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Secretary of State John Kerry told NBC’s "Today Show" host Savannah Guthrie Monday morning that a future terrorist attack on America is “probably not a question of ‘if,’ it’s a question of ‘when,’” admitting that such an attack could be launched by “someone who slipped through” into the country.
From the "Today Show" interview:
Guthrie: Let me ask you about the security situation here in the United States. Administration officials have said there’s no specific credible threat. On the other hand, officials in Paris likely would have said the same thing the day before those attacks. How confident are you in assuring the American public that there isn’t a threat that is imminent?
Kerry: Well, I can assure you that we don’t have a specific threat stream or specific evidence in front of us, but there is always – as we’ve said to people for years – the threat of some actor, some lone wolf person, someone who slipped through. That’s the world we’re living in today and we understand that.
Ever since 9/11, many experts across the United States, without regard to political party or to elections, have consistently said to us it’s probably not a question of if; it’s a question of when.
Later in the interview, though, Kerry made sure to tell Americans "to not panic" over the threat of ISIS, whom he refers to by the derrogatory Arabic term "Daesh."
What we need to do is not succumb to fear. People need to not panic. There is a strategy in place growing by the day, and I have no doubt whatsoever that with the help of all the nations that are united against Daesh, they are going to be defeated, and we’re going to do everything in our power to hasten that journey.
Despite his administration clearly admitting a terrorist attack on American soil is all but imminent, President Obama has stood behind his plans to allow at least 10,000 Syrian refugees into the United States, virtually ignoring concern by many in Congress that such an immigration wave could heighten the threat of terrorists coming into the country. Just last week, the Republican-controlled House passed a bill -- with the support of 47 Democrats -- to halt the Syrian refugee program at least until Congress is satisfied with the vetting process, though the president has already promised to veto the legislation.
Watch Kerry's exchange with Guthrie below: