Bayan News – General Kent Mackenzie, former commander of the United States Central Command (CENTCOM), stated in his recent remarks that if American and NATO forces had remained in Afghanistan, the United States and its allies would have been more secure.
In an interview with ABC News on Monday, March 31, the American general discussed his new book titled “The Melting Point,” in which he states that ISIS utilizes online platforms to organize its attacks.
Expressing concern about ISIS presence in Afghanistan, Mackenzie said, “If 2,500 American soldiers alongside other NATO members had remained in Afghanistan, they could have fought against ISIS, and we would have been more secure.”
Mackenzie emphasized, “Extremism by individuals who have access to the internet outside the United States may be one of the most dangerous methods that ISIS can use to carry out attacks.”
According to the American general, ISIS attacks are not limited to Afghanistan but also aim to target other countries, including Russia, the United States, and other NATO member states.
Mackenzie highlighted, “The Russian attack was likely orchestrated directly by ISIS’s Khorasan branch, but online extremism poses a threat to the future.”
The American general found it challenging to identify factors related to ISIS and stressed that their attacks would be highly lethal.
However, he stated that if pressure is applied to ISIS in their safe havens, they will not be able to carry out attacks. Unfortunately, the United States has not exerted the necessary pressure on ISIS, allowing them to plan, organize, and carry out attacks freely.
It is worth mentioning that the ISIS attack on the outskirts of Moscow shocked the world and raised concerns about the organization’s ability to orchestrate attacks in other countries.
The attack took place in a concert hall in the city of Moscow, resulting in the loss of nearly 150 lives and the injury of approximately 200 others.
