essentially led by the free patriotic movement christian group hezbollah which has been. very important in. you know resisting the israeli aggression since one thousand nine hundred eighty two so it will be a little simplistic to just. simplify the whole lebanese conflict into a spillover from. the argument of the lebanese i would agree with you but i think that's what media does to simplify and that's why i'm asking you gentlemen to make it more complex my viewers understand what i've got to you in washington how would you look at it i mean was it fault i guess essentially is what i'm asking. i think it is bashar al assad and his regime and he is intentionally trying to spill over the conflict in syria into lebanon in order to scare the international community and to deter the international community from contributing to the toppling of his regime i agree with robert that it is lebanese fighting lebanese but these are proxy lebanese and so you do have those who are allies to the syrian regime who are doing the fighting against those who are for the syrian revolution so a

hezbollah has a lot of arms now. no matter what, even if they toppled today they probably have enough missiles and rockets for more than one round with israel. we don't know. but they have a lot of weapons. nonetheless for hezbollah to lose its strategic ally and its strategic depth in syria would represent a huge setback for the iranians and the iranians recognize this. this is one of the reasons why i think there is probably -- we should probably lend credence to the reports that there are both irgc fighters and hezbollah fighters now in syria. in order to keep the regime afloat. it's interesting what it says about how the regime is doing militarily. if there are foreign fighters supporting the regime and syria, what does the military position look like? let me go through this quickly. again, if we believe if the iranian threat is that significant, why don't we look for an opportunity to take on the iranians wherever possible, especially if, as everyone is saying, that -- david said there should be boots on the gro

hezbollah attack. last time we intervened in this part of the world, a lot of marines died. those kinds of things are real possibilities. so the enemy get as vote. that leads to an outcome which is really military intervention to push assad out. i think in my mind at least that's what's on the table. there are real negative repercussions for all of this. right? there are some costs. the benefits, i think, are known. the costs are of the situation -- i think there is a growing jihadi group in syria. the most major at least announced group is one called jaba del nuzra. they have typical propaganda outlets. it's not a strong group that can compete with major opposition groups. jihadi organizations are not viable competitors for political power in most places. even when they start to gain political power they shoot themselves in the foot. that's not what i'm suggesting. jihadis aren't going to take over syria. but they will make things worse because they make the assad regime and his supporters position a lot more entrenched. it makes it much more difficult to get to that point

i don't think there's any doubt that with the loss of syria they lose their connections to hezbollah. they lose their influence over lebanon. perhaps mr. maliki might think a little more often about how close the relations are that he should have with iran, and with that loss i think it may put additional pressures on iran to cease their continued development of nuclear weapons which, as you know, is a forthcoming crisis unless the iranians abandon their efforts to build nuclear weapons which so far there has been no indication that they have. this is a key and central part of the entire mideast. and what happens here will have dramatic effect on the entire mideast as well. thank you. yes. >> senator mccain, i'm the daughter of one of the speakers, i'm syrian. i am a political refugee. came here with my family in 2006. my question for you is we keep hearing from policymakers and the current administration that the united states can in the afford intervening in syria. as syrians how can we change that? i mean, the people are dying. you see economically that the united states is the mai

which controls the coast of lebanon with a warship to prevent hezbollah getting weapons didn't spot those weapons which are apparently going to be used against the assad regime however you can take conspiracy theories rather too far in lebanon and believe everything that everybody tells you so you will end up by believing absolutely nothing ok there there's no

the arab league is obviously under the influence of hezbollah. who else -- there are three countries in the arab league to have veto power that makes it much more difficult than it did for concerted action in libya. i know there are members of the arab league who are much more actively involved, but whether the arab league itself, because of veto for a few countries -- i am trying to remember a couple of those. it may be very difficult to get a solid position out of the arab league, as opposed to the situation as it prevailed in libya. as you know, probably the most unpopular person in the arab league at that time was mr. khadafy, since he tried to kill a few of the leaders of those countries. i guess i have to stop there. we have a distinguished panel of leaders here. i would like to say, particularly, there are a lot of young people in this audience. you come from all over the world, and you are here, i think, to learn and to listen. i hope you will go back and realize that we live, still, in a very dangerous world, one that is fraught with cha

hezbollah would be put on its back foot.er regional interests, saudis, turkey there's a reason why russia isn't going to get onboard to push assad out, they are supplying, with the iranians, helicopters and money to the assad regime. >> bret, what about the military risks? people say it is not as easy as libya, opposition doesn't control territory harder to carve out a safe haven syrian military more capable and maybe russia will get in our way and say we are not going to let you do it and intervene on the side of syria? >> several years ago i stumbled into an encampment of the republican guard troops, these were the best of the best. the idea that the syrian army would be a ferocious opponent to the united states is a joke as it was that gaffe if i was going to be a sear -- as it was a jock that gaffe if i was a serious -- >> it is wrong to suggest that the syrians stand 10 feet high and it stretches the limit of our capabilities to deal way third rate military power like the syrians. as for the russians, their bark is wors

iran and the substate after quds force, their intelligence service, their proxy force hezbollah.before 9/11 hezbollah killed more americans than any other terrorist group and this is basically directed by iran. i believe in a proxy war iran is -- and i'm not sure that any of our policymakers understand that her realize that, but that has been a long time. you have an iranian regime, one of the most corrupt on the face of the earth. seeking to develop a capability to at some point build a nuclear weapon. that is a threat. another threat not only make passing reference to this in the book but it's the espionage threat focused on the u.s.. i don't know this but i would guess there are more hostile intelligence officers inside the united states now than at the height of the cold war. and a significant part of that is focused on industrial espionage and the intellectual capital we have here in the u.s.. cyberspace, i referred to that. weapons of mass destruction, biological weapons in particular, i am particularly concerned about that. talk about intelligence challenge. how do you loc

hezbollah will be put on its back foot as well and you have a lot of other regional interests there.dis, turkey. there is a reason russia isn't going to get on board because they are supplying with the iranians supplying helicopters and money to the assad regime. >> people say it is not as easy as libya because the opposition doesn't control any territory. harder to carve out a safe haven for them. the syrian military is more capable and in this case maybe russia will get in our way and say we are not going to let you do it and intervene on the seed of syria? >> several years ago i stumbled into an encampment of elite syrian republican guard troops. these were hungry looking troops and the best of the best. the idea that they would be a ferocious opponent to the united states is a joke just as it was a joke that momar was going to be a serious opponent. >> militarily it is easy. >> no military operation is easy. no one wants to say it as cake walk. it is wrong to suggest that the syrians stand ten feet high and that it stretches the limit of our capability to deal with a third rate m

i think that hezbollah concern unleashed by iran is always there and dangerous. men may be the most overlooked voting group out there, why are men deserting president obama, what can he do to win them back. you're watching "hardball," the place for politics. >> where the presidential campaigns and super pacs are spending the most money per vote? cantar media crunched the number, ohio and a ton of money is being spent there already just short of half a million dollars per electoral vote. number two is iowa. the campaigns spend half a million per electoral vote. but the number one state, nevada with nearly $700,000 with each of it's six electoral votes. >>> welcome back to "hardball." president obama actually beat mitt romney by seven points in the wisconsin exit polls yesterday, but he's got a problem with one significant demographic -- men. according to the same exit polls, obama's support among wisconsin men has taken an eight-point dive since 2008. eight points. nationally, obama's disapproval number has risen now to 50% and it's going up. that's up from two ye

in yemen in iraq even in north africa using hezbollah and he think american bases in the gulf if the summary unfolded that israel attacked iran and there are nations that would help iran acquire a nuclear weapon is that a realistic scenario or yeah i mean in a way that could be kind of a scenario that we're going to have or see there but i would say that the problem with a nuclear iran is not that iran is going to the story as well i do not believe in but. it would be kind of a source of inspiration a nuclear iran. for many radical groups in the region. will start to actually act in a different manner and now when they have kind of for you to back up. this is the thing so i'm not sure that the game is i mean you know the main issue is in the question as you put it i think that what we have here is kind of psychological. moving across to so it is all has been surprisingly quiet and inactive in terms of developments there is it because time is on as well signed all because it does not want to see a regime change there well i think that there's that is pretty confused about that this is

something of the sort of course but the remains could just use their proxies in the region mainly hezbollah . using their rockets so what they will have in mind here and this will be the retaliation policy of the iranians is to install kind of i would say some sort of instability where you can wave comes to norman's lands in yemen in iraq even in north africa using hezbollah and he think american bases in the gulf if the sun are unfolded that is on the tech team and there are nations that would help iran acquire a nuclear weapon is that of realistic scenario yeah i mean in a way that could be kind of a scenario that we're going to have or see there but i would say that the problem with a nuclear iran is not that iran is going to the story israel i do not believe in but. it would be kind of a source of in. the nuclear iran. for many radical groups in the region. will start to actually act in a different manner now when they have kind of a nuclear backup. this is the thing so i'm not sure that the game is i mean no the main issue is in the question as you put it i think that what we have here

i don't think so but the secretary general of hezbollah did say that his if his personal involvement is necessary to resolve this problem he would be willing to muzzle it out and hello my legs that none of the kidnapped individuals i have been commanded is no no do you know how soon the kidnapped individuals may be freed quite soon it will happen this month. and i've been sad that it will only realign itself in defining its policies and will not take into consideration serious internal conflicts but some say that this is impossible as the geopolitical ties between the two countries are very strong when you think about that. let me ask you a question what will happen if lebanon pursues a policy that is based purely on its own interests will such a policy guarantee mission we have a problem but part of the people support the cover. regime in syria and another part support the opposition but we as a state are pursuing a policy where we recognize the syrian government so as the minister of internal affairs and you know who should i support if i'm in iraq by going to lebanon against the r

the arab league, lebanon obviously is under the influence of hezbollah. i am trying to think you else. -- i am trying to think who else. there are a couple of countries in the arab league that have veto power which makes it much more difficult with concerted action in libya. i know there are members of the arab league who are much more actively involved, but whether the arab league itself, i am trying to remember. it may be very difficult to get a solid position out of the arab league as opposed to the situation as it prevails in libya. as you know, probably the most unpopular person in the arab league at that time was moammar gaddafi, since he had tried to kill a few of those leaders of those countries, but i guess i have to stop. we have a very distinguished panel of leaders here. but i would just like to say, particularly there it is a lot of young people in this audience. you come from all over the world, and you are here i think to learn to listen. i hope you will go back in imbued with the thought that we live still in a very dangerous world and one

support hezbollah will be cut and then let's talk about iran and of course. and its relationship with damascus it seems to be the main regional irritant for the u.s. in israel especially with iran in competition with western states over its nuclear activities do you think damascus could be a stepping stone to regime change in iran the question of course many people. no i don't think iran will change at least in the near future its position. that. iran is committed to support the syrian regime today but iran. at the end of the day it's nation. concerned about its interests and. so far the syrian regime in my opinion will be supported by iran. and iran would be against any external. military operation. against syria and. remember this one is for military and that eventually this suppression is not clear if we're talking about military intervention is different and military operation from outside the military on. syria. when you provide weapons to the insurgent military operation when wrong you'll ensure that training. you send them back in other countries to sy

i think that hezbollah concern unleashed by iran is always there and dangerous.st overlooked voting group out there, why are men deserting president obama, what can he do to win them back. you're watching "hardball," the place for politics. home of the brave. ♪ it's where fear goes unwelcomed... ♪ and certain men... find a way to rise above. this is the land of giants. ♪ guts. glory. ram. and he didn't stop for three days and nights as he escaped life as a child soldier. twenty years later, he was still running, he just had a different thing driving him. every step of the way. ♪ visa. supporting athletes and the olympic games for 25 years. join our global cheer. mine was earned off vietnam in 1968. over the south pacific in 1943. i got mine in iraq, 2003. usaa auto insurance is often handed down from generation to generation. because it offers a superior level of protection, and because usaa's commitment to serve the military, veterans and their families is without equal. begin your legacy, get an auto insurance quote. usaa. we know what it means to serve. >> whe

look, i mean, syria represents hezbollah's strategic depth.t's also a supply line hezbollah has an awful lot of arms on the. so now -- no matter what, even if assad would topple today they have a lot of, you probably have in of missiles and rockets for more than one round with israel. we don't know but they have a lot of weapons. nonetheless, for hezbollah to lose it strategic ally and it strategic depth in syria would rip is a huge setback for the iranians. and the iranians recognize this. this is one of the reasons why i think there's probably, we should probably let credence to the reports that are both irgc fighters and hezbollah fighters right now in city. in order to keep the regime afloat. it's also interesting what this is about how the regime is doing militarily. if there are foreign fighters according to the regime in syria, does alawite military position look like? anyway, let me go through this very quickly. again, if we believe that the iranian come if the iranian threat is that significant, why don't we look for an opportunity to

and he also talked about hezbollah. hezbollah has an awful lot of arms right now.even if the shock were to topple today, they probably have enough rockets for more than one round in israel. nevertheless, for hezbollah to lose, its strategic ally in syria, that would represent a huge setback for the iranians. the iranians and recognize this. that is why we should probably lend some credence to the reports that there are both irgc fighters and hezbollah fighters in syria in order to keep the regime of float. it is also interesting what it says about how the regime is doing militarily if there are foreign fighters supporting it. what does the military position look like? let me go through this very quickly. again, if we believe that the iranian threats -- if the iranian threat is that significant, why don't we look for an opportunity to take on the iranians wherever possible? especially if everyone is saying -- david said there should be boots on the ground in turkey, but not in syria. no one else is calling for american troops right now. the administration has said -

this would free up 11 on, it will be a huge blow to hezbollah and will have enormous effect. people are being massacred. people are being tortured and raped and killed. i went to a refugee camp, and it is a horrible thing. i heard the same thing about libya. if we helped in libya and gaddafi came down on july 7. it will probably be reasonably free and fair. they said the same thing about bosnia and cause of the zero and rwanda. dr. they said the same thing about afghanistan and were ignored. troops are still there. >> that is right, jeremy, and we went to afghanistan because that was the place where the 9/11 attacks were initiated and we had no other choice because that is where the attacks came from that killed several thousand grave and innocent americans. >> it is still 11 years on, and ongoing military problem in which lives are being lost. >> i know none of us that want intervention or boots on the ground. this would be a multinational effort in the thick the turks will play a very lead role. america should lead. this president won't even utter a word on behalf of these

syria which is iran's only ally in the arab world, their route to the sea and their route to arm hezbollah and lebanon syria is now in turmoil. and remarkably the president having given russia what they wanted removal of our missile defense sites from eastern europe did not get in turn the commitments, did not get anything from that. we now have russia protecting apparently syria. the president ought to be working very aggressively to encourage our friends there, the turks and the saudis to be providing the elements that the insurgents need in syria to provide freedom to the people there. there is an extraordinarily high priority and opportunity for us to push back against the plans of iran to become the hedgeamont of the region and we have to be preparing in this nation the kind of military option that will might be necessary if iran were to pursue their nuclear calling. >> sean: tomorrow night part two of my sit down interview with the governor and his wife. here is a sneak peek. >> sean: big crowds in michigan. 140 days to go. how are you guys feeling? >> feels great. fun being out on t

he reaches for it from hezbollah. note that in all of his criticisms of america's supposed human rights abuse by going after hardened terrorists he never criticizes ewing gaw chavez, fidel castro, danny ortega, hezbollah, hamas. so he is pretty selective in his application of human rights. >> laura: muslim brotherhood's proclamation that women minorities shouldn't serve in the everywhere echelons of the egyptian government. is that what carter thinks? even mohammed morsi is backing away from that a little bit. >> well, i cannot off hand think of any instance in which jimmy carter has attacked anti-american human rights. >> what do you think of morsi by the way. >> let's wait and see. >> laura: you are being very open-minded, peter. >> you have to be laura, remember, we conservatives under bush cheney we were all democracy in the middle east. that was going to fix everything. now we have got democracy in the middle east. >> and democracies you don't always get the results you like. so, we have been handed a bigging pil