AZ Political Podcast: Homeland Security expert explains how Iran conflict endangers Arizona

A former high-ranking Homeland Security official told me on the AZ Political Podcast that he worries about targeted, violent attacks on the American homeland in retaliation for the U.S. striking Iran.

But his biggest worries aren’t that Iranian agents or those acting in concert with Iran will cross Arizona’s southern border to carry out those attacks.

In fact, he doesn’t believe that most (if any) of the potential future attacks will come about because of a detailed plan hatched inside Iran.

However, John Cohen, former undersecretary for intelligence and counterterrorism coordinator at the Department of Homeland Security, does think there’s a good chance an attack could be influenced by Iran — like what we saw in Austin, Texas, Sunday.

But John (now a regular contributor to KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Arizona’s Morning News) does think Iran’s agents or a proxy terror group like Hezbollah, Hamas or the Houthis could be looking to team up with a criminal organization — like a drug cartel — in order to harm the U.S.

AZ Political Podcast features expert with unique perspective on war in Iran

This was an idea that federal law enforcement and intelligence agencies used to think was a near impossibility because the “morals” of those Islamist groups would preclude them from working with organized crime.

In our conversation, John explains what changed that thinking among those keeping watch over the homeland. (And a scenario I saw portrayed in a streaming series recently.)

John also explains what Iran (and its proxies) might be doing to change the thinking of people — transforming them from angry, inactive haters of America to angry America-hating people taking violent action.

Finally, John, who started his law enforcement career as a police officer in Southern California, expresses his fierce respect for local law enforcement and the big part they play in helping to stop worst case scenarios from ever happening.

This podcast is available at KTAR.com, the KTAR News app and everywhere you get your podcasts.

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