So, please, enjoy your lives instead of worrying about a non-issue.
Secretary of State John Kerry says recent ‘desperate’ terrorist attacks prove ISIS ‘on the run’
Secretary of State John F. Kerry said Sunday that the latest rampage of deadly terrorist attacks worldwide shows that the Islamic State is “on the run.”
“They are on the run, and what I believe what we are seeing are the desperate actions of an entity that sees the noose closing around it,” Mr. Kerry said on CNN’s “State of the Union.”
He was immediately challenged by CNN anchor Jake Tapper, who said candidly: “With all due respect, sir, I’m not sure it looks that way to the public, that ISIS is on the run.”
Mr. Tapper cited five terrorist attacks in the last five weeks, including the June 12 massacre at a nightclub in Orlando, Florida, that left 49 dead, and most recently the 84 people killed Thursday at a Bastille Day celebration in Nice, France.
“I don’t think ISIS is on the run,” said Mr. Tapper.
Mr. Kerry said that it is unclear whether those attackers were actually members of ISIS or merely individuals inspired by their ideology.
“It depends on where you mean ISIS,” Mr. Kerry said. “I don’t know if this guy [in Nice] was actually ISIS and nor do you. And we don’t know if the guy in Orlando was fundamentally ISIS, nor even told what to do by ISIS. If people are inspired, they’re inspired.”
At the same time, he said, “But ISIL, which is based in Iraq and Syria, is under huge pressure, and that’s just a fact.”
A media outlet run by the Islamic State reported that ISIS has taken responsibility for the Nice attack by Mohamed Lahouaiej Bouhlel, calling him a “soldier” who “carried out the operation in response to calls to target nationals of states fighting Islamic State,” according to the Telegraph newspaper in Britain.
The Tunisian-born jihadist, who was killed after driving a 19-ton truck into a crowd, has been described as a career criminal who became radicalized in the last several months.
Even though “people are acting out in various places,” the Islamic State terrorist group is “not growing in their ability to do things,” Mr. Kerry said.
“They are shrinking. We’ve taken back 40 percent, 45 percent of the territory they held in Iraq. We’re squeezing town after town. We’ve liberated communities,” Mr. Kerry said. “We’re making progress now advancing on Mosul in Syria. Likewise, they’re not able to attack and hold towns.”
John Kerry, secretary of state: Recent 'desperate' terrorist attacks proves ISIS 'on the run' - Washington Times
Secretary of State John Kerry says recent ‘desperate’ terrorist attacks prove ISIS ‘on the run’
Secretary of State John F. Kerry said Sunday that the latest rampage of deadly terrorist attacks worldwide shows that the Islamic State is “on the run.”
“They are on the run, and what I believe what we are seeing are the desperate actions of an entity that sees the noose closing around it,” Mr. Kerry said on CNN’s “State of the Union.”
He was immediately challenged by CNN anchor Jake Tapper, who said candidly: “With all due respect, sir, I’m not sure it looks that way to the public, that ISIS is on the run.”
Mr. Tapper cited five terrorist attacks in the last five weeks, including the June 12 massacre at a nightclub in Orlando, Florida, that left 49 dead, and most recently the 84 people killed Thursday at a Bastille Day celebration in Nice, France.
“I don’t think ISIS is on the run,” said Mr. Tapper.
Mr. Kerry said that it is unclear whether those attackers were actually members of ISIS or merely individuals inspired by their ideology.
“It depends on where you mean ISIS,” Mr. Kerry said. “I don’t know if this guy [in Nice] was actually ISIS and nor do you. And we don’t know if the guy in Orlando was fundamentally ISIS, nor even told what to do by ISIS. If people are inspired, they’re inspired.”
At the same time, he said, “But ISIL, which is based in Iraq and Syria, is under huge pressure, and that’s just a fact.”
A media outlet run by the Islamic State reported that ISIS has taken responsibility for the Nice attack by Mohamed Lahouaiej Bouhlel, calling him a “soldier” who “carried out the operation in response to calls to target nationals of states fighting Islamic State,” according to the Telegraph newspaper in Britain.
The Tunisian-born jihadist, who was killed after driving a 19-ton truck into a crowd, has been described as a career criminal who became radicalized in the last several months.
Even though “people are acting out in various places,” the Islamic State terrorist group is “not growing in their ability to do things,” Mr. Kerry said.
“They are shrinking. We’ve taken back 40 percent, 45 percent of the territory they held in Iraq. We’re squeezing town after town. We’ve liberated communities,” Mr. Kerry said. “We’re making progress now advancing on Mosul in Syria. Likewise, they’re not able to attack and hold towns.”
John Kerry, secretary of state: Recent 'desperate' terrorist attacks proves ISIS 'on the run' - Washington Times
