In May 2013, ISIS elements posted photos they took with neocon John McCain, during his Syria visit to meet with anti-government terrorists.

On return, he said,

“it was a very moving experience to meet these fighters who have been struggling now for over two years.”

He called cutthroat killers moderate rebels. “I know who they are. I was in Syria and I met with them,” he said – explaining nothing about America’s war of aggression against a sovereign independent country threatening no one, using imported terrorists as imperial foot soldiers.

Last weekend, McCain returned to Syria, showing support for US-backed death squads, committing gruesome atrocities, wanting regime change. A statement by his spokeswoman said:

He “traveled to northern Syria…to visit with US forces…and to discuss the (so-called) counter-ISIL campaign…(His) visit was a valuable opportunity to assess dynamic conditions on the ground in Syria and Iraq.” He “looks forward to working with the administration and military leaders to optimize our approach for accomplishing ISIL’s lasting defeat.”

He met with Saudi King Salman, UAE crown prince Al Nahyan, and Turkish President Erdogan on the same trip, saying discussions focused on Syria and defeating ISIS.

Obama earlier pledged to defeat ISIS without putting US boots on the ground. His actions were polar opposite – supporting ISIS, not combating it, sending 1000s of US troops to Iraq, at least hundreds of special forces to Syria. Their duties include engaging in combat, against whom is uncertain.

Trump promised to defeat international terrorism. He may deploy more US troops to Syria, Afghanistan and perhaps elsewhere.

So far, it’s unknown whether he’ll combat terrorist groups or support them like his predecessors.

Given how much he backtracked on promises so far, chances for cooperating with Russia in combating terrorism looks like another pledge to be broken.

All politicians lie. Believe nothing they say. Follow only what they do, the only way to judge them.