John McCain

The Middle East is not a part of the world that plays by Las Vegas rules: What happens in the Middle East is not going to stay in the Middle East.

If barrel bombs against Syrian civilians stop, would you expect the flow of refugees to increase or decrease?

What specific measures are you using to gauge your success against your objective to degrade and destroy ISIL?

Our military efforts are directed at degrading and defeating ISIL but seem to ignore Russia, Assad, Iran and Al Qaeda.

I'm proud of the reforms, frankly, that, in a bipartisan basis, this committee enacted.

What you're saying is the strongest nation in the world with the most capable military can't even establish a no-fly zone to protect people from being barrel-bombed by Bashar Assad. That's--it's an embarrassing moment.

Do you consider the indiscriminate use of barrel bombs by Assad against civilians an outrageous atrocity and morally repugnant?

Even with ISIL defeated, the Department of Defense recognizes that the situation on the ground in Syria would remain extremely complicated.

I've always favored closing Guantanamo, for a whole variety of reasons.

I promise you they have. We will... you will have to correct the record.

We'll be supporting groups who have already demonstrated the will to fight ISIL.

Harry Truman must be spinning in his grave. If there is an opposite for Commander in Chief, this is it.

I don't think--I think it's a degree of immorality.

Isn't it true that the major political influence is Iranian in Baghdad?

I think we need to see the whole region.

The situation confronting the United States in the Middle East today is very hard.

I support the refined approach.

We're not satisfied or complacent about where we are, and we won't be satisfied until ISIL is defeated.

Assad cannot be part of the solution in Syria.

Russia's actions to bolster Assad increase the imperative of support for the moderate opposition and Syrian civilians.

Inaction can also carry profound risks and costs for our national security.

The key now is for the United States to help strengthen those in Baghdad who are prepared to pursue inclusive politics and better governance.

An integrated civil-military campaign plan that defeated al-Qaeda in Iraq brought security to the Iraqi people and created the possibility for meaningful political reconciliation.

The only way we can ask the taxpayer to give us more money for defense, which we need, is if we can also show that we use every dollar well.

This Committee has also long played a critical oversight role, posing tough questions about U.S. policy and strategy.