Gen. Boykin: Ousting Syria's Assad Is the Wrong Goal

Retired Army Gen. Jerry Boykin says the Obama administration's policy of supporting the overthrow of Syrian dictator Bashir al-Assad is "ill-conceived."

"Let me start by saying something that may surprise some of your viewers, but first of all, I don't think we should be, America, should be making an effort to depose Bashir al-Assad," Boykin told CBN News in an exclusive interview.

"He is an evil despot, but he has never threatened Israel and he's never killed Christians in Syria," he said.

He said if Assad is forced out, "the alternative is what I think is a fictitious, mythical Free Syrian Army or ISIS."

ISIS has targeted the Christian and Yazidi communities, forcing them to flee, convert to Islam, or face death. 

Since the Obama administration is unlikely to changes its policy, Gen. Boykin said a U.S.-led coalition should establish "safe zones" for civilians fleeing the fighting and the brutality of ISIS.

Those areas should be protected by coalition forces on the ground and a no-fly zone in the air. Russia should be given a clear warning not to fly over those spaces, he explained.

Boykin also called for U.S. Special Operations forces on the ground to direct air strikes against ISIS targets.

He also said Russian President Vladimir Putin is "embarrassing" the United States and President Barack Obama with his show of force in the region. Click play for more.