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Does US need to change strategy in Syria?

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    All-Star panel weighs in

  • Duration 4:47
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You support the recommendation by secretary of state.

And then secretary of state Clinton and -- head of CIA.

General Petraeus that we provide weapons to the resistance in Syria do you support that we did you do support that we did.

Now that is interest -- because Defense Secretary Panetta and chairman of the joint chiefs general dancing is saying they both supported.

Arming Syrian rebels fighting the Asad regime we're back now with the panel -- -- -- part of -- is we had known for some time the Secretary Clinton.

Then Secretary Clinton and David Petraeus when he was editing the CIA came up with a -- arm and train the Syrian rebels -- in this -- a -- regime.

Was Senator McCain elicited today at this hearing is the fact that that they then Defense Secretary cannot and the then chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

General Dempsey also supported it only one problem the president opposed it so it didn't happen need -- what do you make of that.

President this is big news today -- the president rebuffed.

This plan.

What has happened in the months since this plan was proposed slowing down not just in the months and an internist dating back.

But -- that -- UN representative to Syria describes cities inside the Syrian and looks like cities of Berlin in 1945.

You've got 60000 Syrians dead 1507000.

Refugees going up to a million.

Which he said could collapse Jordan and Lebanon just under the weight of those refugees.

And what you've got inside Syria.

Is the rise of al-Qaeda linked forces as part of that opposition this is something that Hillary Clinton herself warned about just a few days ago.

So by not stepping -- and and everyone agrees that aside it's gonna go -- question where went we've not stepped in to shape the opposition.

Into a viable not only a viable force that of course that who it is valuable instead of al-Qaeda links to.

Of course we don't know if we did get involved -- necessarily have either one that they would topple Assad or that al-Qaeda is still wouldn't have a big role but.

It certainly raises the question I'm -- let me ask -- about that -- and here you have.

-- -- Clinton Petraeus really the entire national security team with the exception of the national security advisor saying arm the rebels.

The White House said now why do you think not.

Yeah I just added that that -- -- -- as well Saudi Arabia Britain France Qatar.

They Anderson importance of let's hear why not.

Look I think that the president at his core does not like to intervene in these kinds of things and I think also -- it election he.

Understood that the public was war weary and he didn't want to take that town.

That chance I think this is going to be a big mistake in retrospect.

-- said you've got.

300000.

People displaced 60000 that are dead and Syria is really a kind of -- in the Middle East and if this goes this can destabilize the region.

It may well spark a regional war.

If if Assad -- if we were able to shape.

The opposition forces us to be a big blow to to Iran so I think -- the history books are written this will be -- -- missed opportunity.

And let me Steve bring in one more thing and that was -- -- cuts.

-- -- and quite disturbing report today -- where he went one of these refugee camps on the Turkish border.

As -- as said there are 800000.

Refugees have fled for various parts of the Middle East but in this it was really.

A small town a small city thirteen thousand people living like that and you know on the one hand it you do you understand the presidents and our country's reluctance to get involved in another conflict in the Middle East but is coming in quite a cost.

Well having that was a heartbreaking report I think it already is a moral stain on America we didn't do anything we stood by.

It's particularly so because of the president's own words he's the president he can -- overrule his advisors that's his job he's elected to make these are decisions.

But if you go back to the justification that he used to support US intervention in Libya a moral justification.

First and foremost.

Back in march of 2011.

He said the United States would be shirking its natural responsibilities.

If we didn't get involved he said to brush aside America's responsibility as a leader and more profoundly our responsibility.

To shore felt a fellow human beings under such circumstances.

Would have been -- -- trail of who we are and they said some nations might be able to turn a blind side of these kinds atrocities he said.

The United States is different.

But apparently not in the since it's -- and we're not so we've now seen more than 60000 deaths in Syria at -- it was 6000.

In Libya.

Got 60000 people saying 80000 and and it continues.

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