Reports from NBC News and CBS News that Syria is preparing to use chemical weapons against the rebellion in the civil war that has torn that country apart is being followed by the usual response from Senator John McCain (R: Arizona) among others.  McCain, appearing at a press conference, said President Barack Obama should prepare for military intervention in Syria.

“We urge the President of the United States to make whatever military preparations are necessary to show Assad that the United States is fully willing and able to impose the consequences that he has spoken of in the event these weapons are used,” McCain said. “For deterrence to work it must be based on a credible threat.”

McCain spoke along with Senator Lindsay Graham of South Carolina, Senator Chris Coons of Delaware and Senator Joseph Lieberman of Connecticut.

“Time for talking about what to do may now be coming to a close and we may instead be left with an awful and very difficult decision,” McCain said.  “We have now reached a point where there are weapons of mass destruction that may be used and also there is a significant question about the security of these weapons should Bashar Assad fall.”

“We are all saying to President Obama, who has stated that there will be drastic consequences for Assad and his government if they use chemical and biological weapons, we’re with you,” Lieberman said. “There’s strong support across Congress if the president takes the strong action that’s necessary to prevent a very, very — historically horrific — humanitarian disaster in Syria.”

This is the rhetoric that we’ve heard from the right for years.  Following the unsuccessful war on terrorism and the invasion of Iraq, hawks have sought for US intervention in Israel during The 34 Day War, as well as in Libya (the hawks supported going to war before they opposed it when Obama did do so) and Iran.  Now, with a very real threat occurring in Syria, the hawks are beating the war drums once again.

However, this time, it may end up being a necessary evil.