Enforcing a no-fly zone over Syria could potentially involve shooting at Russian targets on the ground, former Pentagon official Richard Perle told Newsmax TV.
During an interview on "The Steve Malzberg Show," Perle — a former assistant secretary of Defense — said Democrat Hillary Clinton's no-fly zone plan needs to be scrutinized.
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"No-fly zones are not a simple matter. You don't just declare a no-fly zone," said Perle, who once served as chairman of the Pentagon's Defense Policy Board.
"You have to be prepared to enforce it. That means having aircraft in the skies over the no-fly zone. It means using those aircraft to attack targets on the ground, which could include Russian forces, Russian anti-aircraft batteries, and alike. So it's tougher to put a no-fly zone than she implies."
Perle added that broadcasting military moves and battle plans ahead of time, which happened ahead of the ongoing offensive into Mosul, is "political" and does not help militarily.
"I think these announcements are political in nature and they're costly from a strategic and military point of view," Perle said. "It may reassure friends and even worry adversaries to say we're coming, but if we're precise about where we're coming we give up any possibility. It allows the people who were most interested in capturing to move out before we can get there. It's a questionable strategy."
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