Pentagon: 'There Will Be No-Fly' Zone Over Syria

Senate Testimony

Defense Secretary Ash Carter, front, and Air Force Gen. Paul J. Selva, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, testify on the strategy to counter the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant before the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee in Washington, D.C., Dec. 9, 2015. DoD photo by U.S. Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Tim D. Godbee

US News and World Report: Pentagon Admits Syrian, Russian Opposition Scuttles No-Fly Zone

A no-fly zone wouldn't work because opposing militaries in the area would likely challenge it, top general says.

A key Republican senator dressed down the Obama administration's war planners on Wednesday, describing as "embarrassing" their admission that the Pentagon hasn't implemented a no-fly zone in Syria out of fear of confronting provocations from the Syrian and Russian militaries.

In testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee, Air Force Gen. Paul Selva confirmed the military has the ability to implement a designated area in Syria that it could protect with air power and use as a safe zone for refugees fleeing their homes. But, he said, political and policy realities are restricting America's ability to follow through.

"If we're asking the question, 'Can we do it?' the answer is 'yes.''" said Selva, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. "Are we willing to engage the potential of a direct conflict with the Syrian integrated air defense system or Syrian forces or, by corollary, a confrontation with the Russians, should they choose to contest the no-fly zone?"

WNU Editor: The White House was not interested in having a no-fly zone before the Russians became involved in the Syria conflict .... blaming the Russians for why the U.S. cannot have a no-fly zone right now does not impress me. In fact .... Russia's deployment of its S-400 anti-aircraft batteries makes me wonder if it is the Russians themselves who are now slowly imposing a no-fly zone, but against the U.S., Turkey, Israel, etc..