On “New Day,” CNN Anchor Chris Cuomo reviewed President Obama’s speech on Syria with CNN Commentators Ari Fleischer and Paul Begala, exploring the options of a diplomatic approach and military strike. Unlike Fleischer, Begala was certain that President Obama will use force if diplomacy doesn’t work. Fleischer explained that it is very difficult to dismantle chemical weapons, saying that this would require troops on the ground to protect inspectors.
“I wish the President well on this, I wish him luck and success. It would be the preferable outcome if what Russia is trying to do or says that they want to do actually happens. If Bashar al-Assad actually goes along,” Fleischer said. “I think that’s not going to happen. I think realistically there’s no chance that Assad is going to give up his chemical weapons. I think there’s no chance that Russia is really going to put them to the test to make sure he does. So the consequences frankly, are going to be that this just stretches on for months and months and months in inaction, which frankly, I think the President is more comfortable with. I don’t think he wants to use force and that’s why I don’t think it was a credible threat. He has now gotten the limb that he climbed out to sawed off, and he put the saw in the hands of Vladimir Putin and Bashar al-Assad. I don’t think that leads to success.”
“Ari’s right. There are myriad logistical and practical barriers to success here. But it doesn’t mean you don’t try,” Begala said. “The American people are a war-weary country. Our President is war-weary. I think Ari’s right, he doesn’t want to attack Syria, but he will. And that’s one thing I want to make clear. Nobody should doubt this man’s resolve. He’s kind of like the quiet guy at the end of the bar who you don’t want to mess with. Obviously, he’s the one who gave the order, very courageously, to take out [Osama] bin Laden. He’s the guy who did send air strikes into Libya to support the rebels there and topple [Moammar] Gadhafi. This is not a guy to mess with. I’m glad he’s trying to pursue diplomacy, but I’m also glad it’s backed by force.”
Fleischer replied, “I think [President Obama is] the guy at the bar who’s drinking his own Kool-Aid, and just loves to sit there mumbling and talking and doing nothing.”
“New Day” airs weekday mornings from 6-9 a.m. ET on CNN.