Air
Force Gen. Paul Selva, the nominee to be vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of
Staff, told members of the Senate Armed Services Committee on Tuesday that
Russia, not ISIS, poses the biggest threat to the US homeland. In fact, ISIS
fell behind Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea, “because right now, ISIS does
not present a clear and present threat to our homeland and to the existence of
our nation,” said Selva, who currently leads US Transportation Command.
Although he acknowledged the terrorist organization certainly “is a threat” and
must be dealt with, he reiterated “it does not threaten us at home.” The answer
appeared to surprise SASC Chairman Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) who pushed back
by asking whether radicalized Americans who travel to Iraq and Syria and then
return to the United States are “a direct threat” to the homeland. Selva said
he agreed with the
assessment
by the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security, but said ISIS “does not
possess the tools or the capabilities to threaten the existence of the United
States as we know it.” On the other hand, Russia “possesses the conventional
and nuclear capability to be an existential threat to this nation should they
choose to do so.” His comments
echoed
those of Marine Corps Gen. Joseph Dunford, the nominee for Joint Chiefs
chairman, last week. (See Selva’s
answers
to advanced questions from the committee.)