran, for their roles in supporting “murderous dictators,” and noted that Russian President Vladimir Putin had guaranteed a 2013 international agreement for Assad to get rid of all of his chemical weapons.

The president called on Moscow to change course and join the West in seeking a more responsible regime in Damascus during his address to the nation.

McCain further called upon this action Friday night, noting that long-term goals from the president are needed to find a resolution with the ongoing conflict with Russian and Iranian influence in the Middle East.

“To succeed in the long run, we need a comprehensive strategy for Syria and the entire region,” he said. “Airstrikes disconnected from a broader strategy may be necessary, but they alone will not achieve U.S. objectives in the Middle East.”

U.S. Rep. Ruben Gallego held off on his comments until the Saturday morning expressing concern over the President’s handling of the strikes.

“I have strong concerns about the fitness of their (U.S. service members) Commander in Chief, what these strikes will actually achieve, his lack of legal authority in ordering this action, and his failure to develop a broader strategy for Syria,” Gallego posted on Twitter.

To address the concern, Gallego tweeted that he would be holding a town hall with his Phoenix constituents Saturday morning.

KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Ashley Flood and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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