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Syrian president confident he can control war-torn nation

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    Amb. John Bolton weighs in

  • Duration 5:13
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Syria Syrian president Assad by -- shot as expressing confidence that he can ride out the deadly chaos -- -- war torn country.

What about his people -- the United Nations reports about 60000.

People have been killed so far.

Since that widespread fighting between the -- government and the rebels began.

This'll activists claim more than a thousand people are being killed every week in that country.

-- UN special envoy to Syria is now predicting 100000.

More people could be killed just this year.

And up to 3000 Syrians are fleeing the country every day.

On millions are affected by the violence how -- the suffering stop.

What about a side and his future and the future of -- nation joining us as he does every Sunday.

The former United States ambassador to United Nations John Bolton and Fox's contributor good morning ambassador.

Good morning Eric might do it good to see you as always says -- the rebels have captured airfield in the north they can control much of the northern part of the country but the seems to be a stalemate.

What in your view do you think wolf finally -- this and which way.

Well I'm not sure it's got to be tipped one where the other anytime soon aside it has been clear for quite some time that that he does not intend to relinquish.

How are voluntarily.

And he has reason to think that he can hang on as long as Russia and Iran continue to finance and supply him.

They have been -- the bedrock of his.

Defenses for the last year and a half and the opposition while it's clearly made gains has not been able to shatter his regime has not been able to push him out of key defensive positions.

So I think the prospect -- this just going on as it is thousands upon thousands of civilians being killed.

Is very real I think there are other possibilities -- I think one we now have to start thinking about is that they.

Surrogate supporters of the opposition.

Began to conclude that may be the price isn't worth it for them and that they look for a negotiated solution that leaves aside and power.

If tiger at the negotiated solution not just this week the European powers are meeting.

And Russia so they want not support.

A negotiation.

That cost for a size departure so -- who do you think really that he could just stay in place and all these thousands and thousands of deaths and all this horrible fighting could come to not.

You know I think that's life in the region that did the real issue here is that this is a a proxy war in effect between Iran and its.

Satellite the Asad regime and the Sunni majority.

Population in Syria supported by the saudis gutter and other Arab states.

Who see this is part of their struggle against Iran's.

Effort to achieve hegemony in the broader region.

But you might -- that's why asking what the Sunni Arabs now think are they prepared to continue this.

Given that Russia has shown zero side of compromising zero sign of compromising and obviously Iran as well.

So as -- palatable as it is I think the most likely.

Scenario for the next step for the short term the foreseeable future is the fighting simply continues life it's such a proxy war -- as other -- don't do more to.

Support the rebels against Iran.

Well that would have to be the next step you know the the fact is that even with all these sanctions against Iran that have been imposed because of its nuclear weapons program not only have they not.

Reduced Iran's progress toward nuclear weapons which is -- an issue that hangs over all of this including the conflict in Syria.

But it has not reduce their supply of arms and finances best we can tell to the -- regime.

And -- which depends on the naval base it has there in Syria that has been right there with the side as well.

So if the Arabs want to step up their support for the opposition they have to face the prospect that they could be Al did in effect by Russia and Iran.

So this is if this is everybody against.

A Russia and Iran specifically.

As Iran winning.

Well I think -- very much wanna keep aside in power I think they're prepared to see this conflict go on for as long as it takes this is part of there.

Campaign for hegemony in the Middle East.

And that's why I think both in the west and in the Arab world people see asides fall.

As something that could hurt -- -- very substantial and and one asks in that case then why hasn't the Obama administration done more.

To help achieve that I think the answer is because the Obama administration is still desperate.

To find a way to negotiate with Iran over the nuclear weapons program and they know that if we were get involved in the conflict against the side.

There'd be no way the Iran -- would negotiate -- this semester finally quickly what can the administration do if anything.

Well I don't think there's much they can do as long as they're not willing to take on Russia and -- remember that reset button with Russia that's really worked out well as we can see here.

The administration I think is hoisted by its own petard.

All right ambassador John Bolton -- was good to see you and for now seems funny will continue with the -- place thank you so much.

Thank you -- --

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