Former US defense official says strike has 'stategic impact' Director of the International Security Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies Kathleen Hicks says the US strike on the Syrian air force base will have a "strategic impact" on the conflict. The former Department of Defense official anticipates that the next step for the US will be getting "the Russians to put more pressure on Assad" to oust the Syrian leader from power. IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES