In recent weeks, the Islamic State reached a horrific milestone: 100 terrorist plots or attacks against Western countries in just two years. This is an unprecedented wave of terror, yet we are still not doing enough to turn the tide.
This summer alone, hundreds have been killed — and even more injured — in a string of external operations tied to the Islamic State.
Such attacks have become so common that we now refer to them by the names of the target cities: Paris, San Bernardino, Brussels, Orlando, Nice, Munich and beyond, a grim reminder of how severe the threat has become.
The reality is that in this generational struggle, our city streets are now the frontlines.
The United States is by far the top target. In fact, last month my committee produced a congressional report which found that 40 percent of Islamic State plots have been aimed at our country.
Radical Islamists are not only persuading supporters to join them on the battlefield overseas, they are telling them to stay home and conduct attacks.
It appears to be working. Last year there were more homegrown jihadist plots in America than we’ve ever tracked in a single year, almost all of which were tied to the Islamic State.
It’s now clearer than ever that the administration’s current strategy — or lack thereof — isn’t working.
The White House continues to play global “whack-a-mole” with jihadists instead of fighting this struggle like a war. Indeed, time and again they have let power vacuums emerge — from Syria and Iraq to Libya and Afghanistan — causing terrorist safe havens to spread like wildfire.
On top of it all, the administration appears more focused on releasing terrorists than capturing new ones. They continue to free hardened fighters from Guantanamo Bay, despite the fact that nearly a third of them have returned to the battlefield; some of them have even killed Americans.
America is in dire need of real leadership and serious solutions to prevail over this evil.
That is why House Republicans have put forward a bold national security agenda that spells out how to protect the homeland, defeat terrorists and confront emerging threats worldwide.
We’ve called it “A Better Way,” and our plan is what’s needed to put America back on track and to protect our freedoms.
Ronald Reagan used to say America was a “city on a hill,” an inspiration to all the world. But if we don’t act decisively, it will be seen as a “city under siege.”
Already, eight years of failed leadership have caused our allies to doubt us, our adversaries to take advantage of us and our enemies to plot against us.
We must ask ourselves, “Are we safer than we were eight years ago?” For most us, the answer is a resounding, “No.”
Enough is enough. Our “Better Way” agenda reflects the determination and positive vision we need to fortify American greatness.
It also sends a blunt message to terrorist groups like the Islamic State: We will not be intimidated by your violence, and we will not stop until we have delivered justice.
House Republicans are committed to this blueprint for restoring U.S. leadership and security, and we recognize that — now more than ever — our nation’s tomorrow depends on our resolve today.
View the House Homeland Security Committee’s August Terror Threat Snapshot, here.
Rep. Michael McCaul is chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee. Thinking of submitting an op-ed to the Washington Examiner? Be sure to read our guidelines on submissions.
