Staff Reports
A recent arrest cast a spotlight on the enduring threat of ISIS, long after its so-called physical caliphate was dismantled. An Afghan national, suspected of plotting an election day terror attack, demonstrates that even five years after a territorial defeat, the Islamic State’s nefarious influence still looms large over the United States. Nasir Ahmad Tawhedi, who has been residing in America since our dramatic military withdrawal from Afghanistan, found himself in hot water thanks to the FBI’s vigilance and a convenient stroke of luck.
Tawhedi, aged 27, is facing charges related to attempted support for ISIS, which is conveniently classified by the U.S. government as a terrorist organization. Unfortunately, his recent arrival in the country after the chaotic evacuation means he slipped through the cracks of our national security net, raising eyebrows on Capitol Hill. Lawmaker concerns are directed primarily at the government’s rather lackadaisical immigration vetting processes. After all, when an Afghan national can plot an attack from within the borders of the U.S., one can’t help but wonder how many other ticking time bombs are out there.
Five years after death of physical caliphate, ISIS threat to U.S. and terrorism influence endures https://t.co/WSHpbFBdpc
— John Solomon (@jsolomonReports) October 15, 2024
The threats are not just confined to Ali Baba’s cave in some far-off desert. On the same day Tawhedi was apprehended, Britain’s domestic intelligence chief warned that ISIS’s renewed ambitions pose a significant risk to their homeland. Sure, the Islamic State isn’t the monolithic force it was at its height, but its regional offshoots, like ISIS-Khorasan, have re-emerged and are wreaking havoc. These guys are trying to turn back the clock and export their brand of terror across borders, leading to concerns that American soil isn’t safe either.
Congressional Republicans have raised alarms about the Biden Administration’s handling of the situation. After a flurry of recent arrests, House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Mark Green has been waving red flags about the administration’s screening protocols. Apparently, the vetting process that let in Tawhedi could also let in who-knows-how-many others who might be inclined to follow in his footsteps. With Afghanistan serving as a hotbed for Islamist militant activity, one must question why this administration isn’t taking preemptive measures at every port of entry to keep America safe.
Even in these trying times, the Biden-Harris administration has managed to keep the party going, at least for the terrorists. Deportations of suspected ISIS operatives have taken place, but there’s a growing concern that they may simply waltz back across the unsecured southern border. Green emphasizes that reckless border policies could allow these individuals to re-enter America, raising serious red flags for national security. It seems that while law enforcement plays an unending game of whack-a-mole with terrorist plots, they’re left to wonder how many more moles they have to deal with thanks to an open-border policy.
The combination of a lackadaisical vetting process and porous borders has left many feeling uneasy about the state of national security. As America gears up for elections, a shadowy network still threatens to bring chaos to what should be a peaceful democratic process. Meanwhile, elected officials scramble to patch the holes in this security sieve. It’s baffling that in an era where the U.S. should be tightening its grip on national security, its leadership remains more focused on other priorities that fail to resonate with common sense. As the threats from ISIS rhythmically rise and fall, one thing is glaringly clear – this isn’t over yet.
