The Associated Press  reports that “Gen. Martin Dempsey said Sunday that once he determines that the Islamic State militants in Iraq have become a direct threat to the U.S. homeland or Europe, he will recommend the U.S. military move directly against the group in Syria.”  

“But the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff said that right now, he still believes the insurgent group is still more a regional threat and is not plotting or planning attacks against either the U.S. or Europe.”  

“Speaking on a military plane en route to Afghanistan, Dempsey provided more detail into his thinking about the Islamic militants who have stormed across Iraq, operating out of safe havens in Syria.”