On Sunday’s broadcast of CBS’s “Face the Nation,” Missouri Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill told host Bob Schieffer that the United States should not “rule out” sending troops into Syria. The exchange follows reports that chemical weapons have been used against Syrian rebels by the Assad regime.
“I don’t think you want to ever rule it out because I think this is kind of— as [George Republican Sen.] Saxby [Chambliss] said, this thing has really deteriorated, and it’s not really at a tipping point,” McCaskill replied. “So I don’t think you ever want to say absolutely not. Obviously, we don’t want to do that unless it’s absolutely necessary.”
Chambliss, Schieffer’s other guest, did rule out troops on the ground and said the United States could flex its muscle instead through missiles and air power. He referred to discussing those options with Jordan’s King Abdullah during his trip to Capitol Hill last week.
“I would go even beyond that,” Chambliss said. “I would say no. I think we can take affirmative action. [Sen.] Lindsey [Graham] referred to cruise missiles. We have got F-22s and B-2s that’s can take out the anti-aircraft missiles that they have, and they are very sophisticated. If we did that, then it’s still not up to the United States to engage in this from a military conflict standpoint.”
“We don’t need to put boots on the ground, but we need to enable their neighbors, the neighbors of Syria, to bring some sort of peaceful resolution to this. We can do it through a no-fly zone. I had a good conversation with King Abdullah this week about that. I don’t think we’re at that point right now, but we’re close. But the fact is, for America to sit on the sidelines and do nothing is a huge mistake because the world is watching.”
McCaskill said that even if the United States were to engage in the use of air power against Syria, it still could be necessary to have “boots on the ground.”
“And of course, if we do, if we take the bomber action, then that may lead to something else, and that’s really what I’m referring to in terms of, you don’t ever want to say ‘absolutely never any boots on the ground’ because Iran is busy here,” McCaskill added. “Iran is very busy here. And so is Hezbollah. It’s just one of those things that we do need to be very cautious.”