Opinion

A world aflame: Obama aides debunk the boss’s happy talk

President Obama can downplay threats to the nation’s security all he wants — but his own top staff tells a far different story. Bottom line: Start worrying.

“In my 50-plus years in the intelligence business,” US spy chief James Clapper told lawmakers last week, “I cannot recall a more diverse array of challenges and crises than we confront today.”
Clapper sounded alarms about:

  • North Korea’s nukes and missiles.
  •  Iran’s ongoing support for terror.
  • Russia and China’s pursuit of cybertechnology and anti-satellite weapons.
  •  ISIS recruitment.
  •  The spread of “violent extremists.”
  • Plus chaos from “unpredictable” and “violent instability.”

“Violent extremists are operationally active in about 40 countries. Seven countries are experiencing a collapse of central government authority, 14 others face regime-threatening or violent instability or both, another 59 countries face a significant risk of instability through 2016,” Clapper said.

“There are now more Sunni violent extremist groups, members and safe havens than at any time in history.”

If all that doesn’t get you nervous, consider the added warning by Defense Intelligence Agency boss Lt. Gen. Vincent Stewart: ISIS will likely try “to direct attacks on the US homeland” this year.

For years, Obama has sought to convince Americans they’re safer — that the “tide of war is receding,” that we’ve made progress against terrorism, that threats from other nations are insignificant.

In his State of the Union Address just last month, our president pooh-poohed “all the rhetoric you hear about our enemies getting stronger.”

In fact, he claimed, “No nation attacks us directly, or our allies, because they know that’s the path to ruin.”

Obama is focused on his legacy. His underlings, by contrast, worry not only about their reputations — but also their duty to protect the nation.

Decide for yourself who to believe.