America is vulnerable to attack by Islamic extremists from a southern flank, and it’s not the U.S./Mexico border, a top general says. The number of ISIS devotees living in or coming from the Caribbean is on the rise, according to U.S. Southern Command chief Gen. John Kelly, who oversees security throughout South America.
He said he has seen a shift in rhetoric by top ISIS leaders geared toward a “few very, very radical mosques” in the region, essentially directing would-be disciples to direct attacks from their homes rather than trek to the Middle East and risk capture by law enforcement.
“It seems like the Islamic extremists and terrorists have shifted a lot of their message, and that is, ‘Hey, rather than come to Syria, why don’t you stay at home and do San Bernardino, or do Boston, or do Fort Hood?’” Kelly said Friday at a Pentagon press briefing. He estimated that the number of radicals who left the region to join the group has risen from 100 to 150 over the last year. FULL REPORT
