Taunting Obama administration's failed approach towards Syria, Republican John McCain called for a new realistic strategy, which would undoubtedly involve greater costs, according to The Wall Street Journal.
The city of Aleppo is likely to fall to Syrian government forces after facing its most lethal bombardment in nearly six years of war.
Before Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and his ally Russian President Vladimir Putin start calling for peace after committing so much bloodshed, Republican John McCain believes the administration must stop Assad, and stop him right now.
"At this moment, Syrian and Russian forces, together with Iranian and Hezbollah militia fighters, are preparing to finish their siege of Aleppo. The 275,000 people who reportedly remain in the city are being told to flee. The poor souls who remain in Aleppo will suffer a surge in relentless, indiscriminate bombing. And when Mr. Assad, Mr. Putin and their allies have slaughtered all that stand in their way, they will proclaim peace in the bloody sands of the Syrian desert," McCain wrote in an op-ed in the Journal.
McCain said America's stand to suspend talks with Russia over Syrian attacks, which is meaningless, only encourages Assad and Putin "to create military facts on the ground in Syria that will enable them to dictate the terms of a peace secured by carnage."
"They have decimated coalition-backed Syrian groups, slaughtered countless civilians, consolidated the Syrian regime's hold on power, and even struck a United Nations humanitarian-aid convoy. And they have done all of this with no consequences. Thus the war grinds on," the Republican said.
Fearing a threat to U.S. national security, McCain said, "While the U.S.-led coalition is making progress in the fight against Islamic State, we cannot forget this terrorist organization is a symptom of the Syrian civil war. The future of that conflict will have significant strategic impact on U.S. national security."
While the conflict in Syria is reaching its peak, the chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee pointed out that there was no alternate plan.
"This is where the conflict in Syria is headed, and the administration still has no strategy to do anything about it. Its diplomacy is toothless. And there appears to be no Plan B," he wrote.
McCain elaborated that the U.S. must come up with a broad strategy and not just blame Congress for not being prepared to support it.
"Any alternative approach must begin with grounding Mr. Assad's air power. It is a strategic advantage that enables the Assad regime to perpetuate the conflict through the wanton slaughter of innocent Syrians. The U.S. and its coalition partners must issue an ultimatum to Mr. Assad — stop flying or lose your aircraft — and be prepared to follow through," he said.
He also said that the U.S must send out a strong message to Russia if it continues its indiscriminate bombing.
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