Gingrich: Obama setting US ‘up to be defeated’ in Syria

Speaking on ABC’s “This Week,” Gingrich said the administration’s decision to provide light weapons for Syrian rebels seeking to topple Bashar al-Assad would be ineffectual against the Russian and Iranian military support for the Syrian president.

{mosads}“It’s all nonsense. I mean, what are you going to accomplish?,” asked Gingrich. “If the Iranians and the Russians are prepared to arm and equip and support Assad, and if Hezbollah, and by the way, Iranian volunteers, are prepared to help kill Syrians for Assad, then the idea that we’re going to somehow marginally affect this is a disaster, I think.

“This will turn out to be one of those cases where the United States will set itself up to be defeated, and [Russian President Vladimir] Putin will be quite happy on behalf of Russia to be part of defeating the United States,” he added. 

“I think it’s a very badly thought-out process,” said Gingrich.

Last week the Obama administration said Assad’s regime had crossed a red line with the use of chemical weapons and the White House announced plans to supply weapons to rebels. 

Republican Sens. John McCain (Ariz.) and Lindsey Graham (S.C.) are calling for more, including a no-fly zone over the country.