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White House: Clear that Assad has lost control of Syria

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    What happens if nation collapses?

  • Duration 6:33
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Fox News -- a dramatic turn of events today in Syria a fourth straight day of fighting with in the capital.

The White House saying now it is clear that Bashar Assad is losing control of his country and the government may be on the verge of collapse.

This news precipitated by the assassination of two top defense officials this morning in a suicide bombing in Damascus.

Among those killed president -- brother in law.

And another top official.

Now the White House is bracing for a potential collapse in Damascus possibly the speculation is within the next 36 hours.

Twitter chatter is being monitored by the State Department that's similar to what we saw coming out of -- yacht in the days before the fall of Moammar Qaddafi.

Opposition groups in Syria -- the death told there and more than 171000.

People.

Including women and children this little girl amidst the rubble has become the face of this conflict for us.

The numbers between ten and 171000 -- there since the beginning of this conflict seventeen months ago.

If Syria's government.

Is about to collapse.

Where does that leave the United States.

Joining me now ambassador John Bolton again former US ambassador to the UN in a Fox News contributor.

And lieutenant colonel Ralph Peters a Fox News strategic analyst and author of -- at Gettysburg gentlemen.

Welcome welcome back -- -- -- -- ambassador Ralph let me start with you on this.

We had a -- a report days ago which we talked you about about that the Syrian government moving chemical weapons around we didn't know they were trying to move them away as opposition forces moved in.

Or move them in to be used against opposition forces -- -- all perspective for us in light of the news today.

But as far as a chemical weapons go if a -- means he is and he's gonna use and now there are going to be brutal retaliatory attacks on civilians after this bombing.

May -- today it was the decisive day in the Syrian uprising.

You know we can't predict how fast regime will fall sometimes it -- very quickly it could be over in days or could drag on for more months.

But today this bombing and it -- -- it was a -- planted bomb not a suicide bomber breaking news.

It was wiped out not trust the defense minister not just our concentration our shop talk.

-- the -- minister and brother in law of the Assad who -- a real power play in the room.

It also did a wounded the head of intelligence kill the interior ministry.

Administered killed the deputy vice president general -- money.

-- this wiped out.

Not only the guys who knew where the bodies are buried -- -- the guys who.

Buried the bodies and so the regime -- can -- people to replace these guys but nobody can replace him.

-- saw its inner circle is gone done it's now a matter of time there's still going to be ugly before it ends.

Here's what here's what the American people want -- -- among other things is this a good thing for us do we want this ambassador Bolton.

Well I think that if aside has.

Any chance to stay in power he does need to respond with devastating force a -- and I think routes exactly right on that point.

If chemical weapons are going to be used we're gonna see it very very quickly.

You know the Russians have said that this marks the beginning of the decisive battle for Syria I think that implies they think aside is going down and I think it's entirely possible when you've seen.

The security penetrated like this that the collapse could come very quickly to me that immediately raises the prospect in a matter of hours.

What happens to Syria's chemical weapons what happens to its biological weapons program.

And what happens if there are joint Syria and Iran in nuclear activities that remain I think this is something that we need to be prepared.

To take action on not to intervene militarily between the sides.

But to do something to make sure those.

Weapons of mass destruction and materials associated with -- don't fall into the wrong hands and that may well mean considering special operations force -- We get to that point Ralph if if -- -- falls through his government falls and he falls.

Isn't that what we want it I mean that this is a man who's been going around shooting babies killing babies killing children.

According to the reports by the thousands door to door point blank range while their parents -- and in the kills the parents or vice Versa and makes everybody watch it if through -- been through his forces.

Is it not a good thing that they that the skies about that his government about the collapse.

-- he also is responsible for a lot of American deaths in Iraq because.

He sheltered the path as regimes he sheltered al-Qaeda terrorists even -- now he's saying al-Qaeda is on the other side.

So.

It's it's not.

Good bad it's it's a clue what's happening in Syria is inevitable.

In the way light of the Arab Spring.

Our task and ambassador Bolton certainly knows it's a -- for our diplomats.

And our military to a limited extent.

He has to do what we can playing on the margins.

Make sure it doesn't rebound against us but again there are many many worries -- the Russians are in -- panic.

Because there are about to lose their last Arab client state.

There are about to lose because the insurgents hate them they're about to lose their last port Mediterranean.

-- and Syria.

And -- were very worried about a new Syrian government.

Having a chip on the shoulder against Russia because -- -- and so on and harboring Chechen terrorists and others so there is going to be.

A lot of turmoil after the regime goes this ain't gonna be clean Megan but I'll tell you this with the rebels now the insurgents this Free Syrian Army.

Now fighting in the streets of the month Damascus.

Attacking the fourth division headquarters of Victorian guard.

Penetrating the security.

Perimeter and killing the inner circle security -- today.

It's a matter of time until -- -- Garros but it.

After a -- It's gonna it's gonna continue to be ugly in different ways -- -- on so long unfortunately he probably will see a lot of sectarian killings after the regime fall.

Investor bold new quick answer on this but how are we to do the things that you outlined a moment ago that we need to worry about doing I think it's very difficult I think got our intelligence is far from perfect but I tell you we have a vital interest in making sure that things like chemical weapons.

Don't fall into the hands of terrorists.

Who are associated with the opposition forces that they're not used by.

Regime officials as passports out of the country.

This is something that ought to be the focus of our attention along with of the real risk of a bloodbath against the Al whites by the Sunnis if if the -- falls.

Unbelievable thank you both so much -- a pleasure thank you name.

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