In Mississippi, a former U.S. Secretary of Defense says military intervention is not the solution to problems in the Middle East. MPB's Alexis Ware reports.
Former U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel is speaking out on U.S military involvement in the Middle East. It's been nearly two weeks since united states air strike in Syria.
Hagel disagrees with the decision to use military intervention in the Syrian civil war at this time. He says military involvement should not be the first solution.
" Before using military force and military force is a tool in our overall strategic and diplomatic effort but we should always have a purpose and that purpose has to be governed by a diplomatic solution and policy and strategy I don't think it's wise to ever lead with the military."
He agrees ISIS is a global threat. He says because of technology, terrorists now have access to information and capabilities that previously only nations could have.
"Cyber for example is as big a threat to our institutions as any one things. Cyber can paralyze financial systems and grids and political power grids and they can knock out satellites and the non-state actors who have tremendous capability use that and ISIS uses it very effectively."
Hagel says the United States has long standing relationships in the Middle East and should strive for diplomatic solutions. He made his remarks while visiting Mississippi College in Clinton.
