The United States should be running military operations in Libya, not leaving it to NATO, Arizona Sen. John McCain said Sunday, arguing that U.S. forces would have been much more expedient about getting rid of Libyan despot Muammar al-Qaddafi.
McCain said President Obama this week did expand the purpose of the NATO mission — saying that civilian protection cannot be accomplished with Qaddafi in power — but his position is too slowly evolving.
“As he is gradually changing, people are dying on the ground in Libya and they wouldn’t have to if we were using all of U.S. airpower and the abilities and the unique capabilities that the United States military has. And, unfortunately, we are not,” McCain told “Fox News Sunday.”
“Qaddafi may crack. He may crack. But this could have been over a long time ago if we had brought the full weight of the American airpower to bear on him,” McCain added.
McCain said he’s also in disagreement with Defense Secretary Robert Gates, who says it’s premature to entirely trust Libya’s Transitional National Council since the group does contain extremist elements. McCain said it makes more sense to help the council because by giving it strong backing, extremists won’t have the room to win over moderates
Hey, asshat, you shoulda being talking tough 2 years ago. Now STFU