Rep. Duncan Hunter (R, CA-50) on ISIL: No Threat

[Green Arrow]

Via Politico:

Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.) says the terrorist group Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant is not a direct threat to the U.S. homeland.

"ISIS in Iraq and Syria is not an existential threat to us. They're not going to harm the United States," Hunter said Tuesday on Fox News' "The Kelly File." ISIL is also known as the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria. "They're bad guys, yes, but a bunch of guys wearing pajamas pushing up logs, they are not an existential threat to us like North Korea is, like Iran is, like Pakistan is."


Hunter's comments came during a discussion with host Megyn Kelly on Douglas McAuthur McCain, an American who is said to have been killed in Syria while fighting for ISIL. News that dozens, perhaps hundreds, of westerners have joined ISIL is fueling fears that fighters with passports from western nations could enter the United States to commit acts of terror.


"The only threat that lies with [ISIL] is if they can get people back in the United States to do harm to us here and commit acts of terror," Hunter said.


"You're always going to have disaffected youth, you're always going to have that pull to join something greater than yourself," he added. "People like me join the United States Marine Corps, people like McCain join ISIS."

I like Duncan Hunter.

[Bob]

I like Hunter too.

""The only threat that lies with [ISIL] is if they can get people back in the United States to do harm to us here and commit acts of terror," Hunter said."

[pjohns]

“The only threat that lies with [ISIL] is if they can get people back in the United States to do harm to us here and commit acts of terror,” Hunter said.

This is a bit like one's saying that the only danger of tumbling out the window of a 50-story building is the possibility that one might eventually come into contact with the ground (or the concrete), below...

[Green Arrow]

This is a bit like one's saying that the only danger of tumbling out the window of a 50-story building is the possibility that one might eventually come into contact with the ground (or the concrete), below...

No, actually, it's not a bit like that. That's actually a terrible analogy. ISIL poses many threats, and only one of those threats is realistic (but HIGHLY improbable) where the United States is concerned, and he actually offered the perfect solution to that threat.

[Peter1469]

The Islamic State is going to have to decide if it wants to create a state or not. If so, they are going to be busy with the real world for a while. That entire process will moderate them.

Also, it can't project power. Also there is no evidence that they have people with the special skills needed to be an international terrorist. They have what can be properly called a gaggle of militia members.

But I am sure the Neocons will start banging the war drums louder.....

[Ransom]

The Islamic State is going to have to decide if it wants to create a state or not. If so, they are going to be busy with the real world for a while. That entire process will moderate them.

Also, it can't project power. Also there is no evidence that they have people with the special skills needed to be an international terrorist. They have what can be properly called a gaggle of militia members.

But I am sure the Neocons will start banging the war drums louder.....

Be sure to link to those war drums when they're banged too, Junior. We've seen bluster and hysterics from you concerning all this noise when you're making most of it. Have you ever read The Boy Who Cried Wolf?

[Peter1469]

Be sure to link to those war drums when they're banged too, Junior. We've seen bluster and hysterics from you concerning all this noise when you're making most of it. Have you ever read The Boy Who Cried Wolf?

Correct me if I am wrong, but isn't that what you are doing?

IS is going to burn itself out. Likely faster than it would take to mobilize the forces needed to do what you wish to be done.

I mean in reality. Not your magic solutions based on zero experience in the defense world.

[nic34]

They need to term limit Hunter along with his buddy Issa.

This year.

[nic34]

ISIL may not be the threat, but their U.S. recruits coming back here could be.

[Peter1469]

ISIL may not be the threat, but their U.S. recruits coming back here could be.

Right - they certainly could. We could roll them up when they try to come back and get rid of them.