SyriaMcCain will put a hold on Dempsey’s nomination for second term over Syria policy

General Martin Dempsey, Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff // Source: defense.gov

Senator John McCain said yesterday (Thursday) that he will place a hold on the renomination of the nation’s top soldier, Army Gen. Martin Dempsey, for a second term as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, after he and Dempsey engaged in rather heated exchange over the administration’s policies toward the Syrian civil war. McCain bluntly said that the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff was at least partly responsible for the administration’s “lackluster response” to the Assad regime’s aggression.

Fox News reports that the Senate Armed Services Committee is considering Dempsey’s nomination for a second term as chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. He told committee members that he has provided President Obama with options for the use of American force in Syria.

Dempsey told the committee that the issue is “under deliberation inside our agencies of government,” but did not provide additional details. He used the term “kinetic strikes,” but said the decision is ultimately one for elected officials to make.

McCain, addressing Dempsey and Navy Adm. James Winnefeld, did not conceal his irritation. “I must tell both the witnesses at the onset I’m very concerned about the role you’ve played over the last two years.”

He added: “General Dempsey and Admiral Winnefeld, do you believe the continued cost and risk of our inaction in Syria are now worse for our national security interest than the cost and risk associated with limited military action?”

“Senator, as we’ve discussed …” Dempsey replied.

“I’d like to know an answer rather than a filibuster,” McCain shot back. “I have six minutes and 10 seconds.”

Dempsey then said the United States is at “greater risk” due to the emergence of violent extremist organizations in Syria, as is Iraq.

“You’re not answering the question, General,” McCain said, his voice rising, before asking his original question again.

“With all due respect, Senator, you’re asking me to agree that we’ve been inactive, and we have not been inactive,” Dempsey replied.

“We have not been inactive,” McCain said, to which Dempsey affirmed.

“This again gives validity to my concern,” McCain said. “Because, obviously, we may have — not been — inactive, but any observer knows that Bashar Assad is prevailing on the battlefield. One hundred thousand people have been killed. Hezbollah is there … And the situation is — much more dire than it was two years ago when you and Admiral Winnefeld came to office. And so, your answer is that we haven’t been inactive.”

McCain then asked the question a third time, leading Dempsey to testify he is in favor of building a “moderate opposition” and then supporting it. The question to support that with “kinetic strike” is ultimately up for elected officials to make and not for the senior military leader of the nation, Dempsey said.

“This goes back to my concern about your role as chairman of the Joint Chiefs,” McCain replied. “The chairman of the Joint Chiefs is supposed to provide the best advice he can as far as our national security is concerned. That’s why you are the sole military adviser.”

McCain then noted that Dempsey testified in February that he advised Obama to arm vetted units of the Syrian opposition. Then, in April, Dempsey no longer supported the opposition, McCain said.

“Now we read in published reports that the administration has decided to arm the Syrian opposition units,” McCain said. “How do we account for those pirouettes?”

Dempsey said he would not accept the term “pirouette.”

“I would accept the term that we have adopted our approach based on what we know of the opposition,” he testified. “And if you recall, in the beginning of the year, there was a period where it was pretty evident that the extremist groups were prevailing inside the opposition.  So I have not been wavering.”

After the hearing, McCain told reporters he would place a hold on Dempsey’s nomination for a second term. Fox News notes that a “hold” refers to the Senate practice in which a lawmaker can stall a nomination in order to extract information or assurances out of a nominee.

In response to McCain’s warning about putting the nomination on hold, Dempsey spokesman Col. Ed Thomas later issued this statement: “The Chairman respects the confirmation process and, if confirmed for another two-year term, will be honored to serve at the pleasure of the President and with the consent of Congress.”