NEW THREAT – AT 11:51 A.M. ET: I would take this seriously. They've been credible before. From Bill Gertz at the Washinton Free Beacon:
The Islamic State is urging jihadists in the United States and Europe to carry out terror attacks during what a group spokesman promised would be “the month of conquest and jihad.”
A U.S. government advisory warned that ISIS attacks, either directly sponsored or simply inspired by the group’s rhetoric, could be carried out during Islam’s month of Ramadan that begins June 5.
The threatened attacks were announced in an ISIS video made public May 21.
In the video, ISIS spokesman Abu Mohammad al-Adnani called on jihadists to “get prepared, be ready … to make it a month of calamity everywhere for nonbelievers…especially for the fighters and supporters of the caliphate in Europe and America.”
A report by the State Department-led Overseas Security Advisory Council said the threat could be credible because three deadly terror attacks took place last year shortly after Adnani issued a similar call to arms.
“According to Islamic practice, sacrifice during Ramadan can be considered more valuable than that made at other times, so a call to martyrdom during the month may hold a special allure to some,” the report said.
COMMENT: Eternal vigilance, as they say, is the price of liberty. If an attack occurs here, it will be just before the national conventions. Inevitably, there could be a devastating political impact. It could make Donald Trump president, if he is seen as the strong leader who can handle the situation. Or, very important, it can ruin him if he responds like a small-time neighborhood bully.
I'm concerned. We should all be concerned.
June 4, 2016 |