Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., criticized the military strikes President Trump ordered against Syria in response to a suspected chemical weapons attack against civilians, calling them an “underwhelming response” and “major step backwards.”
Graham said the air and missile strikes that targeted three chemical weapons facilities in Syria were a “missed opportunity” and were not a sufficient enough response to Syrian President Bashar Assad, during an interview Monday with “The Hugh Hewitt Show.”
“Didn’t lay a glove on Assad’s capabilities to wage war. We’re becoming the chemical weapons police. We don’t have a strategy about why Syria matters,” Graham said. “It seems like we’re willing to give to the Russians and the Iranians without much of a contest. The ISIS people heard we’re leaving. The Kurds are in a world of hurt because they’re very much exposed. And the military strike itself was a tactical response well short of what I thought was justified. So he’s been a good commander in chief in general, but this is a major step backwards.”
Trump announced Friday night the U.S. launched precision strikes against Syria following the suspected poison gas attack in the rebel-held city of Douma on April 7. The U.S. was joined by British and French ships and aircraft.
At least 40 people were killed in the alleged attack by the Syrian government.
The president said Assad’s use of chemical weapons are the “crimes of a monster.”
But Graham criticized Trump for announcing during a press conference this month he wants to pull troops from Syria. The president has reportedly given military leaders until the fall to withdraw troops from the country.
“I think this was an underwhelming response. Assad did not pay a big price,” the South Carolina senator said. “And Russia and Iran hear our Pentagon go out of their way to make sure that we’re not going to get in a conflict with Russia and Iranians in Syria and a president announced that we’re leaving. As the missiles were flying, he announced we were leaving. I think this is a disaster for us in Syria.”
