Mauro: San Bernardino Terrorists ‘Weren’t Lone Wolves’ if They’re Coordinating with ISIS

RUSH TRANSCRIPT:

HUDDY: "The Islamic state, praising the killers behind the massacre in San Bernardino, as we learn tashfeen Malik had pledged allegiance to the group before the terror attacks. This as authorities discover the two had transformed their garage essentially into a makeshift bomb lab full of explosives with plans to plot even more attacks from their own backyard. Where else are potential terror cells? And how are we tracking them here in the U.S.? Ryan morrow, an analyst. We were in the commercial break, there are so many questions. Let's start with this particular situation in San Bernardino. Are you feeling like this is a lone wolf style attack? And will we see more of these type of attacks here in the United States?" 
MAURO: "You know, I try not to use the term lone wolf. Because with the Internet, they're never really alone. They create this alternative social environment. We may think they're alone because they're in a basement somewhere but if all day you're talking online to someone and getting advice and guidance from someone, are you really a lone wolf? I don't think so." 
HUDDY: "I think the initial feeling about lone wolf was oh, you're just being inspired. You're seeing what's happening and then you're being inspired by that. You're saying these people are talking to each other, there seems to be communication and engagement." 
MAURO: "And that's almost always the case. It's not someone that just says okay, I like ISIS. They have to be convinced of it. They have to be encouraged. There's someone that they need to ask critical questions to and get those answers and that's how the had calization process happens very quickly." 
HUDDY: "We know New York City is a big terror target. You would think big cities like New York and Washington, D.C. Would have a high rate of arrests for, you know, ISIS or terrorist related people. But what other states are we looking at specifically that have higher incidences?" 
MAURO: "Well, there is this really shocking congressional homeland security report that came out, and what they said was that 26% of the people that are arrested that have gone to Syria to join the jihadists or were trying to came from Minnesota." 
HUDDY: "Why Minnesota?" 
MAURO: "That's part of a pattern we've been seeing where the somali American community there, there's a tiny minority that was sympathetic to Al Qaeda's branch in Somalia, and then just from that network it grew into ISIS because ISIS is the new hot terrorist group that radicals want to join. 12% come from California, and then 12% of the arrests are in the New York/New Jersey area." 
HUDDY: "Are there any other surprising areas that are sort of hotbeds for this? Other states?" 
MAURO: "In terms of ISIS those would be the major ones. But it can happen anywhere. Like I said, you just need to have a computer and you can connect with someone and just be indoctrinated with that propaganda." 
HUDDY: "What's very troubling to a lot of folks, I watch social media and see what the trends are. You saw with the terrorist attacks the cousin who blew herself up out in the street there. Now with this specific situation in San Bernardino you see this wife, young mother, you know, little baby. Will we start seeing more women as terrorists?" 
MAURO: "We're already seeing that, actually." 
HUDDY: "And why?" 
MAURO: "Part of that has to do with the propaganda. Because what ISIS does is, there's two different ways. First, they actually will flirt online. They look for women that, and young girls that they can come into contact with. They begin a romantic relationship and say come join the caliphate, you can be a nurse, or even a soldier." 
HUDDY: "Women all like to be flirted with, but I mean there's a difference between being flirted with and then being told you're pretty and here, why don't you blow up some Americans. So what are they saying? What is the one thing you think that's really grabbing these women?" 
MAURO: "Well, believe it or not they actually glorify women within the organization. So if there's a woman on the battlefield, or who is getting medical treatment, they put a lot of pictures out, and they say this is our version of true women's rights. And here's why it's better than what's offered in America. In America you become a sex object. You're judged for what you look like and that's why there are self-esteem issues. Here in the caliphate when your face is covered if a man loves you, he loves you for you, it's not about looks. And I see that message over and over again." 
HUDDY: "That's really interesting. Very quickly, what do we need to be doing better here? And I know this is like sort of the open ended question if somebody had the answer for it they'd be a billionaire. But what, in your opinion, what do we need to do, where are we really lacking?" 
MAURO: "The biggest thing has to do with messaging. Because ISIS has this horrible message and we don't do a good job of countering it." 
HUDDY: "What should we be saying?" 
MAURO: "Think of it this way, they have these amazing videos that go out that portray success. We'll have successes on the ground that virtually no one hears about. Why don't we have similar videos we're distributing. And more work has to go into confidential informants. According to that report, 75% of the time a foreign fighter or an aspiring foreign fighter is arrested it's because someone in their immediate social circle, usually a Muslim, reports them to the FBI and even goes a step further and helps record them and keep tabs on them. 
HUDDY: "See something, say something, as they say. Good to have you here." 
MAURO: "Thank you."