Statement By Senator John McCain On Obama Administration's "Deconfliction" Talks With Russia On Syria Airstrikes

Press Release

U.S. Senator John McCain (R-AZ), Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, released the following statement on the Obama Administration's "deconfliction" talks with Russia on its airstrikes in Syria:

"According to published reports, Russian airstrikes in Syria yesterday struck U.S.-trained Syrian rebels. Yet the Administration summoned only a muted response of pitiful pleas for "deconfliction' talks with Russia. This begs obvious questions: Are we trying to "deconflict' with Russian air operations that target U.S.-trained rebels? Are we trying to "deconflict' with Russian air operations that kill innocent civilians, including women and children? Are we trying to "deconflict' with Russian air operations to keep the Assad regime in power and in so doing prolong this horrific conflict?

"Unfortunately, it appears "deconfliction' is merely an Orwellian euphemism for this Administration's acceptance of Russia's expanded role in Syria, and as a consequence, for Assad's continued brutalization of the Syrian people. It is simply incomprehensible that the Administration is taking such great pains to offer Russia a "constructive' role in Syria, pretending that Russia has the slightest interest in anything other than propping up the murderous Assad regime. That is what Russia has been doing for four years as Assad has slaughtered more than 200,000 Syrians, and that is what Russia is doing now."

Source