For the first time since the conflict in Syria began, the Pentagon has laid out all of the viable military options for U.S. involvement in the war torn nation–and the price tag that goes along with it.
In a letter from the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Martin Dempsey outlined five possible military courses of action, including:
Training, advising and assisting rebel fighters
Establishing a no-fly zone
Conducting limited stand-off strikes
Creating buffer zones to protect certain areas of the country
Taking control of Bashar al-Assad’s chemical weapons stockpile
Some of these options would cost the Pentagon well over $1 billion per month. And General Dempsey says that once we’re involved, it won’t be a short visit and the U.S. can likely expect to stay committed to Syria many more years to come.
Coming out of two costly, deadly and lengthy wars, the Pentagon’s options may not sound all that appealing on Capitol Hill today, or to the American people. Peter Mansoor, professor of military history at Ohio State University, previously served as executive officer to General David Petraeus. Mansoor joins The Takeaway to discuss the Pentagon’s plan.
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