in addition, those same sources outlined the help assad is getting from iran. weapons and computer expertise to root out opposition. their own people. barbara starr is there tonight. and robert bair, and even though we have word of more defections from the syrian army, you re hearing that bashar al assad has a firm grip on power in syria? absolutely, anderson. i spoke with three separate senior u.s. intelligence officials. the assessment is all in agreement. assad remains in control, in charge. commanding his forces. there is no break. they believe, in the inner circle around him. you see these defections. you see some generals fleeing, but this is not his critical inner circle. they have closed ranks, they have determined to fight. they have tucked themselves into it. one of the officials says they re fighting an insurgency, and they believe right now that they will win. and sadly, anderson, the opposition remains fractured and unable to really mount an effective counterof
outlined the help assad is getting from iran. weapons and computer expertise to root out opposition. their own people. barbara starr is there tonight. and robert bair, and even though we have word of more defections from the syrian army, you re hearing that assad has a firm grip on power in syria? absolutely. i spoke with three separate senior u.s. intelligence officials. the assessment is all in agreement. assad remains in control, in charge. commanding his forces. there is no break. they believe, in the inner circle around him. you see these defections. you see some generals fleeing, but this is not his critical inner circle. they have closed ranks, they have determined to fight. they have tucked themselves into it. one of the officials says they re fighting an insurgency, and they believe right now that they will win. and sadly, anderson, the opposition remains fractured and unable to really mount an effective counteroffensive, according to the officials. so does it su
85 lives today alone. in addition those same sources outlined the help assaad is getting from iran. in other words help in targeting its own people. also with us tonight, former cia officer and time.com intelligence columnist robert baer. barbara, even though we have word today of more defections from the syrian army, you re seeing that assaad has a firm grip on syria. the assessment is all in agreement. assad remains in control, in charge, commanding his forces. there is no break, they believe in the inner circle around him. this is not his critical inner circle. they have closed ranks, they have determined to fight, they have talked themselves into it, one of the officials says that they are fighting an insurgency and they believe right now they will win and sadly, anderson, the opposition remains fractured and unable to really mount an effective counter offensive according to these officials. does this surprise you? i m not really sure about the quality of the amer