McCain: Russian Proposal Needs Time To ‘Play Out’

Sen. John McCain says the United States has no choice but to allow time for a new diplomatic offensive on Syria to "play out," even though he's skeptical that the plan is genuine.

McCain was asked in a nationally broadcast CBS This Morning interview to comment on a proposal by Russia, embraced by Syria, for President Bashar Assad to relinquish his chemical weapons stockpile.

Assad has not publicly acknowledged having such weapons, and President Barack Obama is seeking congressional authorization to attack Syria in reprisal for Assad's alleged chemical weapons attack in a Damascus suburb on Aug. 21.

McCain, an Arizona Republican and harsh Obama critic, said Tuesday there is "incoherence" in the administration's statements. But he also said that "not to pursue" the diplomatic option "would be a mistake."

[Associated Press]