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What challenges are ahead if US takes action against Syria?

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    What consequences does Assad face if he uses chemical weapons?

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Back -- our top story as the administration threatens action against Syria.

If that country does resort to using chemical weapons against his own people.

This comes after Fox News confirms that Syrian troops now have that the deadly nerve agent Sarin gas weaponized.

And at the ready.

-- the now retired to tell lieutenant general Jerry Boykin.

Is a former commander of special operations forces retired lieutenant colonel Tony Shaffer is a senior fellow at the center for advanced defense studies.

Guys welcome so much it's a pleasure how -- both here.

Thank you terribly let me start with you having your your background as incredible an original member of delta force the world's premier special operations unit you've been you've served in Vietnam Iran of the CIA.

Your thoughts on whether -- side would really use.

Chemical weapons against the Syrian people and whether there's any way to stop it right now for the United States.

Well I.

First of all -- and I don't think that the fact that he's mix the chemicals is necessarily an indication that he intends to use of I think though if he is corner if he has no option left and it's very possible and he will.

I think what the key that this is is finding someone that will give him asylum.

So that he knows that there is a way out of this.

But ultimately if he has no place to go I think that he will use chemical weapons and of desperate effort to us save his regime.

There are reports colonel that that aside is Seeking Asylum.

In Venezuela or Cuba this is unconfirmed by -- but there's there are some reports out -- that he is seeking it that's something we should be rooting for.

-- absolutely I think is best interest really and everybody involved is to actually have him go in that direction I think the Russian to the best suited to do this both as an ally.

And -- someone has helped -- -- and let me be very clear we cannot afford from a policy perspective to see military action result -- -- -- -- -- Of the central governance of the capabilities Syria we have to retain the army retain the governor government.

So he should leave the government should stay and that's the best possible option for all to see this the situation resolved itself favorite.

General Boykin if if aside it -- it if it it no chemical weapons are used aside leaves he gets asylum someplace.

What are we left what's.

Well you're still going to see factional fighting in the -- there because a number of people in the rebel forces have been killed in a number of people -- -- brutalized by this regime you'll still see factional fighting.

But if Assad leaves and as colonel Shaffer said we do maintain some semblance of a central government.

There -- at least a chance -- some kind of reconciliation.

And some kind of government to be form that represents more than just see interest of the rebels that are fighting against us on today.

That's -- that is the best case scenario we can hope for right now unfortunately we still have to deal with the potential worst case scenario.

And that is that -- -- to begin with we have to send troops in there to stop the young unleashing of chemical weapons of the Syrian people.

-- how how can be accomplished that we've heard numbers 75000 ground troops would that be American troops.

Well we can't -- the stop practical we have right now options we have to battle carrier battle groups nearby the can be used for air campaign.

With special operations force forces in the third country I don't -- -- disclose where it is.

But they're ready to act of the biggest thing we have to do our objectives national -- -- the United States is.

To make sure those chemical weapons don't fall into the hands of terrorist organizations that could use them against us for -- allies secondly then.

To preserve our allies in the process of doing this a ground campaign of any nature we'll see -- most battle most bloodied.

You have his all of them would be emboldened and I think he would only make things far worse of their four.

Well I think we need to preserve our initiatives.

The best ones right now are making sure that assault leaves and that we secure those WMD because -- be in the Russians should play -- is the Russian supply them.

This was said earlier on her show -- regarding the fact that the Russians are now recognizing they have a hand to play in a very big one at that.

It you know.

I can't help but wonder general what what happens if those weapons to get into the hit the wrong hands what if some al-Qaeda affiliated terrorists get their hands -- these chemical weapons.

-- -- How how much sophistication do you need.

To use them to -- to get them out of security used and it against western interests over on you know in Europe or.

Potentially here.

Well my gonna doesn't take much first of all your previous guest of -- was very clear in terms of the volatility in the danger of these chemical weapons I think that.

The fact is it because we know Hezbollah is already integrated with the rebel forces that we should expect.

That -- Assad leaves if there is not some stability within the government they will wind up in the hands of Hezbollah.

As well as al-Qaeda.

We know that the rebel forces are infiltrated by entities that would use those things in a terrorist act.

And by the way one of the places that needs to be very concerned about this as Israel.

Because they have been a primary target of most of these terrorist organizations.

So I think it's a very dangerous situation and I kind of agree -- colonel -- you know we've got to stop them from falling into the hands of these people who made it must do all we -- but I do not support US ground forces.

I think of their coalition they should be formed.

Using Arab nations like Iraq.

Like Jordan.

Even eleven.

Two be the -- force if that's what's required to stop these things from getting.

Loose and used by the terrorist.

-- council gentlemen thank you both so much.

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