https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZHXIUppbOQE
United States Republican Senator, Lindsey Graham, questioned the course of action to be taken in Syria by the US and attempted to make Secretary Carter clarify his position on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.
Carter reiterated that a goal of theirs was to “transition from Assad” diplomatically.
Senator Graham raised that Russia would fight ISIS and the US would stay out of the fight. The US is enabling anti-Assad forces to “take Assad down”, however, Russia, Iran, and Hezbollah are pro-Assad therefore the US would have to support rebel forces in destroying the current regime and ISIS. Graham claimed that Syrian civilians will fight ISIS and depose Assad.
Secretary Carter responded that the Syrian people intend on taking down ISIS.
Senator Graham asked the committee how the US is going to leverage Assad leaving when Russia, Hezbollah, and Iran are going to “fight for him”. Secretary of State John Kerry is “turning over Syria to the Russians and Iranians” in agreement with the entire US government and President Obama, said Senator Graham.
According to Senator Graham, the strategy is “half-assed” and has “completely fallen apart” as the US will not help “the people” fight to remove Assad with military assistance.
