Implications of Syria using chemical weapons

This transcript is automatically generated

Today I want to make it absolutely clear to Assad and those under his command.

The world -- watching.

The use of chemical weapons.

Is and would be totally unacceptable.

And if you make the tragic mistake of using these weapons.

There will be consequences and you will be held accountable.

President's stern warning to Syria this after US officials told Fox News -- chemical weapons had been moved.

Today in Syria.

Also secretary of state Clinton on a trip today said that would be a red line for the United States we're back with the panel Steve.

-- it seems like this was serious today the president weighing in the secretary of state and action on the ground in Syria increase.

-- there's no question that they took that -- them rhetoric at least to another level it.

It's a little bit hard to determine whether they did that because this had been their plan all along there was this very influential New York Times -- -- few days ago.

Talking about how they were considering taking a bolder approach.

On Syria and whether this is a part of that and -- -- longer term bolder approach or if there was really this precipitate an event when it was the moving.

Of these chemical weapons or whether it was the defection of this the spokesman.

Either way we're looking at a White House in an Obama administration that ran out taking this much much more seriously the problem I think they face.

Is a problem.

That they've that they've faced -- in her innocence for the last several months.

The words don't mean it's much we have been calling for us -- to go for a year and half they've been making these threats.

And very little and has actually come to pass there's very little action that has supported their rhetoric.

Over the course in the past year and half and while I think the -- the stepped up rhetoric and Hillary Clinton identifying the use of chemical weapons as a red line which I think -- pretty well understood.

Might give might give them aside pause and the people under him pause.

It's still a -- that kind of situation where if you're going to do this are you worried because of what the United States said today as opposed to what they've been saying at all.

-- you look at the map Jeff there is a lot of fighting along the Turkish border in Turkey is really concerned about that that increase in fact NATO is stepping up announcing it will deploy patriot anti aircraft batteries.

To try to stop Syrian jets from attacking Turkey.

Where Syrian rebels.

Train.

This seems like it's also increasing along that border.

I think it's definitely -- -- Not sure that that.

Mean the words from the president in the White House for the same but.

It does seem to me like he has a little bit more authority your weight by now because he is reelected it was always an uncertainty leading up the election who.

Anything sort of foreign policy related was temporary and a sense to me he's going to the president the next four years.

So I think the words are very serious send them again not to bring this into a domestic contests but.

If we have a bigger escalation of things on the foreign side Estes to -- Take a fiscal.

In -- going on that could help the White House -- the president as well.

-- -- I think the problem for us his lasts that aside we use -- weapons because that would be suicidal.

Makes no sense and I don't see how he gained a lot of fun doing it.

And -- will hang if he does that.

But the fact that today will be loose.

It seems as if put the rebels are quietly shoulder weapons like the stingers in Afghanistan -- -- -- tire war the weapons that can bring down a helicopter or a plane.

The -- the tide is turning once the rebels.

Can negate the heir apparent they will be able to maintain control of the -- -- they are requiring and they are acquiring.

And in the end strangled Damascus and bring their regime there.

What they're looking at now I think in Washington is a change a regime.

I think almost inevitable over the next few months and the problem is where these weapons gonna end up this is a bigger store.

Of chemical weapons probably at least active ones in the world and they will be loose this is never happened before I think we might be forced.

To sending our troops simply as a way to secure them because of the -- harvest among the rebels ironically enough.

But I and that's what I think our concern is here I remember on this panel.

At the very beginning talking about number of days that -- -- -- in power number of days and then we were talking -- number of weeks.

-- -- -- -- One of the reasons is that he has had unimpeded.

Supplies from Russia Iran through Iraq because Obama never.

-- -- got to deal with -- status of forces agreement where we would control its airspace all of this stuff is going in this area.

Including fighters from Iran so that -- -- -- had outside help and the rebels have had none and that's a huge difference and we kept him in power.

But if he loses control of air power.

You lose a country I think -- -- can -- no matter what I don't think that he has a tremendous disincentives not to use chemical weapons of the interest thinking about what the president said today was that.

It was aside at the end the people under him I think the message was directed to those people more -- wants -- aside.

That's it for the --

Watch Live

Implications of Syria using chemical weapons

Details

Clips

Editor's Picks

ROTTEN TOMATOES: Weekend box office

Did Microsoft miss the mark with the XBOX One?

British terror probe expands in wake of attack

Labor unions breaking with President Obama on ObamaCare?

10 breakthrough technologies of 2013

Will there be justice for military sexual assault victims?

Bias Bash: A war on journalism?

Syrian refugee girls sold to help families survive

Sen. Marco Rubio outlines future of immigration reform

Buchanan: IRS is a 'rogue agency'

Massive fire breaks out at fuel-depot in Brazil

Holder's changing tune on involvement in journalist scrutiny

Transcript

Recommended