Former NSA head: US safer from terrorism than Europe

Former National Security Agency (NSA) Director Gen. Michael Hayden said on Sunday he believes the U.S. is safer from terrorism than European countries.

{mosads}During a radio interview with John Catsimatidis, Hayden was asked if European nations are becoming larger targets than the U.S.

“No question about it,” Hayden responded. “Now, John, that doesn’t mean there’s no threat here. There are a variety of things that actually make us more safe.”

The first, Hayden said, is simply that Europe is closer to where groups like the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria operate.

“Second is we’re actually pretty good at this, John,” he continued. “Our security services have a pretty good record compared to the European services, or at least to many of the European services.”

Hayden also said the U.S. is much more welcoming to immigrants who may be susceptible to radicalization.

“Then, finally, John, one really big deal, kind of a secret weapon: We actually know how to assimilate immigrants, even immigrants from different cultures,” he said. “We may have radicalized individuals in the United States, but we do not have radicalized communities.”