Lindsey Graham "unnerved" after Syria briefing: "Everything in that briefing made me more worried"

[groundloop]

Source: CBS News

Sen. Lindsey Graham slammed the Trump administration's response in Syria, after a briefing with top military officials that he said "unnerved" him, CBS News' Alan He reports.

"Everything in that briefing made me more worried, not less," the South Carolina Republican said after a briefing lawmakers had with Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Joseph Dunford on Tuesday. "This makes no sense to me."

Graham went on to say he doesn't know "how in the world we can destroy ISIL relying on local police in a country dominated" by Syrian President Bashar Assad, who the U.S. believes is responsible for the recent suspected chemical attack that left dozens dead. Graham feared that if the U.S. stays on its current course, Syria will fall into the hands of the Russians and Iranians, which would be a nightmare scenario for Israel. Graham said there is no military strategy currently on the table to deal with the influence of Iran and Russia.

"It seems to me we are willing to give Syria to Assad, Russia, and Iran, and we're trying to find some way to leave Syria to keep ISIL destroyed, and I don't see how that works. I hope I am wrong."

Read more: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/graham-unnerved-after-syria-briefing-everything-in-that-briefing-made-me-more-worried/

[Tiggeroshii]

1. Post removed

Just realized his being worried actually shouldnt make us worried. Looks like he wants to break more things and is mad that he cant.

[madashelltoo]

2. Oh, Lindsey! Did you just notice

That your president is handing Syria to Putin? How much longer before you notice he’s doing the same damned thing with America? No orders to any security heads to protect or defend against any moves Putin makes. Thwarting any sanctions made against him. If you think Israel is a priority, you are truly slow. Is any of this sinking in? Is power blinding you?

[keithbvadu2]

16. "before you notice hes doing the same damned thing with America?"

[G_j]

3. worries of a warmonger

no thank you

[More_Cowbell]

4. We're all unnerved, Lindsey

Join the club you and your fellow Republicans signed us all up for.

[Solly Mack]

5. If the mere thought of Trump as a president doesn't unnerve you, nothing will.

All the rest followed from that.

[SergeStorms]

6. "This makes no sense to me."

It's not supposed to make sense to you, me, or anyone else with more than two brain synapses firing. It's carefully choreographed Kabuki heater for the benefit of the Trump base (he is a "wartime" president now), and gives him a solid boost in the polls. Trump has also sent a message to the rest of the world - those countries we used to call "allies" - that he's not brain-dead and is at least paying a scintilla of attention to world affairs. He sent a message - several messages - to Assad and Putin to get everything of value out of the way before the 'rockets red glare' came falling from the sky. Our finest hour!

MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!

Graham is correct in opining that this makes absolutely no sense as either a short, or long term strategy in Syria. Trump has more or less let Assad and Putin know that we will not do anything more punitive than we've already done. He's ceding Syria to Russia and Iran because that's what Putin wants.

Don't worry Lindsey, everything is completely out of control and there is every reason to worry. So relax, Trump is on top of this.

[blue-wave]

7. Then do something about it already Lindsey!!!

I'm tired of his bloviating, it's time for him to show some patriotism.

Trump might very well turn Syria over to Putin. Outrageous yes, and very dangerous for America and our allies. Putin wants Syria in his pocket. Here's some of the reasoning why....

https://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/russian-resolve-why-syria-matters-to-putin/article34643406/

[KPN]

9. +1

[dalton99a]

19. Lindsey Graham worries a lot on television.

[Hortensis]

8. Graham was glad of "war horny" Bolton's appointment,

looking forward to preemptive wars, Bolton's calling for war in every situation greatly reassuring a senator who's always sure we need to kill "them" quick, before they kill us. Apparently the longed-for Bolton-ish military aggression wasn't represented in this meeting, though.

Instead, Bolton's currently trying to put together a mideast coaliton of nations that'd take over opposing ISIS in Syria, Saudi Arabia among them. SA's deadly enemy Iran (and Russia), which is allied with and already in Syria, seemingly is not invited to join. What on earth could go wrong with that? Or, in Bolton's mind, right?

[Renew Deal]

10. There is nothing practical that can be done to keep Syria from Russia and Iran

I don’t think Americans want to go all out to get rid of Assad.

[Cosmocat]

11. This

It truly is an all or nothing prospect AND if we choose "all" and go in full on like Iraq there is a 99% chance it turns out like shit like Iraq did.

[KG]

12. word.

this not our fight.

also what is deliberately not said is that russia has no love for radical islam either (see chechyn wars). the defeat of the rebels would also mean a defeat of isis.

[Achilleaze]

13. repubes put a freaking Five-Time Draft Dodger in charge of our military

and then are "surprised" that he's a total f*ck up? Please.

[Honeycombe8]

14. Well, of course. The Prez is an American isolationist. He is against going to other counties....

for anything, unless it's good politically for him, like to give a show of strikes in retaliation for something.

Trump wants to pull out of Syria totally, as he said. He has a wall to build on the Mexican border! Let's get our priorities straight! (sarcasm)

[Javaman]

15. if the U.S. stays on its current course, Syria will fall into the hands of the Russians and Iranians

is that not the deal the orange asshole accepted from his lord and savior putin?

[keithbvadu2]

17. ISIS, ISIL various names for the same groups confuse the issue.

Who's on first?

[DBoon]

18. No military strategy to deal with Russia *IS* the plan

That's why Trump was elected.

This was known before the election, yet Republicans continued to support him and still refuse to hold Trump accountable.

Handing over Syria to Russia is part of the deal that kept the Republicans in power

[Paladin]

20. Awwww...Lindsey has another onset of the vapors.

It's his repeated means of avoiding any effort to make things better.

[Toorich]

21. After action photos (if not faked)

show a house, suspected of being the chemical weapons lab, destroyed.
The rest of the neighborhood looks undamaged.
Were the citizens exposed to chemicals as a result of our missile strike?
Is that the only damage that dozens of our million dollar missiles can cause?
Don't we usually have some active duty Admirals or Generals on the TV telling us all about our strength and precision?
"Wag the dog" much?

[LeftInTX]

22. I found a pro-Assad group on Facebook

Supposedly it is run by Assyrian Christians.

I'm not Assyrian, but I'm Armenian and the communities are related. The pro-Assad stuff is popping up in the Armenian FB communities.

[apnu]

23. TLDR version: Lindsey Graham says Trump is rolling over to Russia, again (nt)

[LiberalLovinLug]

24. Is there a more useless Senator in Washington?

In fact he is worse than useless. Because when he comes out and makes these faux concern statements, he gives comfort to many moderates that Republicans have a concern once in the odd while at least. Not just this issue, every one involving Trump. And other Republican reps feel they don't have to say anything because one of their leaders has already spoken.