Who is the Real John McCain?
“In circumstances dark as these, it becomes us, as Men and Christians, to reflect that, whilst every prudent Measure should be taken to ward off the impending Judgments….All confidence must be withheld from the Means we use; and reposed only on that GOD who rules in the Armies of Heaven, and without whose Blessing the best human Counsels are but Foolishness–and all created Power Vanity.” John Hancock
It’s one thing to reach across the political aisle for something such as trying to getting a budget worked out, but to compromise and capitulate on agendas, nominations and ideas which threaten the security of our nation is downright foolish and dangerous. John McCain and a few others are notorious when it comes to reaching out and compromising. Whatever McCain sees himself as, I don’t believe he even knows anymore which political party he aligns most with. His actions and rhetoric have been moving far more to the left side of the aisle than ever.
In February 2011, Der Spiegel interviewed McCain on his thoughts about the Muslim Brotherhood and Egypt. When asked if Obama acted quickly enough to find a clear path in Egypt, McCain responded positively towards Obama replying, “All I can say is that I think the president has handled the issue well so far.” Later when asked if he was concerned about the a roll for the Muslim brotherhood being favorably looked at by the Obama administration, McCain then said, “It concerns me so much that I am unalterably opposed to it. I think it would be a mistake of historic proportions.” McCain had clear opposition to the brotherhood, and admittedly said that the Brotherhood is a radical group that wholly supports sharia and has ties with other terrorist organizations.
So, what changed then a year later when last June, Michele Bachmann and a handful of Republicans requested in a letter, a “formal investigation or evaluation of the extent to which Muslim Brotherhood tied individuals and entities were involved in” activities, policies and initiatives, “or are otherwise involved in the execution of these policies and initiatives.”? The letter brought condemnation from many democrats including Keith Ellison (D. Minn.) who is Muslim, but it also brought strong criticism from a few republicans, namely John McCain, Lindsey Graham and Marco Rubio.
McCain came out with a scathing statement calling the letter “sinister” and saying they “need to stop.” After the five Republicans also questioned Huma Abedin’s family ties to the Brotherhood, McCain said on the floor of the Senate, “These attacks have no logic, no basis and no merit, and they need to stop….”
Bachmann would not back down on her concerns, saying she would “not be silent as this administration appeases our enemies” and saying she wants a full investigation into the Muslim Brotherhood. Other notables backed her up on her concerns, including Mark Levin, Allen West, and Newt Gingrich. What is interesting is that while McCain and others were trashing Bachmann about this, a report out by NPR on July 25, 2012 said the FBI was investigating over 100 cases of suspected Muslim extremists in our military, whether it be the Department of Defense or active military, with over 12 of them considered to be serious cases.
Last year, in February, McCain and Lindsey Graham supported arming Syrian rebels who are fighting against President Assad’s army. Both senators, whom are on the Senate Armed Services Committee, said that rebel fighters deserved to be armed and that helping them take on the Syrian government would aid Washington’s effort to weaken Iran. “So I am not only not opposed,” McCain said, “but I am in favor of weapons being obtained by the opposition.” when asked about weapons being supplied to Assad’s forces by Iran and Russia.
Mr. McCain said the United States would not have to send weapons directly to the opposition but could work through “third-world countries” and the Arab League. Please forgive me for being someone who doesn’t sit on the Armed Services Committee, I’m only a stay at home mom, but are you crazy? Which third world countries would you like to ship guns through Mr. McCain? Perhaps Croatia, Turkey, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and Jordan aren’t exactly third world, but they have been aiding the airlift of weapons going to rebels since at least last fall. How would sending arms through “third world countries” get them into the proper hands? Especially since none of you seem to know who is fighting for whom?
Last month it was reported that Abu Mohammad al-Golani, head of the Al Nusra Front, confirmed his rebel group was tied to al-Qaida in Iraq in an audio message posted on militant websites. Al Qaida in Iraq also claimed it had joined forces with the Nusra Front, one of many rebel groups fighting to over throw Syrian President Bashar Assad.
Nearly two weeks ago, on May 16th I wrote an article describing the worsening crisis in Syria. I described how the world leaders have picked their sides in this bloody war, and how evidence has been strong that the US has been arming Syrian rebels since Benghazi, and also that as far back as August of 2012, it was reported that Obama signed a secret order authorizing U.S. support for rebels seeking to over throw Assad’s regime, which allowed the CIA and other U.S. agencies to provide support that could help the rebels get rid of Assad. I wondered then as I have all along if this was the reason US Ambassador to Libya, Chris Stevens was sent there in the first place.
McCain and others know that the Syrian rebels are comprised of everyone from Al Qaida to Al Nusra Front and Muslim Brotherhood backed jihadist groups. These are the very same whom we’ve been arming, the same whom McCain and others call “freedom fighters“. Evidence strongly suggests that chemicals have been used in Syria, and everyone’s attention is on Assad. However some are genuinely concerned that if Assad’s regime falls, the rebels will use chemical weapons on those who showed support to Assad. It’s already been reported that the rebels, or McCain’s freedom fighters have in recent months, been committing murderous crimes against civilians in Syria. Videos which I will not link to here because of extreme graphic nature, have appeared and can be found on the search sites which show people being shot and beheaded by rebels. And news finally started coming out about the atrocities committed by the rebels.
Obama finally admitted the use of chemicals. He had previously called the use of such weapons a “red line” that would prompt a response from the United States yet true to his character, he has done nothing but move the red line yet again. McCain, who says he doesn’t want US boots on the ground in Syria, advised the Obama administration on Meet the Press in April after news of chemical use, “Be prepared with an international force to go in and secure these stocks of chemical, and perhaps biological, weapons.” He doesn’t want US boots on the ground, yet expecting to send an international force, means US boots on the ground.
On the same Meet the Press show, Rep. Peter King, (R-N.Y.) said, “My concern is that al Qaeda has more influence among the rebels than it should.” He seems to be the only one to have gotten it or at least to admit it.
Now McCain and others have gone to Syria, sneaking as it seems, and have met with rebel leaders, who called on the U.S. to increase its support of the Syrian opposition by providing weapons, a no-fly zone and air strikes on forces loyal to Assad. Russia has already threatened Syrian retaliation if air strikes are used in the same way as the US led NATO air strikes were used in Libya.
Obama said May 24 during a meeting with King Abdullah II of Jordan “To use potential weapons of mass destruction on civilian populations’ crosses another line with respect to international norms and international law. And that is going to be a game changer… We have to act prudently. We have to make these assessments deliberately.”
As Obama publically stalls, and McCain and others go talk to potential enemies of the United States, the war is threatening again to spill over the borders and other nations are ramping up support for either side. Meanwhile, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah promised, May 25, to expand his military into the Syrian civil war. “With just two words, I can muster tens of thousands of volunteers to fight for Bashar Assad.” He boasted. While all eyes are watching, Michael Oren, Israel’s ambassador to the United States wrote an op ed in the Washington Post the day before detailing how “the Iranians have amassed some 182 kilograms of uranium enriched to a level easily enhanced to weapons grade. This stockpile stops short of the red line drawn by Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, but the Iranians are quietly preparing to cross it.” Today, May 28, it was reported that former Lebanese Prime Minister Fouad Siniora lashed out against Hezbollah for trying to bring war to Lebanon with Israel. He critized Hezbollah for dispatching a drone to fly into Israeli airspace “at an Iranian behest.” This act carried out by those who have full support of Iran and Syria could be a repeat of another Lebanon war with Israel such as the last one when Hezbollah provoked war with a raid across the Israeli border in 2006.
Israel’s defense minister said that its military is prepared to strike shipments of advanced Russian weapons to Syria, namely the Russian S-300s which Israel, Britain and the US failed to convince Putin not to send. Russia’s sale of the weapons is said to deter the US from intervening even more.
So much is going on right now; there could be days’ worth of articles just on Syria alone. A few questions we need to ask however–not just on Syria–are valid concerns about Islamic ties and influences within the Obama administration, including why John McCain is so quick to often side with democrats. It’s been the same with the recent tries to pass Gun Control and Amnesty. While McCain has shown his willingness to join those who would take our 2nd Amendment rights away, he’s had no problems sending weapons to known sworn enemies of the United States, during a time of war. While he is working tirelessly with the “Gang of 8” to give millions who have broken the laws a free path to citizenship, they are putting the border issue on the back burner and who knows how many terrorists have been coming in from the south.
Is John McCain a republican or democrat? Is he still a Maverick or is he a blind old fool comparable to Jimmy Carter, supporting those who would prefer to see Israel wiped off the map and an open society for the rest of us? Whatever he may be, his decisions have not been for the good of America, and perhaps it’s long past time to find out why.
