Free Syrian Army fighter prepares to shot RPG at the Syrian Army in Homs, Syria. Photo: wiki commons.

National Journal – Senators hurled a flood of insults at senior State Department officials on Wednesday, insisting that the international push to remove chemical weapons from Syria has benefited, not punished, strongman Bashar al-Assad at the expense of tens of thousands of Syrians who have died since the deal was negotiated last year.

The combative hearing, which saw lawmakers dismiss answers to questions about U.S. strategy in Syria as “baloney” and “delusional,” was explosive from start to finish. The theatrics began after the Obama administration dodged the first question from Sen. Robert Menendez, who chairs the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. The New Jersey Democrat wanted to know whether the U.S. is considering any military actions to help ensure that Assad’s government does not quash the opposition.

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