McCain: Trump, Clinton Can't Handle Middle East Crises
KABUL, Afghanistan (CBSNewYork/CBS News/AP)-- Republican Sens. John McCain and Lindsey Graham, best known for their conservative politics and support for the military, are knocking their presumptive presidential nominee's handle on foreign affairs. And Graham is endorsing Democrat Hillary Clinton's plan for no-fly zones in Syria.
In a televised interview from the U.S. embassy in Kabul, Afghanistan, McCain says he didn't think either candidate had the "necessary strategy and outlook'' to succeed as commander in chief.
"I hope that whichever one is president that they would call in the David Petraeuses and the Robert Fords and the Ryan Crockers and those individuals, both military and State Department diplomats who succeeded in Iraq before the president gave it all away who know what we need to do to defeat this threat," he said.
Graham says Donald Trump's comments on accepting the Syrian regime "tells me he has no idea what that means for the region.'' Graham says Clinton's no-fly zone in Syria is a "great step in the right direction.''
The senators spoke on CBS' "Face the Nation.'' McCain has said he will support the GOP nominee, but Graham has said he won't vote for either.
McCain also slammed President Barack Obama on his strategy.
"The U.S. response should have been a long time ago not to withdraw everybody from Iraq, and now the president is on the verge of doing the same thing here in Afghanistan where things are not going well and he's insisting on cutting the numbers in half while the situation deteriorates," McCain said. "But what he should have done was to remain in Iraq while al Qaeda went to Syria, became ISIS, and now we see what we're seeing."
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