The Obama administration claimed that ISIS is committing acts of terror on Europe and in the United States because Obama is making inroads in the battle to destroy the caliphate in Iraq.
The White House suggested Friday that more terrorist attacks are happening in Europe and elsewhere because of the progress the U.S.-led coalition is making on the battlefield against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria.
Discussing the recent spate of Islamic State-related or inspired terrorist attacks around the world, the president’s top spokesman said the U.S. has been focused on countering these types of “lone-wolf” attacks “all along and we’ve made some progress.”
“But it’s more of a significant threat now, according to some analysts, because of the important progress that we’ve made in undercutting the fantasy of [an Islamic State] establishing a caliphate in Iraq and Syria,” Josh Earnest told reporters.
Asked if the White House, not just outside analysts, agrees with this theory, Earnest said: “This is something we’re watching closely and we want to be mindful of this potential risk.”
This actually does make some sense, and it’s the main difference between al-Qaeda and ISIS. Al-Qaeda never wanted a caliphate because they knew if they controlled territory it would be hard to keep and defend it. ISIS has always wanted a physical state but is now having trouble keeping it.
But this is little comfort to the hundreds of victims of ISIS in the terror attacks on the West. Perhaps our governments need to do more to protect us at home too.