Sen. John McCain (R., Ariz.) said he was very skeptical of the deal struck between the U.S. and Russia on Syria’s chemical weapons Sunday on Meet The Press, calling it a “loser” because it depended too much on the Russians acting in good faith.
NBC reports the deal will allow Syria’s stockpile of chemical weapons to be removed or destroyed by next year. President Obama said in a statement from the White House that the international community expects Syrian president Bashar al-Assad to live up to his commitments.
Under the deal, Syria must provide a full catalog of its chemical arsenal within a week and allow United Nations inspectors to start working no later than November:
DAVID GREGORY: Before I move on, this deal, which the president supports, a winner or a loser in your mind?
MCCAIN: I think it’s a loser, because I think it gave Russia position in the Middle East which they haven’t had since 1970. We are now depending on the good will of the Russian people if Bashar al-Assad violates this agreement, and I am of the firm belief, given his record, that is a very, very big gamble.