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What's next for Syria and Assad?

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    Rebels vow more attacks after bomb blast kills key members of regime

  • Duration 5:35
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Fox News alert if you -- area is in the middle of a brutal civil war take a look at that's.

Yeah I don't know I don't know -- yeah.

-- -- rebel bombing in the heart of the Syrian capital.

Taking out key members of Bashar Assad's inner circle no -- sending shivers down the spines of regime diehards.

And as for president -- himself.

Completely MIA he hasn't even been heard from since this happened are we seeing the beginning of the end of -- -- -- decade dictatorship.

Let's ask John Bolton former US and -- And -- Fox News contributor ambassador Bolton good morning.

Good morning -- of what is a significance of this event how serious is it.

Well I think it's extremely significant.

The bombing yesterday and it not only killed several of -- -- top -- It reflected that the opposition can penetrate.

Anywhere.

Inside the regime's domain there's nothing that secured I think that's one reason.

Why Bashir Al -- has fled from mentioned we don't know where is.

That but certainly from his point of view it makes sense to get out of dodge and go somewhere else whether he's.

Preparing to flee the country or whether he's preparing -- what he hopes will be a decisive counter stroke.

We don't know.

It hasn't been the first close call for him though.

And they're still seems to be a question of whether or not the rebels are responsible or might be an inside job -- the military -- what do you think.

Well I think it's much more likely to be the opposition.

The of the facts obviously remain unclear but they certainly are coordinated in the sense they've attacked a number of targets and Damascus is part of the general offensive Syria why so it's certainly points for the opposition.

And I think that's why people are.

Concerned that aside is now considering whether to use those stockpiles of chemical weapons as his father once did against the opposition.

Forces.

Well nothing has stood in the way of side seeing tens of thousands of people be killed already in his country.

At this point what are what options does he have.

Well one is to flee and just trying to get out get asylum somewhere before before things get worse for him.

I think that's unlikely at this point because if he leaves there's a very real risk there would be a bloodbath.

Against his supporters against the -- -- members of his version of Islam.

And I think that's why he's likely to stay and fight it out to -- and he has a very limited time here he needs a a really.

Bigger issues -- forced back against the opposition something.

Devastating otherwise I think.

Even his close allies will conclude that the regime's days are numbered and they will fragment and I think that's what's going on now -- try to decide.

What that counter stroke is I think one of the options unfortunately is using those chemical weapons.

And one of the allies that Syria and pat believes it can count on is Russia and he'll fight out -- -- again involve work.

Well the Russians have made it very clear for a long time they're not gonna see -- side overthrown we're.

That's facing here have just a few hours perhaps even less of potential Russian Navy -- Russian Chinese veto against any.

Chapter seven Security Council resolution.

So I think the Russians are standing by side they're very -- -- that regime goes down they're gonna lose their only.

Naval base in the Mediterranean it's gonna lose their only ally in the Arab world.

So there's certainly no sign of the Russians parting ways with the side at this point.

Our Defense Secretary Leon Panetta says the country's just spinning out of control how much longer can continue like -- and what should the US do.

Do you have any sense that we may have been involved in any way -- -- Intelligence west is there's a pretty sophisticated operation penetrating security the way it was.

Right -- no indication that I can talent I do think -- in the Russians themselves that said we we are entering the decisive battle for serious so.

I think things could move very quickly I think the highest priority for the United States.

Ought to be to try and secure or destroy.

Syria's.

Weapons of mass destruction and and related materials the chemical weapons their biological weapons program.

The possibility that they're still nuclear aspects that they were working on with Iran.

I think we've got to look very seriously at finding ways either to destroy those weapons in place or neutralized him to do something so that if the regime falls.

They chemical weapons in particular.

Don't get into the hands of terrorists like al-Qaeda are or aren't used by regime generals.

As their passport out of the country this is very serious throughout the region threat really worldwide.

Bottom line last question I had was about the United Nations has really worked with a Ron -- -- pay attention.

That that the United Nations is irrelevant here I think the Russians as I say will veto any resolution.

-- reports to do more than simply.

Extend the life of the UN observer force.

And as the head of the observer force themselves said earlier today you know -- -- political direction from the Security Council which they're not gonna get.

The observer force really can't do very much I think the UN once again simply a bystander who ambassador Bolton thank you so much great perspective this morning.

Good to see -- -- give them.

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