I am deeply disturbed by statements today by our Secretary of State and Ambassador to the United Nations regarding the future of Bashar al-Assad in Syria."

McCain then slammed Tillerson, saying "Once again, U.S. policy in Syria is being presented piecemeal in press statements without any definition of success, let alone a realistic plan to achieve it."

The angry neocon continued: "ultimately, the administration's statements today could lead America's true allies and partners in the fight against ISIS to fear the worst: a Faustian bargain with Assad and Putin sealed with an empty promise of counterterrorism cooperation. I hope President Trump will make clear that America will not follow this self-destructive and self-defeating path."

He was not alone: Republican Sen. Lindsay Graham says if reports were accurate, "I fear it will be the biggest mistake since President Obama failed to act after drawing a red line against Assad's use of chemical weapons." He added that "This would be crushing news to the Syrian opposition and to our allies throughout the Middle East. I fear it is a grave mistake."

With America's two biggest neocons slamming Trump's Syria reversal, it is safe to say that at least in this particular case, Trump made the right decision.

President Donald Trump's former national security advisor's lawyer was told the move was "wildly preliminary" and "not on the table" at this point, a senior congressional official told NBC. It does not necessarily rule out immunity at a later date, since the Senate investigation is ongoing.

Flynn, who resigned after only weeks on the job, also offered to speak to the Justice Department in exchange for protection from prosecution, according to NBC. At this time, there is no indication that Flynn is admitting guilt to any crimes.

In a statement Thursday, his lawyer Robert Kelner said no "reasonable person" would get questioned in "such a highly politicized, witch hunt environment without assurance against unfair prosecution."

A good example of this is provided by The Guardian

Immunity is typically sought to avoid penalty for breaking the law. Flynn agreed with the characterization while discussing the partial immunity granted to an aide to Hillary Clinton amid the federal government's investigation of the former secretary of state's use of a private email server at the state department.

Speaking to NBC's Meet the Press in September, two months before the election, Flynn stated: "When you are given immunity, that means you have probably committed a crime."

In order to judge these claims properly it is necessary to look carefully at the text of the letter from General Flynn's lawyer. This is especially so given that this is a letter which was drafted by a lawyer. The letter reads as follows

General Flynn certainly has a story to tell, and very much wants to tell it, should the circumstances permit.

Out of respect for the Committees, we will not comment right now on the details of discussions between counsel for General Flynn and the House and Senate Intelligence Committees, other than to confirm that those discussions have taken place. But it is important to acknowledge the circumstances in which those discussions are occurring.

General Flynn is a highly decorated 33 year veteran of the US army. He devoted most of his life to serving his country, spending many years away from his family fighting this nation's battles around the world. He was awarded four Bronze Stars for actions in Iraq, Afghanistan and elsewhere in the war on terror. He received the Legion of Merit twice, and the Defense Superior Service Medal four times. He is recipient of the Defense Department's Distinguished Service Award and the Intelligence Community Gold Seal Medallion for Distinguished Service, as well as numerous other decorations.

Notwithstanding his life of national service, the media are awash with unfounded allegations, outrageous claims of treason, and vicious innuendo directed at him. He is now the target of unsubstantiated public demands by Members of Congress and other political critics that he be criminally investigated. No reasonable person, who has the benefit of advice from counsel, would submit to questioning in such a highly politicized, witch hunt environment without assurances against unfair prosecution.

30th March 2017

This is not a letter admitting a crime or wrongdoing, whether impliedly or otherwise. On the contrary it describes "public demands" that General Flynn be "criminally investigated" as "unsubstantiated". This is a denial that any crime was committed.

It also says that these "unsubstantiated demands" have been made against a background of "unfounded allegations, outrageous claims of treason, and vicious innuendo" and speaks of a "highly politicized, witch hunt environment".

What this letter and presumably the negotiations between General Flynn's lawyer and the staff of the two Committees and the FBI are quite obviously aiming to do is protect General Flynn from a situation where anything he says in testimony is twisted beyond its natural meaning so as to set up a politically biased "unfair" prosecution against him.

Given that General Flynn has been variously accused of crimes under the Logan Act, of perjury, of failing to register as a Turkish agent, and of treason, one can understand his lawyer's concern. As the letter says, insisting on this form of protection in this situation is a basic precaution.

That the lawyer's concerns are fully justified is shown by the way some people such as The Guardian have already been trying on the strength of certain things General Flynn said in October to twist this letter, which is as clear a denial of crime or wrongdoing as it is possible for a lawyer to write, into an admission that such things took place.