Senior US senators John McCain and Joe Lieberman said Thursday it was time to arm Syria’s opposition as they expressed ‘disgust’ over Houla massacre last week
Senior US senators John McCain and Joe Lieberman said Thursday it was time to arm Syria's opposition as they expressed ‘disgust’ over Houla massacre last week.
"It's time to act. It's time to give the Syrian oppositio
n the weapons in order to defend themselves. It's not a fair fight," the Republican McCain told reporters in the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur.
McCain is in Malaysia along with Lieberman, for a brief visit that included a meeting with Prime Minister Najib Razak on Wednesday and other officials.
During their talks, the pair expressed their "repugnance and anger and disgust at the behavior of [Syrian President] Bashar al-Assad and the recent massacre of innocent women and children", McCain said.
McCain attacked Russia and China for opposing aggressive action on Syria, and the US administration of President Barack Obama - who defeated the Republican in the 2008 election - for not acting more forcefully on the issue.
"It is shameful that the United Nations Security Council should again be hindered by Russia and China by their vetoes for any significant action against Syria," he said.
"It is also embarrassing that the United States of America refuses to show leadership and come to the aid of the Syrian people."
Lieberman said: "In my opinion this will not get better until the rest of the world at least gives the arms to the Syrian freedom fighters with which they can defend themselves and their families."
