Ramping up the push-back against GOP criticism of the handling of the attempted Christmas bombing suspect, a top Obama aide argues in a new op-ed that America’s “system of justice” is fully capable of dealing with terrorists.
Writing in USA Today, Deputy National Security Advisor John Brennan calls, essentially, for the United States to calm down.
“Terrorists are not 100-feet tall. Nor do they deserve the abject fear they seek to instill. They will, however, be dismantled and destroyed, by our military, our intelligence services and our law enforcement community. And the notion that America’s counterterrorism professionals and America’s system of justice are unable to handle these murderous miscreants is absurd.”
In a notable swipe at the administration’s critics, Brennan also asserts that “Politically motivated criticism and unfounded fear-mongering only serve the goals of al-Qaeda.”
The op-ed follows Brennan’s appearance on Meet The Press Sunday, in which he revealed that top Republicans were informed that Umar Abdulmutallab was held in FBI custody on Christmas day.