Former U.S. National Security Adviser, General Jim Jones tells CNN's Christiane Amanpour the absence of such a plan would have grave consequences – for Syria and the rest of the region.

“It was okay to be surprised by Tunisia for example,” General Jones said. “Maybe you could excuse it a little bit in Egypt. But Syria is a real big strategic country, particularly as it relates to stability in the Middle East. What happens to Lebanon for example if Assad goes? What happens to Iran?”

But does a plan exist? General Jones, a former member of the Obama administration, didn’t confirm it. But he did stress the importance of having one: “Obviously we should have a plan. As a global leader we need to consider what the elements of that plan are.” FULL POST

By Christiane Amanpour

After a heated discussion on gun control on our program, both my guests reached a point of agreement; that a larger debate on the Second Amendment must continue. This would seem fitting, given a Pew poll shows Americans are practically evenly split over gun control: 45% in favor, while 49% are against.

One of the aspects of this debate I find exceptionally important is that while some blame the culture in America, in Europe they watch the same movies. Yet, they have hade many fewer mass shootings. And after each one of these attacks they have implemented and legislated change and a tightening up of gun laws, which has worked and cut down the violence significantly.

One of the guests in our debate tonight, Alan Korwin insists we should all be armed – you can watch his perspective, and the fascinating conversation we had, in the video above.

By Lucky Gold

They really don’t believe what they saw on state television

Dutch journalist Sander van Hoorn was on the ground in Syria again on Thursday and provided an update on the confusing situation there.

Referring to Wednesday’s bombing that killed three of President Assad’s inner circle, van Hoorn said “much is still unclear and I’m afraid will stay that way.”

“I speak to a lot of people here that really don’t believe what they saw on state television.... They say it may all have been pre-recorded. So there’s a lot of doubts if the events that took place yesterday actually were really a suicide attack.”

Asked what might have taken place, van Hoorn said, “Basically, two things you hear might be true – that they (Assad’s ministers) died before and that they had to put something into motion to make it look like they were killed in a suicide blast. The other speculation is that something might have happened, right there, right then, but not a suicide. Maybe a murder by some elements of the regime against others.”

Given the uncertainty, he was asked if the regime is still in control: “Well, if you listen to the sounds they are,” said van Hoorn. “The biggest sounds are the thuds of the artillery fire. The president’s picture I guess in the suburbs they will tear it down…But here in the center of Damascus they (Assad’s pictures) are firmly in place.” FULL POST

By Ken Olshansky

If, indeed, an attack took place...

CNN - Dutch journalist Sander van Hoorn was on the ground in Syria today, reporting on the deadly attack in Damascus that killed four top officials in Bashar Assad’s inner circle. His take? “It was the most bizarre scene.”

The attack took place in the heart of Damascus. And Van Hoorn reports, “Nobody has given me a good explanation for how it could be that only one hundred meters from the site of the supposed blast, people were just acting as if nothing had happened.

The key words there are ‘the supposed blast.’ When asked about conflicting reports of what actually happened, Van Hoorn said this: “I was in the hotel, so I should have been able to hear it. I didn’t.” FULL POST

By Lucky Gold

Losing hope in the concept of two states

Former British Prime Minister Tony Blair was in Jerusalem on Monday, joining the effort to revive the peace process between Israel and the Palestinians. It won’t be easy.

“I’m worried and frustrated, too,” said Blair. “We’ve managed to keep this whole process from collapsing but that’s not the same thing as getting it moving.”

Appearing on Amanpour, Blair warned that if the process does collapse, “the consequences are really serious. It’s not just a question of disorder and instability – although that’s always a risk – it’s also that people end up losing hope in the concept of two states.” FULL POST