McCaul releases counterterrorism report

Homeland Security Committee Chairman Michael McCaul (R-TX) announced on Thursday the release of a report on the ongoing state of the U.S.’s counterterrorism efforts entitled Terrorism Gone Viral.

One of the key takeaways from the report’s findings is that ISIS’s focus has shifted from the struggle in Syria and parts of Iraq into the world at large.

Another key finding from the report is that despite the increase of seemingly lone wolf attackers and isolated incidents of terrorism, the line between direct action by the group, also known as the Daesh by its enemies, is becoming increasingly blurred.

“ISIS has reached an unprecedented level of terror plotting against the United States and our allies,” McCaul said. “The group’s focus on ‘do-it-yourself’ jihad has allowed them to franchise their attacks worldwide, achieving a tempo of violence that has surpassed even al Qaeda’s most violent years. However, this report reminds us that we cannot win by simply bombing terrorist safe havens. Today’s jihadists are finding shelter in virtual safe havens, too, and recruiting with the ease of a retweet. That is why a counter-ISIS strategy focused on Syria and Iraq just won’t cut it. We need a global plan to defeat Islamist terrorists and a robust coalition to see it through.”