How involved should US get in Syria?

This transcript is automatically generated

Focus right now there's been -- work with other countries try to provide.

Whatever assistance we can to the opposition.

So that ultimately it can become not only an effective force.

But ultimately can come together to provide the kind of political transformation.

That we think is ultimately going to be needed once a sought comes down.

I.

Can categorically stated today our position is what it has been -- -- we are not.

Providing.

People assistance.

To the Syrian opposition.

This says the front page of the New York Times today had a story saying this.

US weighs boulder effort to intervene in Syria's conflict.

They're publicly saying that that's not the case however privately.

Officials may in fact be doing just that this is.

President Bashar Al Assad forces shelled the city of -- left below.

And in the past 24 hours.

To a Syrian aircraft have been shot down by rebels one helicopter one -- we're back -- panel -- The reason the administration is now -- any changes policy.

And house to.

Is because the ground -- shifting in the war up until now the rebels have been able to take land.

But not really hold -- the only land held as -- -- -- -- -- and the Turkish frontier.

And that's sort of their mini state.

But every time they've gone more towards Damascus and -- -- for example on military bases.

They're only able to hold it for a day or two because of air power.

Well what's just happened is that there's been a huge strategic shift.

The rebels and now have shoulder held missiles that can.

Bring down a helicopter.

And a plane.

And when that happened in the Afghan war against the Soviets.

The Soviets lost that was -- great strategic change.

And once -- the Russians lost control of the -- the war was essentially over.

That's happening right now.

And because of that I think that the feeling is that what has to -- up to now -- a back in the fourth a stalemate.

And now looks as if the advantages for the rebels as long as -- shipment of any aircraft to missile continues there's no reason why.

It should not.

And the result will be the fall of the regime administration understands that -- that time is running.

They're gonna have any influence on the government and inherits Syria which is now.

The rebels are heavily infiltrated to appreciate how this.

The time to intervene and to get friends.

He's now.

You know -- there's been speculation that the administration maybe -- -- overtly.

Helping the rebels in some way without allies may be providing weapons directly.

But publicly there's and the providing communications equipment and radios and non lethal support.

How does this evolve.

In the region there and for the administration.

Well let's just start -- fact that the president does not have a national security team in place and so that he can't really even they can't begin to make.

Serious official commitments and held that the team is in place people are leaving and we don't know who's coming and so that's that said we learned that there have their.

Shift but we don't know that they can actually make that shift officially.

I think they want to not only because what Charles points out.

That time is running out for them to to influence the -- the opposition infiltrate the opposition are actually worried as the opposition has gained more sophisticated weaponry.

That they don't know where that stuff is coming where it's going to -- they might have a role behind the scenes and well and how it's getting to them but they're not so sure about who -- -- -- but they're very concerned about hardline elements within the opposition anti Israeli.

On.

Strains I mean there really you have to figure out who these people are and and that like I said is going to be -- given that the team is not.

Pull together.

Well at the time to intervene if we're -- intervene was a year ago was more than a year ago.

And the fact have we do now it's better late than never.

But we have lost so much ability to influence the outcome there because I think the president -- to be able to control the outcome to dictate the outcome for you want to have anything.

Serious to do with it at all.

Far better in my view if you're going to provide this assistance the opposition to do it -- in an open way and to say we are providing assistance the opposition.

In return we expect certain things up -- government that replaces the Charlotte side.

The concern I have is speaks what what Charles the point Charles made.

If we can recognize that they're now becoming bolder because the ground is shifting in the war itself.

If if if that looks opportunistic to -- -- look opportunistic to the people that we're supposed to be helping and you have had 30000 plus Syrians -- ground.

And their relatives their families or not to look kindly on United States that stood by and watch this happen.

Steve is right we are very very easily the reason is -- and election Obama wanted to wash his hands.

But now he has to do something because -- of them end up with a nasty.

Regime in Syria.

That's it for the --

Watch Live

How involved should US get in Syria?

Details

Clips

Special Report

Friday Lightning Round: Russia's role in Syrian crisis

Florida food stamp conundrum

Gap in key White House evidence on Benghazi

IRS official's new role in ObamaCare implemention

IRS scandal hearings begin on Capitol Hill

Grapevine: IRS scandal takes down a commencement speaker

Exclusive: Israeli special forces inside Syria

Reaction to Obama's answers on IRS scandal

Who drove editing of Benghazi talking points?

GOP turns up the heat over seizure of AP phone records

President tries to turn page on IRS scandal

Obama's effort to deal with swell of scandals in Washington

Transcript

Recommended