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Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Clinton: U.S. needs 360-degree anti-terror strategy

Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton speaks about her counterterrorism strategy during a speech at the University of Minnesota on Tuesday in Minneapolis.
Associated Press

MINNEAPOLIS – Offering a prebuttal to Republicans, Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton said Tuesday the American people “cannot give into fear” in the aftermath of attacks in Paris and California, laying out a multipronged strategy to protect the homeland and prevent domestic terrorist attacks.

Clinton assailed her Republican rivals shortly before the party’s latest presidential debate, telling an audience at the University of Minnesota that another ground war reminiscent of conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan would play into the hands of the Islamic State group and fail to keep the U.S. safe.

“Shallow slogans don’t add up to a strategy,” Clinton said.

“Promising to carpet bomb until the desert glows doesn’t make you sound strong, it makes you sound like you are in over your head,” she added, referencing recent comments by Texas Sen. Ted Cruz. “Bluster and bigotry are not credentials for becoming commander in chief.”

Clinton sought to assure Americans that she would protect the homeland and prevent homegrown terrorists from sprouting following the deadly attacks in Paris and San Bernardino, California, incidents that have thrust terrorism to the forefront of the presidential campaign. Much of her critique was aimed at Republican front-runner Donald Trump, whose call for a temporary ban on Muslims entering the United States has sparked debate around the globe.

Her strategy includes proactive steps for capping Islamic State recruitment in the U.S., especially online, and for stopping potential jihadists from training overseas. She also urged that the U.S. take steps to stop foreign fighters from entering the country, discover and disrupt plots before they can be carried out, work more closely with law enforcement agencies and empower Muslim-American communities.

“This is a 360-degree strategy to keep America safe,” Clinton said. She also reiterated her support for new restrictions on guns, saying it was “time to restore the ban on assault weapons,” a law first passed by her husband, former President Bill Clinton, which expired during the Bush administration.

She also emphasized a need for vigilance, stressing that the country needs to be prepared for more terror plots.