Senators on Wednesday pressed the top U.S. general in the Middle East on creating a “safe zone” in Syria to protect people from the country’s civil war.
Senate Armed Services Chairman John McCain, R-Ariz., who has been arguing for years that U.S. airpower should be used to shelter Syrians from both the Islamic State and the Assad regime, was backed by several other members who said the time has come for such a move.
“I think we would have been wise to do it when Sen. McCain suggested it. I think we still would be wise to do it,” said Tim Kaine, D-Va.
But Gen. Lloyd Austin, head of U.S. Central Command, told McCain, “I would not recommend a buffer zone at this point, sir,” earning a sharp rebuke from the chairman.
“Gen. Austin, I respectfully disagree. I respectfully, fundamentally disagree,” McCain said. “This is an abject failure. The refugees are the result of that.”
The hearing was one of two hastily called Senate hearings Wednesday to assess the Obama administration’s strategy in Syria. Hundreds of thousands of refugees are fleeing Syria to escape the violence there, and Russia has begun building up military forces there to support President Bashar al-Assad.
Also at the hearing, Austin acknowledged that only “four or five” U.S.-trained Syrian rebels are still in the fight. The goal had been 5,400 fighters by year’s end, and the Pentagon acknowledged that only 54 had graduated.
