There will be a "big connection to the radical groups" that espouse radical Islamic ideology, and ties could stretch far, retired Lt. Gen. Michael Flynn warned Friday morning.
"I don't want to talk about the tactics of what happened and this unbelievable tragedy on essentially France's Independence Day," Flynn told
Fox News' "Fox & Friends" program. "We're going to find a big connection here to the radical groups that espouse this ideology.
"There will be ties that go all throughout Europe, or go throughout all north Africa, back into the Middle East and even al-Qaida."
The radical ideology is alive, said Flynn, and solutions are needed.
"We need Congress to come up with solutions and have strong leaders step up to the plate," said Flynn. "In the last 24 hours, I have called out for the leaders of Iran, [Sayyed Ali Hosseini ] Khamenei, and the leaders of the Muslim world, I can tick them off if you want.
"There's a bunch of countries with a bunch of so-called leaders to step up and call this what it is. They know they have a problem inside of their own system."
And, he continued, he would like to see President Barack Obama bring in all the major players and call for a change, and to tell them that attacks such as those that occurred in Nice, France, where nearly 100 people were run over and killed by a truck while watching a holiday fireworks show.
"This is so abhorrent, and it can be dealt with," said Flynn, calling for a strategy to win.
Flynn released a new book,
"The Field of Fight: How We Can Win the Global War Against Radical Islam and Its Allies" this week, but he said he was not speaking to promote the book.
"But your book is about yesterday," one of the show hosts interjected.
"I know it," Flynn said. "I know what it's about. This is about a message to the world that says, 'Hey, look, we can not have this type of behavior. This is unacceptable behavior.'"
Flynn said he believes that the nation must begin to explore a new 21st century alliance to bring the Muslim world together with the rest of the international community, but make a decision without having a debate.
"Don't argue about this," said Flynn. "Is it going to happen again or not? It is going to continue to happen as long as we use this incredible level of political correctness and this political correctness is certainly here at home. And it's definitely overseas. We have to stop this."
Meanwhile, Flynn, who has been on Donald Trump's short list for the vice presidency, said Friday morning that he continues to be humbled to be considered for the spot, but he declined to say whether Trump's camp has formally informed him that he was out of the running.
"What I do know is that Donald Trump is not picking somebody for Donald Trump," Flynn said. "Donald Trump is picking somebody for this country, and for everybody out there. I know that there's going to be all kinds of arguments because I understand our political system far more than most people."