Honore on Military Aspects; Delaying Strike Risks Complications; Assad Says Show Me Proof
HOLMES: The time keeps on moving, doesn't it? Delaying that strike that the U.S. wants to carry out in Syria, and that gives Bashar al- Assad's regime in Damascus time to prepare, doesn't it?</s>MALVEAUX: Yeah, it certainly does. So what is going to happen with a possible U.S. or international mission? Joining us retired General Russel Honore, who, of course, as we all know, commanded the military response to Hurricane Katrina. He's been in the military for some 30 years. General, good to see you as always. I imagine that you're looking at the map as we are, too, and wondering about these reports of President Assad moving things around, things that would likely be targeted. How does this complicate things now that there's a delay? GENERAL RUSSEL HONORE, U.S. ARMY</s>HOLMES: Yeah, a huge issue. You know, when it comes to -- and we've seen this before in past wars. Saddam Hussein did it, move stuff into civilian areas. The targets are obviously things like munitions, supplies and artillery pieces, airfields and the like. Would you agree with that sort of targeting, and how easy is it to move those pieces into a neighborhood?</s>HONORE: We've seen them do it very effectively. The difference now, Michael, than when we did this with Saddam when I was directly involved, with two men who leading this fight, the CENTCOM General Austin and General Dempsey, the chairman joint chiefs of staffs, 1999. They have a lot of experience, as well as the United States Navy, along with the Air Force and our reconnaissance ability to sort of see what's going on, not with 100 percent accuracy, but with enough assurance they can figure out what are the high value targets, what are the ones they want to avoid because we've been -- the experience show they will put those inside of (inaudible) area, inside a mosque, inside churches, inside of school buildings. So we've been through all those tricks, and the United State Navy targeting team sitting off the coast there, they know what they're doing. I've got faith in the Navy and our targeters down there at CENTCOM that they'll do the right thing.</s>MALVEAUX: So one thing I don't understand, General -- maybe you can help us understand this -- as the president says, it's not time sensitive, that it could happen in a day or a week or a month. So what would be the trigger point where the U.S. would act? Would they find something or see something and then they would go in right away?</s>HONORE: Yes, Suzanne. That's a good point. I think what people need to get a grip with, we're trying to hold the standard of a strike against Assad because he is used chemical weapons to a declaration of war where we've got the 82nd Airborne's going to be dropped in. The 18th Airborne Corps is following. The special ops troops going in, every carrier we've got. This is not that type of operation, which I think the White House is trying to put in context for the American people. This is a strike because this man used chemical weapons against his people. What that will give us an opportunity to do, and time is on our side, not on his side, time for the rebels to resupply, time for us to get them some of these special munitions, time for what's happening on the sideline. We don't know everything and who the president's talking to. There are other people who may come to this and bring capacity to the rebels that they don't have now. And this will give them time to better defend themselves. So I think time is on our side, not on Assad's side.</s>MALVEAUX: All right. General Russel Honore, good to see you, as always. We appreciate your perspective as well.</s>HOLMES: Interesting hearing the president earlier today talk about degrading Assad's military capabilities. But if he's moved it around, how hard is that going to be as time goes on.</s>MALVEAUX: And also, around the world, Dennis Rodman making a return visit to North Korea. That story up ahead.</s>HOLMES: Now there's a diplomat.