Turkey authorizes military action in Syria

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-- -- breaking developments out of the mideast now where Turkey says Syria apologized.

For the deadly shelling that killed five Turkish civilians.

And attack the White House has strongly condemn.

The US is pledging support to our NATO ally even as Turkey authorizes military strikes against Syria.

Joining us now general Jack -- retired four star general former vice chief of staff of the army.

He is also a Fox News military analyst so general -- when we hear me you know those of us from the civilian world.

Hear about this cross border should shelling.

What should we make of -- what should we look for next in terms of Syria's response or Turkey user's fault.

Well -- -- gonna back away from this very quickly this is not a strategic decision made by city.

-- senior leadership to widen the war by attacking rebel bases that are inside Turkey.

This is most likely a bone headed mistake by a local -- who was frustrated by the rebels crossing the border.

And is seeking safety on the Turkish side of the border I don't certain there's not going to be a repeat of this incident.

The that this senior leadership and Syria wants no part of any escalation of an event like this.

With a clash with Turkey Turkey has a very powerful military.

And they so we do not want to widen a problem they have inside that country -- A conflict we're told -- Yeah and Bashar Al Assad forces have enough of a problem just containing just battling their own population the rebel fighters within Syria.

If they have to take on a force from outside namely Turkey.

Are they going to be able to handle that.

No -- could not.

Cycle quite frankly I don't think they can handle look the rebels if we gave them -- -- weapons that they desire.

And some of the information that they desperately need not even speak of a no fly zone we just harm them properly I think.

The Syrian military would have significant problems with the rebels of we've already seen.

But then you you wind up with the question of who -- who fills the vacuum if -- -- if facade -- a fall who fills the vacuum and can we be certain that that the rebels.

Are gonna wind up being our friends.

What we cannot I don't think anybody would be able to predict that and certainly.

What we've seen in Egypt then and also in Libya at Soldier Field just how challenging this is what we do know what we have there now we have a brutal dictatorship.

Where people are socially politically and economically repressed and we have people who are striving to change that regime.

And want a better way of life and so they'll be political moves when and if a -- falls in terms of who's gonna run that country.

I don't believe that should deter us from supporting that because we don't know.

With certainty what the outcome is the consequences of failure should not paralyze us from.

Not providing support to rebels we should be giving them much more support.

Than what we have so if the White House or the Pentagon were to call you after this interview and -- general -- what should we do.

Your advice would be.

Well I've spoken to.

Representatives of good free Syrian military twice in Washington DC.

And on both occasions they said to -- general look at what we need is anti.

Tank weapons and anti aircraft weapons and better communications equipment and what we have.

We don't need your troops we don't need your airplanes along sort and they would welcome them if we volunteered them that's what they want.

And we have not given them those kinds of instruments and sufficient quantity have got some of the from Saudi Arabia and -- but not to the degree that they need especially when the Iranians are supplying so much of the support for -- -- forces.

It would seem -- that just to do battle by proxy with Iran in that way we would -- -- be helpful.

I think when you're looking at Syria don't look at an isolation.

You look at a run in the arc of coalition that they're trying to form from -- -- in the west to Syria to Iraq to Iran itself.

So.

A solid going is certainly in the US interest because.

It is Iran's number one ally and -- is all -- and they've got 2000 could force in there.

This is the Iranian Republican guards who who are assisting.

The Syrian military and forming in the -- force like themselves you've given us a lot of new information general thank you very much general --

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Turkey authorizes military action in Syria

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