Sen. McCain: Paris Attacks Were ‘Well-Orchestrated’
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Alex Wong/Getty Images(WASHINGTON) — Three Republican senators expressed concern Thursday about the coordination involved in the terrorist attacks in Paris this week, saying that the shootings should reinforce that the war on terror still exists.
“This was obviously a very well-orchestrated attack, not just an individual that is able to blow himself up,” Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., told reporters Thursday. “When you look at that video you know that these are — it was a pretty professional operation. It requires some training.”
“We need to learn more about what ties these individuals have, whether it’s to Al Qaeda or some other group,” Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., said. “The bottom line is that the war on terror continues and for those who believe that somehow that war is over, I think if they have any doubts yet, yesterday should have dispelled them.”
Rubio added that Wednesday’s attacks are “a sign of more things to come throughout Europe and potentially other countries in the West.”
Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, warned that the ability of individuals to be radicalized online or by traveling to countries like Yemen, Iraq and Syria has heightened the threat posed to the U.S. and other countries like never before.
“In all my time of studying homeland security issues and the terrorist threat, I can’t think of a time where the threat level is more dangerous,” Collins said.
The three senators made their comments outside a Senate Intelligence Committee briefing Thursday. The briefing focused on North Korea and the Sony hacking, not on the Paris shooting.
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