us now. how does a limited strike prevent assad from using chemical weapons again? what would be the goal? >> reporter: it is really not clear, jenna. general dempsey said it would take 75,000 u.s. troops on the ground to secure the chemical weapons. there is no plan to do that now. there is no part of the limited strike using tomahawk to go after the chemical weapons stores which are stored underground by the way. here is defense secretary chuck hagel yesterday on the hill. >> if assad is prepared to use chemical weapons against his own people, we have to be concerned that terrorist groups like hezbollah, which has forces fighting in syria, supporting the assad regime, could acquire them and use them. >> reporter: nonetheless former defense secretary robert gaetz weighed in with this rare public statement, quote, failure by congress to approve the request would in my view have profoundly dangerous and negative consequences for the united states not just in the middle