Skip to content

Hagel: Islamic State Bigger Threat Than al-Qaida Was

Stars and Stripes reports that “Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel said Thursday that the Islamic State is now more dangerous than al-Qaida ever was, and raised the possibility airstrikes might be launched against the group in Syria.”  

“The Islamic State, which has taken over much of Iraq since June, ‘is as sophisticated and well-funded as any group that we have seen. They’re beyond just a terrorist group. They marry ideology [with] a sophistication of strategic and tactical military prowess. They are tremendously well-funded. Oh, this is beyond anything that we’ve seen,’ Hagel told reporters at the Pentagon Thursday.”

Recent Stories

House debates Pentagon spending, crypto as rescissions head to Senate

Deadly Texas flooding puts Trump’s past talk of eliminating FEMA to the test

Senate NDAA would hike defense spending by $32 billion

Should we talk about the weather? — Congressional Hits and Misses

Photos of the week | July 4-10, 2025

Appropriators advance Legislative Branch bill without GAO cuts