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Subscribe to RSSRelief workers have resumed distributing aid, but stopping the slaughter is something President Barack Obama says the U.S. will not do alone. NBC's Andrea Mitchell reports.
Updated at 9:15 p.m. ET
WASHINGTON -- Despite increasing pressure on the Obama administration to take U.S. military action to stop the bloodbath in Syria, the two top Pentagon officials said Wednesday that's not even close to happening.
Under intense questioning, both Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Martin Dempsey said military operations against Syria would be more challenging than the seven-month campaign against Libya.
A senior defense official also told NBC News that the president has not asked the U.S. military or the Pentagon to draw up plans for U.S. military intervention in Syria, despite media reports to the contrary.
NBC News has learned that the Pentagon has drafted what is called a "commander's estimate," which provides a long-term vision and expectations of what a military operation in Syria would look like. The officials point to Panetta's testimony before Senate Armed Services that there is no contingency plan for military operations in Syria, in part because the president has not asked for a plan.
Dempsey predicted it would take "several weeks" of U.S. airstrikes against Syria's air defenses just to be able to provide humanitarian aid to Syrian civilians, and a much longer "sustained campaign" to try to push Syrian President Bashar Assad from power.
Dempsey said the challenge "would be a hundred times more than what we experience in Libya."
Asked then if the U.S. could arm the opposition forces, Dempsey said it's problematic because there are "a hundred different" opposition groups in Syria. "A coherent core does not exit."
US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton criticizes Syria for failing to allow more humanitarian aid in.
Panetta also warned there's a serious danger in attempting to arm the opposition. The fear, according to Panetta, is that the weapons could fall into the hands of terrorists, including "Hezbollah, Hamas and al-Qaida."
The best exchange came between McCain and Panetta. McCain, who is aggressively pushing for U.S. airstrikes to support the opposition repeatedly asked, "How much more killing" does there have to be? "How many more have to die. Ten thousand, Twenty thousand?" McCain added, "America should take the lead."
Panetta shot back, "We're working it. We can't do it today. But when we'll do it, we'll do it right."
Panetta himself revealed however that the Pentagon and U.S. military are doing "no contingency planning" for military operations in Syria. Panetta said they're waiting for that request to come from President Barack Obama.
Still, there is an underlying motive emerging for military strikes against Syria. Gen. James Mattis, who heads the U.S. Central Command, on Tuesday said that getting rid of Assad would deal the worst strategic defeat to ally Iran in more than 20 years.
Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., questions Defense Secretary Leon Panetta about whether US airstrikes should be used in Syria.
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Vote for Ron Paul and save yourselves from this absurd military adventurism.
Not that I disagree, but the article is about a LACK of forthcoming military adventurism, at least in Syria.
All I see lately is the government merely prepping the public for military action. It's just a matter of time.
Maybe Mr. Panetta has taken some lessons from the DOJ.
Now, who wudda thought that any inkling of giving arms to the Arab Spring countries would fall into terrorists hands ? Nah....never happen. HUH ?
I would keep reminding China and Russia every day of the atrocities going on there ....
Since they voted "no" for intervention ....
Put it in their lap ....
Let Russia handle it! They and China are the ones to blame for this bloodbath occurring in the first place. Russia has propped up this puppet regime for decades so they could have a warm water port for their navy therefore, if we attack Syria, Russia could see that as an act of war against them! I don't know about you but WWIII starting over Syria, or anyone else for that matter, seems ridiculous.
Our hands are firmly tied behind our backs.
Mr. Paul is not even close to being the President. And his views of pulling all our troops from vital security areas is ignorant. And we don't need to be pulled into another military operation. We helped the Libyan people and we are still being criticized for helping them. Every body just wants to blame the US, but they don't look at what good we do. We are handcuffed no matter what we do.
Hello folks, we have been fighting urban wars of attrition for over 10 years now and we are broke, our allies are broke. We have spent close to 3 Trillion dollars in Afghanistan and Iraq. We can’t afford another expensive protracted war a half a world away and the US citizens are sick of war. There is 85% support for Ron Paul amongst our troops because they are sick of war and he’s promised to end the wars. The lengthy wars have depleted our manpower, equipment, and our political capital.
Recently the Census Department of the Federal Government reported that “50% of the nation’s population were living below the poverty line”. Our nation’s wealth has been exhausted by war so that we could secure profits for the Banking, Oil, and Military/Industrial cartels. We never saw a dime of it and never will because the 1% elite feel they have a Divine Right at our expense. You know their motto, privatize profits and socialize losses. They truly can’t squeeze much more from the peasantry but they will try. Let's concentrate on taking care of America for a change. No more bank bail outs and no more wars. Enough is enough!
Anyone who thinks the answer to this mess is straightforward is engaging in mental masturbation. We cannot become Isolationists and ignore the Middle East. Our economy is linked to it (while a smaller amount of oil flows to the US, pricing is linked) and terrorists have the technology and will to reach out and "touch" us.
Invade Syria - Yes, people are dying, Assad is a genocidal dictator, the military is brutalizing the people, Russia and Iran have supported this and past oppressive regimes and will not intercede with their partner, the US is the police of the world and it is our obligation to protect these people who want only freedom
Don't Invade Syria- We have lost too much blood and treasure in the Middle East, we should not go it alone, Iran will back up Assad and it will be a surrogate invasion of Tehran, Let the rich Arab nations take care of Assad, Let Israel take them out.
Each country in Islam-land is different and there is no clear answer whether to support a secular dictator, or freedom, which can result in Islamists taking over. In Syria there are about 100 Islamic groups waiting to intercede.
IMO we need a coalition to systematically take out Assad, air strikes with the support of a coalition would be a start, boots on the ground are a whole other problem. And by the way Syria's military is 20 times more equipped than Libya's military was. And again, they have Teheran's support.
A big AMEN to that, TrustVerify...
@Kristian113
As much as I'd like to see him get the nomination in order to avoid having to vote for one of two people who are going to achieve nearly identical results as President; I'm well aware that it's never going to happen b/c the media decided a long time ago who the potential opponents would be. That on top of our stupid electoral college and electronic voting system guarantee that it will be a long time before anyone sees anything resembling 'change'; both at home and abroad.
The current system of overwhelming failure is very secure and in no danger of changing whatsoever.
70,000 to 350,000 innocent children and their parents have died and more are dying every day in Darfur, yet it is not on Paul's radar or any other politician in this country. Why? It's about oil folks. Should we send more of our young men and women to war to fuel our wife's Cadillac Escalades or should we help the innocent?
Your vote this fall will be the answer to that question.
OUR? do you have a communal wife, shouldn't you be in the bigamy forum?
Sono- I agree. Our system is messed up thanks to the media. The media can not even portray our efforts to protect ourselves in a good light. Just us being a bully. Both Dems and Repubs and Libs are the problem. They only care about party affiliation. They constantly undo what the others try to accomplish. No matter what harm it does to the country.
Give me a break, like McCain gives a hoot about the Syrians...It is a shame, it is awful in the worst way what is going on, but it is not a fight we should be taking sides on. When do-good bystanders see a fist fight they break it up and tear the people apart that are harming one another...They don't throw a knife to the one who is taking the worst beating as that only causes more bloodshed. Incite them to stop fighting somehow, yes, but don't fan the flames and arm the underdogs. There is no way the average American can really know the score over there. Yes there is a dictator who is corrupt and oppressive, yes there are people who don't like it, and yes there are people who do like it the way things are, and both sides are willing to scrap for what they believe. It is a domestic affair.
My identical twin brother and I used to fight when we were young over our disputes. Our friends knew to not try and break things up...We would end our brawl long enough to work together to summarily dispatch the interloper, and then get back to our own personal business. I don't think anyone in Syria wants help from the USA...We would not be even trying to help unless there was something in it for us. McCain just wants to see Iran lose its best friend in the neighborhood.
McCain.....There are PLENTY of other countries who can help overthrow Assad....it doesn't have to be the US. It's about time other civilized countries help out around the globe...especially countries geographically closer to Syria. NO one denies there are atrocities going on there, just like other countries, but unilateral military strikes makes NO sense. Perhaps other countries do not feel compelled to help since the US is ALWAYS the first to step in. And Panetta is right, arming the rebels against Assad is only trouble since Al-Qeda is pouring in fighters from Iraq in an effort to gain a foot hold there. Arming them would be the perferct opportunity for them to use those weapons against us, and what a slap in the face to know we paid for it! McCain ought to stop suggesting military action with every new country involved in the Arab spring...he is NOT the POTUS
mcCain has gotten to old and out of touch with war, guess when you lose one you'r willing to turn this nation into third world economy to try and redeem yourself. we really need to stop electing old men and millionairs to public office
barronneal,
With the way Americas' political system is now set up, only multi-millionairs can afford to buy a public elected office.....Like justice and everything else in a cronie capitalist system, an elected public office is also a commodity..............If you can afford it, you get it, if not, you are at the mercy of those who can.
Let obama do his job. Heis due soon for another Nobel .
You are angry because no Republican has ever won one........
Democracy under Sharia Law?
What kind of freedom is that?
Freedom under the banking/media complex? Try opposing the war and running for office.
If republicans get their way, well be at WAR with IRAN, and Syria tomorrow.
Maybe they should have thought about IRAN and Syria instead of IRAQ who hated IRAN and was already in a long running purpetual war, and was a counter force to IRAN.
Now IRAQ will become IRANS puppet.
Hey, let Assad and his opposition thin their ranks over the next year or two and then decide if they're weak enough to overthrow.
America CANT AFFORD another War !!!!! We're BROKE !!!!! How can the Republicans reduce the Deficit if they ADD TO IT ???!!! Wars are expensive in Lives,Treasure, & Reputation(Whats left of it). Iraq is ALREADY a "Puppet" state of Iran----Set Israel Loose to attack Iran if they want---Leave America out of it. We have ENOUGH PROBLEMS of our own to deal with !!!!!!!
Syria has a huge stock of chemical and biological weapons, and the missiles to launch them with, targeting Turkey, Israel, and US military bases for sure. If we go to Syria we have to be prepared to take out these WMD's before Syria has a chance to use them and/or transfer them to terrorists in Lebanon. Otherwise, you are looking at a war the likes of which we have not seen since WWII. The barbaric butchering of Syrians by "their" own government is a crime against humanity.
Yep, and the U.N., et al, are STILL looking for the chemcial weapons in addition to the 20,000 or so surface to air missles which WENT missing during the "humanitarian assistance" to Libya.
Now, just where could they be ?
That situation has already solved it-self...every thing else is war mongering.
Gen. James Mattis, who heads the U.S. Central Command, on Tuesday said that getting rid of Assad would deal the worst strategic defeat to ally Iran in more than 20 years.
Then what are we waiting for?
Iran is our main objective.
And people in Syria are dying.
I agreed to not arm rebels ever not worth to bomb Syria. Big part is question in who will be leader in post-Assad? We learned our mistake by help and armed Afghanistan rebels in 1980. Not want give new weapons to rebels that may will fall into group of Hezbollah, Hamas and al-Qaida.
Finally, a more reasonable statement from Mr. Panetta.
Wow...since when has McCain started to care about Syrians/Muslims. This is all about Israel.
And one thing the Syria hawks overlook is just the logistics. The population per square mile in Libya is 9/square mile; in Syria it is 266/square mile. This makes it harder not to bomb the people you are "helping." Add to that the fact that Syria possesses about FIVE TIMES the anti-aircraft weapon capacity of Libya and it is not hard to figure out why what worked in Libya might not work in Syria! Oddly, it is the folks who criticized Obama for our involvement in Libya who are now demanding similar engagement in Syria! HYPOCRITES!
Someone should explain to McCain that he didn't win 2008 and that he isn't Commander and Chief. He should stick to his usual do nothing job as neither the House or the Senate have helped the economy for the last 10 yrs. Talk about Government Waste. The whole lot aren't worth 2 dead flies!
Let the idiots kill each other off. The more killed on either side of the conflict weakens Syria's ability to raise a viable army against anyone else. I don't see any of the other Arab nations including Iran helping either side.
let the political bashing begin !!!
Let's just show our hand before anyone asks! Military intelligence?
We have shown our hand. Bombs are on the way.
They stage and plan everything no value for life . but all the sheep sit at home and watch msm and salute to there hitler. Isent it great?
I guess The Senator's aren't getting enough bribes (sorry Lobbying money) from defense contractors. Must be time to drum up some business.
yep its all about money, romey is set in place to replace obama in case the sheep dont vote him in? they need sometbody that will play ball they voter frad the hole country to make sure . yay for freedom
Isn't timing everything ? Let's step back and try to gain a little perspective...Iraq and Afghanistan...now the spectre of some kind of military conflict in Iran (either Israel or US, or a combination, maybe even a third party). So there's anybody (either pro or con) out there who really thinks the US is going to get involved (except of course, Sen. McCain) in Syria ?
Doesn't mean anything. Limbaugh for war, Limbaugh back in (with the liberals yet). Kusinich against war, Kusinich out.
an immigrant couple got off the ship back in the early 1900s with very high hopes ,having heard in their old country that american streets were paved with gold, so ,walking away from the docks the wife got excited when she saw a 5 dollar bill on the ground,look she said to the husband, a five dollar bill ! pick it up ! what? the husband answered,i have to bend down for only one lousy five dollar bill? lets keep on walking and you'll see ,next street we'll see a bunch of those bills and then i'll pick them up!!! ,they walked for miles but it never happened!
now ,there is a great opening,where the table is all set ,we just have to walk in sit and have a feast,while iran would starve and choke itself to death. just like those people who refused the five dollar bill, we'll refuse it in hopes of finding down the road a better situation which might very well never materialize!
iran has been,is and will be a big problem.through syria ,this is the chance of a lifetime!
Just out of curiousity, what is the problem? Same as Iraq and Afghanistan?
The difference between the GOP and the Dems. is do you want to be bitten by a rattlesnake or a copperhead with death being the common denominator. The entire Senate and House don't even rate PUKE status. They are just VOMITS.
Wonder if our politician's will still be here when the mess they create is at our door?my bet is on, take the money and run.
The politicians are helpless. The war is being driven by the media. Kusinich against the war, Kusinich out. Limbaugh for the war, Maher forgives him.