John McCain

We must find ways to unilaterally and through our international partners expand significantly the assistance that is going to the Syrian people.

Negotiated settlements come about when people believe they cannot win.

Should we not do something that would prevent this massive slaughter that is going on?

They are angry and bitter at the United States of America for not helping them.

If you want diplomacy to succeed, they actually have to believe we are going to use force.

I believe we should declare that any Syrian military aircraft flying within 50 miles of the border will be deemed to have hostile intent, and will be shot down.

The only way that there would be a negotiated settlement is if Bashar al-Assad thinks that he is going to lose.

I can understand why a fighter in Syria is not comforted by the fact that he might get a flak jacket...

I appreciate, ahead of time, him forgiving me for any aggravation I may cause.

The breeding of Palestinian type refugee camps in these countries of Lebanon and Jordan...

I have met with the leadership. I met with military and civilian leadership, the Syrian opposition.

We view that Bashar al-Assad must step aside as part of that political transition.

I have to say personally speaking, I am sympathetic to that.

Would you support such an action to establish a no-fly zone...

There must be some character flaw that she wants the job, but other than that, I think that she is very well qualified.

This is an incredibly well-qualified nominee who is well known to many of us in her previous incarnations.

This is an excellent choice, and I wish her well.

John McCain and others in Congress have said he has to do more in Syria.

It's been disastrous.

In 60 days I find it hard to envision that we would train pilots and provide them with helicopters and C-130s and the equipment, not to mention the ground equipment that's necessary for them to be a viable force.

That's patently false. That is a false statement.

The question I asked was: Is al Qaeda gaining more and more influence and control in Syria?

I guess my first question for the three witnesses: Is the tide of war receding?

The situation continues to become more radicalized in Syria as 80,000 or more people have been massacred while we sit by and watch and figure out reasons why we can't intervene.

The American people should not know how officials of our DOD feel about an issue of slaughter of 70,000 or more people and millions of refugees.