Though the ISIS attacks in Paris were used as a pretext to step up security across several major US cities, White House officials mocked the notion that ISIS posed any real threat to launch attacks inside US, saying the group wants to but doesn’t have the capability to launch attacks within America.
The dismissal of ISIS as a threat will inevitably draw some comparisons to President Obama’s high profile comments on Thursday that ISIS has been successfully “contained” by the US military, which followed almost immediately with major attacks in both Beirut and Paris.
Still, officials maintain they’ve got no evidence of any credible threat posed by ISIS to launch any specific attacks within the US, though US intelligence on the matter is being drawn into some question given their total shock at the Paris attacks.
Indeed, there appears to have been evidence elsewhere on the Paris attacks being imminent, with Iraq warning France only the day before, and reportedly also warning of orders for ISIS to carry out attacks against Russia, Iran, and the United States.
That's an unusual shift. How could they now take advantage of this crisis/opportunity to claim that IS was about to attack the US any minute and therefore more money was needed, more illegal laws were needed to "keep us safe" ™.
Dear Congress, there is no immanent threat, thus the President has just admitted he is in violation of the War Powers Act.
Sounds like Russia trying to downplay claims ISIS downed the Russian plane.
This REEKS of GWB's 'Bring it on' quip. ISIS lacks the capability to attack the US? Please- if I were a betting man I'd wager they could have something put together within days, if not hours, if they wanted to. I'm not so sure right now is the right time to be saying we're untouchable.
I seem to remember another leader a few years back saying something about being untouchable. It went something like, "No enemy bomber can reach the Ruhr. If one reaches the Ruhr, my name is not Göring. You may call me Meyer." – Hermann Goering, 1939. Meyer, meet Barry. You two should have a lot to talk about.
Don't bet on it *bub*
more like Isis will not bite its funders hand!
"…mocked the notion…"
Mocked. The problem with mocking is it usually ends up slapping the p!ss out of the mocker. There is no way the USG can guarantee that ISIS (or any radicalized individuals) does not have the "capability" to bring it to middle America. We've got teenagers running around shooting up movie theaters and schools. It's absurd for the USG to think they can stop it if a bunch of ISIS supporters/soldiers decide to attack. "Bring it on" for sure. American Exceptionalism will protect us. Fools.
Famous last words!
The White House is almost taunting them to do it.
"White House: ISIS Lacks Capability to Attack US" REALLY?! then get TSA out of the airports and get NSA out of our bedrooms and take the MILITARY equipment away from BARNEY FIFE.
I don't think it impossible that ISIS might use its millions to charter small ocean-going boats to cross the narrowest part of the Atlantic between West Africa and the eastern tip of South America. From there men and materiél can move north overland and up the east and west coasts of Central America into Mexico. Other nations could use and resupply it to attack America and push for Washington once the dollar dies; there'll be no money to pay the military and only the population will be left to defend it..
I wonder if Draftkings or Fanduel are offering over/under on this one. Maybe they should start offering Fantasy Terrorist betting…no…wait…it's no BETTING…it's SKILL