Islamic State Threatens Washington After Paris Attacks, U.S. Responds
On Monday, Islamic State released a video threatening to attack Washington D.C., in strikes similar to those used by the terrorist organization in Paris.
“We say to the states that take part in the crusader campaign that, by God, you will have a day God willing, like France’s and by God, as we struck France in the center of its abode in Paris, then we swear that we will strike America at its center in Washington.”
The speaker in the video stood in front of an old vehicle, surrounded by armed men against a dusty backdrop. The video was posted to an Islmaic State website.
Al Ghareeb the Algerian also appeared on the video, and warned Europe about further attacks.
“I say to European countries that we are coming, coming with booby traps and explosives, coming with explosive belts and (gun) silencers and you will unable to stop us because today we are much stronger than before.”
According to Reuters, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security is still trying to determine the authenticity of the video and whether it originated with Islamic State.
“While we take all threats seriously, we do not have specific credible information of an attack on the U.S. homeland,” a DHS official said on condition of anonymity.
Since the attacks, world leaders, have called for the public to begin calling Islamic State “Daesh” instead of ISIS or ISIL, as that word is an insult in Arabic. “Daesh” also delegitimizes the organization and its leaders have allegedly banned the use of the word with threats of mutilation for using it.
French president Françoise Hollande emphasized the word when he said the killings were an act of war by “a terrorist army, a jihadist army, by Daesh, against France.”
Last Week Tonight host John Oliver treated his viewers to a “moment of premium cable profanity” in his opening monologue.
“So, here is where things stand: As of now we know this attack was carried out by gigantic f*****g a**holes…Definitely working in the service of a**holery.”
He continued his statement by giving several well-founded reasons as to why France will likely prevail in this cultural and ideological war.
“France is going to endure and I’ll tell you why. If you are in a war of culture and lifestyle with France, good luck. Go ahead, bring your bankrupt ideology. They’ll bring Jean-Paul Sartre, Edith Piaf, fine wine, Gauloise cigarettes, Camus, Camembert, madeleines, macarons, and the croquembouche. You just brought a philosophy of rigorous self-abnegation to a pastry fight, my friend. You are f***ed.”
Although Oliver failed to mention brie, crepes, and café au lait, his message stands firm: France and its allies will not be intimidated by outdated ideologies propagated by Islamic State.
Earlier on Monday, CNN correspondent Jim Acosta blasted President Barack Obama regarding the United States’ response to the Paris attacks. In a nutshell, he asked the president, “Why can’t we take out these b****ds?”
Obama had already explained and defended the administration’s plan to several other journalists in the room. During the press conference, Michael Calderone tweeted, the president’s response.
Critics of the Obama administration claim that the president and those close to him have not taken the Islamic State threat seriously enough in the past. President Obama hit back, calling for the critics to either put up or shut up.
“If they think somehow their advisers are better than the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and the folks who are actually on the ground, I want to meet them.”
He reiterated that he is not interested in winning a popularity contest or coming up with clever slogans. His primary goal is to “protect the people in the region who are getting killed,” as well as protect U.S. allies.
On Morning Joe Monday morning, New York City Police Commissioner Bill Bratton responded to a question regarding potential NYC attacks by ISIS.
“It is something, going back to the events of September 11, the police department and city have constantly been preparing for and trying to prepare against.”
Bratton was concerned about ISIS’s use of the suicide belts bombers used in the Paris attacks. Police officers would put their lives in imminent danger if they were forced to personally confront an attacker.
As of Sunday, France launched comprehensive attacks on known Islamic State strongholds, primarily in Raqqa, Syria. Coordinating with the United States military, French fighter jets dropped at least 20 bombs in airstrikes over the weekend.
As for the United States and the threat to its national security, the Obama administration said it will continue to assess Islamic State terrorist threats, and if the threats are credible, the appropriate agencies will take the steps necessary to ensure that no major attacks succeed on American soil.
[Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images]
