Jackson Purchase News

U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell addressed the Senate floor, focusing on the recent developments in Syria following the fall of the Assad regime. He attributed this change to the weakened state of Assad's key supporters, Russia and Iran.

McConnell criticized the Biden Administration's foreign policy approach, stating that "on this Administration’s watch, and frequently at its tacit invitation, the gravest threats to America, our allies, and our global interests have grown and aligned more closely." He argued that despite claims from senior officials that they are leaving a safer world, he finds these assertions to be "profoundly untrue."

The fall of Bashar Assad marks the end of a lengthy period of authoritarian rule characterized by violence and repression. McConnell highlighted Assad's connections with Iran and Russia, labeling him as a "butcher whose hands are stained with so much innocent blood."

He noted that "the recent lightning success of Syrian rebel groups is due in part to the distraction of the Assad regime’s essential patrons," pointing out that Russian resources are engaged in Ukraine while Iran supports terrorist proxies.

Despite President Biden suggesting these outcomes were planned by his administration, McConnell countered that adversaries' weaknesses occurred "in spite of his chronic hesitation and half-measures in the conduct of American foreign policy."

McConnell emphasized Israel's efforts against Iranian proxies and criticized what he sees as insufficient support from the U.S. for both Israel and Ukraine. He stated that if Biden had taken a bipartisan approach towards Middle Eastern issues earlier, there would have been cooperation from Congress.

He concluded by acknowledging Israel's actions against Hizballah and suggested that the fall of Assad presents an opportunity for Middle Eastern partners to pursue new futures free from Iranian influence.