Amb. R. James Woolsey, former Director of Central Intelligence and Chancellor at The Institute of World Politics, discussed the terror attacks in Brussels with Fox News on March 23. Amb. Woolsey was asked his thoughts on why many similar attacks are committed together by family members, as in the case of the Brussels, in which two brothers conspired together. Amb. Woolsey believes that immigrant family members conspire together on such attacks not only because of cultural reasons, but because of many of the lenient immigration laws that allow extended families to enter the United States. He also stated that many of these attacks have been committed by extremist Muslims, and that we cannot begin to fight the attacks until we admit that religion plays a critical role in the terrorist attacks.
On March 23, Amb. Woolsey spoke to CNN about the attacks, commenting that there is no reason to criticize the increased policing of Muslim neighborhoods in order to prevent more attacks, when the majority of these attacks are committed by Muslims.
Amb. Woolsey also spoke to Newsmax Prime on March 23 about the increased surveillance of Mosques; he that believes policing them, as well as Muslim neighborhoods, is not prejudiced, and it is similar to how police once monitored Catholic Churches for immigrants from Italy who had possible mob connections. Amb. Woolsey also discussed the readiness of the ISIS to attack basically anywhere in the world, at any time. He believes they are logistically and functionally able to do so. He concluded that the United States should also be leery about terrorist attacks taking place on historically significant dates, such as this upcoming Easter.
On March 23, Ambassador Woolsey also spoke to Bloomberg Business and weighed in on the aftermath of the terrorist attacks in Brussels. He articulated that terrorism will remain prevalent in the United States and abroad for a very long time, and transportation nodes such as buses and trains are at greater risk. Europe and the United States will not win the War on Terror simply by being active defensively; there must be offensive tactics and strategies in place. Amb. Woolsey concluded that Europe is at even greater risk because it is physically closer and easier to get to and from Middle Eastern countries.
On the same day, Amb. Woolsey spoke on the Alan Colmes Show on Fox News Radio. He stated that the war against ISIS will get worse before it gets better, and right now, the U.S. is just as vulnerable as Brussels to a terrorist attack. He also reiterated that it is not discriminatory to police Muslim neighborhoods, since the acts of terror are primarily committed by Muslims. But he also emphasized that radical Islamic terrorists do not represent Islam as a whole, and that we must be careful not to confuse radical Islamists with law abiding Muslim-Americans.
On March 22, Amb. Woolsey also spoke with CNBC and gave his opinions on why he believes the War on Terror is so different from previous wars, such as the Cold War. During the Cold War, Russia’s ideological beliefs had collapsed, as well as its economy; the War on Terror is solely based on ideology and religion. Amb. Woolsey also pointed out that for 20 years after the Cold War was over, many people working in government felt that the CIA was no longer useful; they became extremely lax, believing there would be no imminent threat to our national security. Again, he emphasized that we cannot begin to fight the attacks until we admit religion — specifically Islam — plays a critical role in the terrorist attacks.
Ambassador R. James Woolsey, currently Chancellor at IWP, has served as the Director of Central Intelligence, as chief negotiator to the CFE (Conventional Armed Forces in Europe) talks with the rank of ambassador, and as General Counsel to the U.S. Senate Committee on Armed Services. Amb. Woolsey has been one of the most prominent analysts of national security issues, as well as energy policy.