Pentagon on high alert for July 4: Dempsey
The Pentagon is maintaining a "higher alert status" for the Fourth of July holiday because of potential terrorist attacks from ISIL, says America’s top military officer.
"The call went for increased attacks during Ramadan, which is why you see us maintaining a higher alert status," Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Martin Dempsey told reporters on Wednesday.
An ISIL spokesman called on followers last week to strike against enemies during the holy month of Ramadan.
On Friday, nearly 40 people were killed at a seaside resort in Tunisia, a man was beheaded at a gas factory in France, and a bomb blast killed at least two dozen people in Kuwait.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and the National Counterterrorism Center have also issued warnings about possible attacks against law enforcement officers and the military during the July 4th weekend.
Gen. Dempsey said military bases around the US have been ordered to go on high alert.
The Pentagon chief, Ashton Carter, also said US “service members will be hard at work” this holiday weekend.
"We're always vigilant at holiday time... and ISIL is another reason... as I'm sure Homeland Security has indicated, for vigilance,” he said Wednesday.
More law enforcement agents are being deployed to prominent locations because of concerns of terrorist threats ahead of the Independence Day celebrations.
Meanwhile, Pentagon leaders are optimistic that the US strategy of training and equipping so-called moderate militants in Iraq and Syria as well as security forces in those countries will defeat ISIL terrorists.
"That is the strategy that will both provide for the victory over ISIL or the defeat of ISIL," Carter said.
Dempsey also highlighted the importance of vetting individuals for training.
"At the end of the day, we need credible, moderate partners on the ground," he said. "We certainly won't take any shortcuts on vetting.”
"We certainly won't take any shortcuts on vetting, however, because of the risk that would pose not only to our own forces, but to the ultimate objectives we are trying to achieve."
The US military is currently training fewer than 100 “moderate” militants in Syria to fight the ISIL terrorist group, highlighting a troubled training program that has failed to reach its target of producing 5,400 militants a year.
HRJ/HRJ
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