McCain: U.S. needs to step up Syria policy

WASHINGTON, July 8 (UPI) -- Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., said he didn't take much comfort in U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's prediction that Syria's regime was about to collapse.

McCain, a leading proponent of U.S. aid to the Syrian rebels, said on CBS' "Face the Nation" Sunday that previous predictions of President Bashar Assad's departure from power had proven to be premature at best.

"I say with great respect, how many times has Secretary Clinton said that in the last 14 months?" said McCain. "Right now, Bashar al-Assad is able to massacre and slaughter people and stay in power thanks to the supply of Russian arms and thanks to Iranians that are on the ground."

McCain said he had little doubt Assad would someday be deposed; however, that day would come sooner if the United States stepped up its support for the outgunned rebels.

McCain also warned that it would be better for the United States and entire region if regime change came sooner rather than later because of the possibility the situation could deteriorate to the point that Islamic extremists would gain a foothold in Syria.

"These people have not been taken over by extremists or al-Qaida, but they could be if this conflict drags on for months and even years," McCain said. "The fact is that we know who to get arms to. We know that if they [the rebels] had a sanctuary or a safe zone that they could organize better."