Top US soldier: Five costly options for intervention in Syria
In an open letter to senators criticizing US decision to stay out of the Syrian conflict, US chiefs of staff commander Gen. Martin Dempsey outlined five options for involvement:
- training, advising and assisting the opposition
- conducting limited strikes
- establishing a no-fly zone
- creating buffer zones inside Syria
- controlling Damascus' chemical arms
Gen Dempsey estimated that the first option would cost about $500m (£325m) a year, while each of the other four actions would require roughly $1bn a month.