200,000 mainstream opposition. that s relatively moderate. but the problem is that mainstream opposition is resource hungry, they ve not been supported, and then off small minority extremists that is that have excellent resources. unless you tip this balance, i think the situation will continue to grow worse. so the argument i m hearing you make right now is an argument that sounds actually less something like what i hear the administration saying. but even more importantly, it sounds like the mccain argument, in the sense that not only should this be a limited set of strikes around saying, we will not use chemical weapons as a world global practice, but also that there is a potential to tip the balance towards moderate opposition forces? there is that potential, but i m going to respectfully disagree. it s not clear that the moderate opposition has the upper hand in the conflict right now. and this is an important issue. let s just assume we go in. we weaken the assad regime.
and how they re viewing it needs to be kept into consideration. the thing that i m primarily cautious of is thinking about when we talk about limited strikes. what exactly is what exactly does that mean to the long-term conflict in syria and what exactly is that what message is that saying to the syrian people. how can you predict the exit strategy? you have to have an exit plan. you say things always change when you get in. it s not our exit path or strategy to determine, right. you have the cries about what happens with chemical weapons, which is completely understandable and correct. but let s say we were to do a completely targeted and effective strike on all chemical facilities. any kind of chemical baseline. delivery systems. whatever the case may be. the challenge isn t necessarily the weapons. it s the person who ordered the weapons to be used. bashar al assad whether it s using chemical weapons in cities outside of damascus or like he did two weeks ago which is
looks forward to continuing the critical debate. there s a lot of skepticism on both sides of the aisle. some want to hear more clearly what the president s goal is. the president has not made a case for what his military objective is, the strategy of how to accomplish it and the exit strategy. one thing we know who sit on the armed services committee is we don t get to pick the number of days we are at war. when you launch a war saying we are there 48 hours, nobody can guarantee that. harry reid thinks he ll have enough votes but it s a work in progress. molly, live from washington. thank you. meantime, inside syria, the intense battle between the government and the opposition continues across the country. greg is streaming live from across the border in beirut, lebanon. hi, greg. reporter: hi, arthel. a wrangling continuing over the
accomplish that, and the exit strategy for doing it. one of the things that many of us know who sit on the armed services committee, you don t pick the number of days you re at war. when you launch a war and say we re only going to thereby 48 hours, nobody can do that. harry reid thinks he will have enough votes in the senate, but, quote, it s a work in progress. thank you very much. well, despite the refiso refusa israeli officials are supporting president obama s effort tos punish syria for its use of chemical weapons. there s growing concern syria or iran will retaliate against israel for military action against syria. joining us with more on the israeli perspective, former israeli ambassador to the united nations. great to have you here today. thank you. good to be with you.
send. back to the chemical weapons, it is an international red line there are international laws against using chemical weapons. are we supposed to just sit on our hands while syria does that? well, alisyn, i think one thing the president has waited so long. he has lost any advantage he would have in sending that message. the second thing is, you know, we don t send strikes across the bough. the president has not made a case yet for what his military objective is, the strategy of how we would accomplish that and then the exit strategy for doing it one of the things that many of us know who sit on the armed services committee is you don t get to pick the number of days you are going to be at war. when you launch a war and say we are only going to thereby 48 hours, nobody can guarantee he that i think the american people are not ready for this huge commitment right now in going to war with syria. tucker: congressman randy ford, member of of the house services committee. thanks for jo