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What challenges will new national security team face?

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    Overhaul of President Obama's staff

  • Duration 6:10
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They -- nomination battle is looming in Washington President Obama getting -- to unveil the rest of his new national security team.

The White House saying the president will nominate former Republican senator Chuck Hagel to be his next Defense Secretary.

And counterterrorism advisor John Brennan to run the CIA both considered somewhat controversial -- -- will face a tough confirmation process but.

What challenges will the new national security team face general Jack he's a retired four star general former.

Vice chief of staff of the army also Fox News military analyst -- -- in general and good morning to you.

-- to go to some of the controversy apparently stems from some Republicans and some Democrats who.

Who don't like -- goes record on Israel with regard to Brennan of apparently has supported enhanced interrogation techniques.

During the bush years and so that will be focused during this.

But when you look at the world.

But this is an entire -- do agree national security team with John Kerry possibly.

John Brennan and Chuck Hagel that I just mentioned.

Know what what what it would do you believer what do you lists is the greatest challenge.

Facing this -- and national security now John.

Well first of all we have a war that -- federation in Afghanistan is a couple of key decisions that the national security team will be advising the president on.

One will be what's the size and scope with a force we're gonna leave behind and will we leave behind -- force.

And and not do what we did in Iraq which is remove the -- -- in two.

How much support we're gonna provide to the Afghan national security forces so they can sustain.

Their operations without us and and I think that the major issue.

Is the Middle East itself.

And and that is clearly the rise.

Radical Islam in the Middle East -- taken advantage of the contours of revolutionary change that are unfolding right before arrives as governments in transition.

There's others -- -- -- -- destabilize then there's a couple of them that are on the precipice.

Jordan possibly -- And even Kuwait we're very much aware what's happened in Libya and Egypt no -- got got a major challenge unfold in front of our -- in Syria.

And they have to make up their minds whether they're gonna still continue to sit on offense in Syria.

Or take a hand in it and and try to influence the outcome that you mentioned you.

-- in Kuwait you're the one of the few they even talks about Kuwait -- something really have not consider you do not know the outcome in Syria.

But but but but do you have a sense based on the list of nominees.

About how they would handle those.

No I think they'll execute.

You.

President Obama's -- -- policy which I -- I believe on stated is to disengage from the Middle East.

And it'd be as minimally involved as possible -- no troops left behind in Iraq how we handled the situation.

In Libya.

How -- now -- in the situation in Syria there's a stalemate in Syria.

The rebels and not have enough forces.

And they do not have enough supplies to sustain major combat operations deceased Damascus.

And as long as -- -- Scott air supremacy.

In other words whose fighter airplanes and his helicopter gun ships.

They're gonna maintain and an upper hand for some -- become the sad thing bill is that the casualties will rise during this period of stalemate.

Because the fighting -- going to continue during this period.

And it right now such 60000 -- it'll probably climb -- well in excess of -- 100000 as the world continues to watch.

-- I thought the asides features a signal that his side is winning and that that's why he went public for the first time in weeks if not months.

Back to the issue President Obama you believe he wants to be disengaged.

From the events of the Middle East explain that.

Well I think I think.

Does -- I I think he looked at the war in Iraq in a war in Afghanistan.

And said.

Never again wars in the Middle East and as a result of that his his policy has been very timid.

And we've walked away from many of our friends in the Middle East as a result of I've never seen the level of frustration with America.

With our friends in the Middle East that's present there now really the strategic surprise that Obama has had much like bush had 9/11 -- And Clinton had Milosevic and and bush won the collapse of the Soviet Union.

The fact of the matter is his strategic surprise -- the Arab Spring.

And a note and a revolutionary change that a sweeping across.

The Middle East and we have decided to sort of sit on the fence and watch it not a radicals while they're not the reason for the change -- up the catalyst for a there -- all live and it trying to take advantage of it and up.

And power shifts to take -- places results of that as the United States does not take an active role.

And stands back and watches this unfold because we do not want to be involved -- potential conflict so a lot of that is behind us now.

And we can't reverse the course that has already been set.

But we might be able to influence what is coming our way now.

What should we do.

Well I I would hope that the new.

National security team will reassess our policy.

In the Middle East and to see if that is actually working and talked to our -- in the region.

And I think they would they would given and fearful about some of the things that.

That we can do clearly the rise of radical Islam and al-Qaeda is not in.

In the interest of the stable.

Nations in the Middle East it's not in our national interest as well out of those.

Out of those regimes and bases will grow very aggressive behavior for the region and for outside the region as well.

And the other thing looming on the horizon for this and the -- national security team is -- wrong.

And the decision still have to be made about Iran this year.

You need to Ronnie and stop the development of nuclear weapons at that does not take place.

I think we can all make up a pretty simple assumption that the Israelis will consult -- about it.

This year.

General thank you Kerry -- -- -- if all approved a lot of responsibility.

Not just here but around the world and every corner -- you can find today Jack -- thanks in Washington.

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