Former general: US must bring ‘thunderstorm’ on ISIS, new jobs could result
Sep 23, 2014, 5:58 AM | Updated: 5:58 am
PHOENIX — A former major general who works at an Arizona university called for an increase in strikes on ISIS militants while saying new terror threats could lead to more American jobs.
Spider Marks said ISIS is causing a flux in the terror-fighting field, especially given its drastic radicalism when compared to al-Qaida, the organization behind the Sept. 11 attacks.
“(This is) a very angry group of radical Muslims that are bent on revenge and they have money, and they have power, and they have training and they have education,” he said.
Marks said the U.S. will need to ramp up airstrikes against ISIS to further hinder their operations.
“It must begin in earnest to increase and become oppressive and become a thunderstorm,” Marks said.
While the bombings will contribute to the eventual elimination of ISIS, as promised by President Barack Obama, Marks said new terror threats are creating more demand for security experts.
Marks, the executive dean of the College of Criminal Justice and Security at the University of Phoenix, said terrorism is a threat that will continue for some time.
“This is a challenge that our current president will hand over to his successor,” Marks said.
As the threat of terror has affected many aspects of daily life, from what items can be brought into football games to the way Americans and the world travel, Marks said those emerging in the field of security and criminal justice will face serious challenges.
“Very vibrant, very broad (and) appealing areas to establish your professional credibility and ever-changing,” he said of the field. “That’s what’s exciting about it.”
Marks also said the U.S. should focus on working closely with the local governments in the Middle East because ISIS isn’t located or centered in only one country.
Having forward-thinking security and criminal justice students and professionals will be important for the United States in its continued mission against terrorism and Marks said there will be continued demand in these fields.
“Both of these studies are very, very complimentary and I would say extremely relevant at this time,” he said.