US News

McCain: Bomb Libya, enforce no-fly zone

WASHINGTON — Sen. John McCain called Moammar Khadafy “insane” today as he reaffirmed his call for a US-backed no-fly zone over Libya to prevent its embattled leader from using aircraft to slaughter its citizens.

During an interview on ABC News’ “This Week,” McCain told Christiane Amanpour that the US cannot “risk allowing Gadhafi to massacre people from the air, both by helicopter and fixed-wing [aircraft].”

McCain (R-Ariz.) furthered reiterated his support for imposing a no-fly zone, saying Ghadafi’s air assets were “not overwhelming.”

“Let’s just call a spade a spade. A no-fly zone begins with an attack on Libya to destroy the air defenses,” McCain continued. “That’s the way you do a no-fly zone.”

The ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, who recently wrapped up a week-long trip to the region, pushed for Ghadafi to relinquish power, despite acknowledging that the Libyan leader has not signaled any intent to step down.

“He’s insane,” McCain told Amanpour. “But perhaps the people around him would begin to depart the sinking ship.”

Last week, McCain said the US should send material and humanitarian support to the Libyan people and said that any mercenary acting against the Libyan people should know “they’re going to find themselves in front of a war crimes tribunal,” The Wall Street Journal reported.