McCain & other top officials accused of illegally visiting Syria
Published time: January 06, 2015 05:47
The list of officials also included former French Foreign Minister Bernard Kouchner and former US diplomat Peter Galbraith, according to a letter dated December 30 cited by Reuters and AFP.
Important visit with brave fighters in #Syria who are
risking their lives for freedom and need our help pic.twitter.com/tx4uX572ZP
— John McCain (@SenJohnMcCain) May
28, 2013
In the letter, Syria’s UN ambassador Bashar Ja’afari urged UN
Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon and the Security Council to put
additional pressure on governments to implement “the
necessary measures against their nationals who enter Syrian
territory illegally.”“Such actions are a blatant violation of Syria’s sovereignty and of the resolutions of the Security Council concerning Syria,” Ja’afari said.
John McCain meeting with #Syrian
"rebels" #Libya#Syria#Ukraine -
#USA#America#TCOT#CCOT#Daesh#ISIS#ISILpic.twitter.com/tH1KumyGUl
— Qaraqoshi ن (@IraqiSuryani) December
16, 2014
The letter included complaints from “certain journalists and
prominent figures” entering Syria illegally, pointing out
McCain’s visit to the country in June 2013, as well as Kouchner’s
visit in November 2014 and Galbraith’s in December 2014, along
with other US political and military leaders.Former Kuwaiti politician Walid Tabtabai is also mentioned as making an illegal visit in September 2013.
At the time, McCain’s spokesperson only confirmed that the former Republican presidential candidate visited Syria in May 2013 to meet with Syrian rebels.
A Closer Look at Sen. McCain’s Meeting with Syrian ‘Rebels’
Last Year: http://t.co/8v8Eg1nT3W #ISIS #strategypic.twitter.com/Ik0LC2wkSK
— TheRightPlanet.com (@therightplanet1)
September 20, 2014
McCain responded to the complaint by downplaying the accusations,
and in turn accusing Syrian President Bashar Assad of the
“massacre” of his own people.
“It is a sad but unsurprising truth that the Assad regime is less concerned with its massacre of more than 200,000 men, women and children than it is my visit with those brave Syrians fighting for their freedom and dignity,” McCain’s statement said. “The fact that the international community has done virtually nothing to bring down this terrible regime despite its atrocities is a stain on our collective moral conscience.”
READ MORE: McCain sneaks into Syria, meets rebels
According to earlier media reports, McCain crossed into Syria in May 2013 from Turkey with General Salem Idris, who was in charge of the Supreme Military Council of the Free Syrian Army, and stayed there for several hours before returning.
During the visit, the senator met with leaders of Free Syrian Army units in Turkey and Syria.
McCain’s visit created a media storm, especially after a picture surfaced of him posing with allegedly IslamicState-linked jihadists (formerly ISIS/ISIL).
The original claim came from Kentucky Republican Senator Rand Paul, who accused McCain of unknowingly meeting with Islamic State fighters.
Also, back in 2011, McCain visited Benghazi to meet the Libyan rebels, calling them “my heroes.” McCain boldly stated that the fall of the ousted Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi would inspire people all over world – including in Russia – which raised eyebrows globally.
READ MORE: McCain’s Moscow broadside earns Russian riposte
“We believe very strongly that the people of Libya today are inspiring the people in Tehran, in Damascus, and even in Beijing and Moscow," said McCain.
http://rt.com/news/220079-mccain-syria-visit-illegal/
