Sen. John McCain on Sunday criticized President Donald Trump\u2019s ban on immigrants from seven Muslim-majority countries, saying it has been a \u201cconfused process\u201d that will only give the terror group ISIS \u201cmore propaganda.\u201d
\u201cThe good news is that it\u2019s only got to do with a pause,\u201d he told CBS\u2019 \u201cFace the Nation. \u201cThe bad news is that obviously this process and these conclusions were not vetted.\u201d
McCain said that it\u2019s important to understand the \u201cramifications of this kind of action,\u201d which has been roundly criticized by foreign leaders .
\u201cThe effect will probably in some areas give ISIS some more propaganda,\u201d he said, adding that he is particularly concerned about the effect the ban will have on Iraqis — whose troops are fighting side-by-side with American forces in the battle to retake Mosul.
He also blasted Mr. Trump for failing to consult with federal agencies or any foreign leaders before announcing such a sweeping action. As a result, he said, there\u2019s a great deal of \u201cconfusion\u201d over the ban itself — whether it applies to green-card holders, what happens to Iraqis who have been actively aiding the U. S. military, and other issues.
\u201cThere\u2019s so much confusion out there,\u201d he said. \u201cAnd published reports are that neither the Department of Homeland Security or the Justice Department or others were consulted about this before this decision was made.\u201d
McCain said he is \u201cworried\u201d about Mr. Trump\u2019s changes this weekend to the National Security Council, which involved adding his senior adviser Steve Bannon to the group going forward.
\u201cThe appointment of Mr. Bannon is something which is a radical departure from any National Security Council in history,\u201d he said. \u201c… And the role of the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff has been diminished, I understand, with this reorganization. The one person which is indispensible would be the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, in my view.\u201d
He said he has no problem with Mr. Trump\u2019s hour-long phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Saturday, but noted that U. S. leaders should never forget what Putin\u2019s real aims are.
\u201cI think phone calls are fine — I think that we have to understand Vladimir Putin for what he is,\u201d McCain said, citing Putin\u2019s annexation of Crimea, his bombing of hospitals in Aleppo and his attempts to \u201cdestabilize\u201d other countries, including the U. S.
McCain, who was captured and tortured during the Vietnam War, said he hopes that Mr. Trump\u2019s selection of people like Defense Secretary James Mattis means the discussion about bringing back waterboarding and other enhanced interrogation techniques is over.
\u201cI hope, I pray that it\u2019s done,\u201d he said. \u201cI appreciate Gen. Mattis\u2019s comment, and especially Gen. Mattis\u2019s comment about what it does to the people who commit the torture — that\u2019s an aspect of this that we probably haven\u2019t examined as much as we should.\u201d<\/p>\n

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