By Eric Stock
WASHINGTON – U.S. Rep. Darin LaHood, R-Peoria, said Tuesday’s terrorist attacks in Brussels are a reminder that it’s not a matter of if but when there will be a terrorist strike in the U.S.
He told WJBC’s Scott Laughlin that’s why security must be top priority even when there are privacy concerns.
PODCAST: Listen to Scott’s interview with LaHood on WJBC.
“It’s either (the terrorists) win or we win,” LaHood said. “We have to go to anther level here and that’s going to put some stress on our Constitution and our privacy rights, but I think in general if it’s done the right way, people want America protected.”
LaHood, a former federal prosecutor, said he’s encouraging private companies including Apple to be more helpful in working with law enforcement to help detect a planned attack. This after the company refused to open the iPhone used by one of the San Bernardino shooters last year to assist investigators.
U.S. Rep. Adam Kinzinger issued a statement calling the attacks “cowardly and ruthless.”
“We cannot allow jihadist extremists to take away our freedoms or threaten our way of life,” Kinzinger said. “We stand in solidarity with our allies in Europe and around the world, and must work together to destroy ISIS. Terrorism will never win as long as we stand united.”
Police in Brussels say more than two dozen are dead and dozens more were injured in attacks at a subway and an airport.
Eric Stock can be reached at [email protected].
