US Democratic presidential front-runner Hillary Clinton on 15 December outlined a multi-point plan for how she would work to defeat Islamic State (Isis) in the United States and overseas. During a campaign stop in Minneapolis, Minnesota, the former secretary of state also addressed the issue of homegrown terrorist attacks, such as the San Bernardino, California massacre that left 14 people dead earlier this month.
Her proposals include a broader target for air strikes in Syria; more in-depth visa application reviews for all individuals who have spent time in areas where IS (Daesh) is active; and tighter gun-control laws, including reinstating a ban on the sale of assault weapons.
Its essential that we also make sure jihadists dont get the tools they need to carry out attacks. It defies common sense that Republicans in Congress refuse to make it harder for potential terrorists to buy guns. If you are too dangerous to fly, you are too dangerous to buy a gun. Period. And we should insist. We should insist on comprehensive background checks and close loopholes that allow potential terrorists to buy weapons online or at gun shows. And I think its time to restore the ban on assault weapons and high-capacity magazines, Clinton said.
Clinton said the US should expect more terrorist attacks and must enlist the help of Silicon Valley entrepreneurs to identify potentially radicalised individuals on social media platforms. The married couple who shot 14 people to death in the San Bernardino rampage on 2 December have been described by authorities as inspired by IS.
We also should just dispatch more homeland security agents to high-risk countries to better investigate these applicants. For many years, America has waived visa requirements for travellers from countries with reliable security procedures, including key allies in Europe and Asia. That makes sense but we also have to be smart. Except for limited exceptions, like diplomats and aid workers, anyone who has travelled in the past five years to a country facing serious problems with terrorism and foreign fighters should have to go through a full investigation no matter where theyre from, Clinton said.
Clinton said Silicon Valley entrepreneurs are a powerful force the country can use to defeat IS and that the tech sector and the government have to stop seeing each other as enemies and work together.
