Former U.S. Ambassador visits Marquette, offers unique perspective on Syria, ISIS

MILWAUKEE -- With the tough talk turning to military action in Syria, one man who knows the country better than most in the U.S. shares his perspective on the Middle East. He is Robert Ford, the former U.S. Ambassador to Syria -- and he paid Milwaukee a visit on Tuesday, November 17th.

Ford visited the campus of Marquette University just as reports indicate France and Russia are making retaliatory strikes on Islamic State strongholds in Syria.

"American intelligence assessments conclude that the Islamic State has basically recruited as many new fighters as we have killed in our bombing campaigns," said Ford.

Ford's primary purpose in Milwaukee involves his assessment of the 18 months of work done by America's coalition against the Islamic State. But he also shares his opinion of military strategy in the Middle East.

"Get indigenous ground forces up front and in the lead," said Ford.

Ford said while Wisconsin's governor has the Dairy State joining more than half the country in rejecting the resettlement of Syrian refugees, the former ambassador would take a different approach.

"I urged, with my co-signers of the letter, urged that the President make arrangements so that we could allow 100,000 Syrian refugees per year into the United States," said Ford.

Ford explains he understands the security concerns involved with accepting refugees. But he explains he is also aware that so many Syrian refugees are literally freezing to death during the efforts to escape the violence at home.