ISIS Chatter Suggests Breaching U.S. Border

DHS pinpoints Twitter, social-media exchanges

WND

BOB UNRUH

The U.S. Department of Homeland Security, which continues to believe there is not an imminent danger of ISIS breaching the nation’s southern border, has nevertheless confirmed the Islamic State may be thinking about making such a move.

According to a Bloomberg report on a hearing in Congress, Francis Taylor, the undersecretary for intelligence and analysis at DHS, provided that assessment to the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee.

“There have been Twitter and social media exchanges among ISIL adherents across the globe speaking about that as a possibility,” Taylor said.

A related report from AP said Taylor’s assessment included the opinion that Islamic State “doesn’t pose an immediate threat,” but the terrorist organization that has bulldozed through Syria and Iraq, setting up what it calls a caliphate, can attack American targets overseas without warning.

Taylor explained during the hearing that the extremists have “capabilities” that most terror groups lack.

Taylor’s warning was echoed by Nicholas Rasmussen, the deputy director of the National Counterterrorism Center, who explained that there already have been attacks in France and Belgium – by those who have fought with ISIS.

“The United States is not immune,” Rasmussen warned, according to an AP report, because ISIS has been willing to target anyone “apostate,” an individual, group or people not following ISIS’ version of Islam.

WND reported only days ago that a Washington watchdog organization had warned there was an ISIS presence in Mexico, just across the border from Texas.

That warning was followed by an analysis that noted there was increased security imposed at Fort Bliss, which analysts suggested indicated an increasing threat.

“It’s a significant issue when this is done,” retired Army Lt. Gen. Jerry Boykin said of the higher security measures at Fort Bliss in El Paso, Texas – which is just across the border from Juarez, Mexico

“That means they’re getting a threat stream. Fort Bliss had to have a clear and present threat,” said the former Delta Force commander who also spent four years as deputy undersecretary of defense for intelligence.

Texas media outlets had reported on the post statement regarding increased security.

It was spokesman Lt. Col. Lee Peters who issued the statement about the security, as well as an advisory that accessing the post may take a little more time.

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Reposted with permission