The threat matrix is "extremely high and extremely complicated," according to Conway, president of Global Intel Strategies, a US-based firm that advises government agencies on terrorism and national security.
In an interview with Radio Sputnik, Conway cited terrorism, cyber threats, weapons of mass destruction, economics and natural resources, and even organized crime and its influence on government as major security concerns.
"We are at a threshold in a time in our lives when the intelligence community is seeing the threat level higher than it's ever been in the history of mankind," Conway said. "So that's the reality, and it's very, very diverse."
Conway said the Internet has become Daesh's "new training ground," which the group uses to promote radicalization. An increasing number of young Americans have been "inspired by [Daesh] to pick up arms and commit acts of terrorism," he said.
Conway urged Sunni leaders to create "counter-propaganda to try to stem the flow of this horrific jihadi propaganda that's flowing throughout cyberspace."
"I would like to see the leaders of Sunni Islam – in Saudi Arabia, in Bahrain, in Qatar, throughout the world – step up and create a counter-narrative to this horrific propaganda that's being put out by [Daesh] to young people throughout the world."
He also called for improved diplomacy between Moscow and Washington for the sake of security throughout the world.
"We're living in times where the national security threats of Russia and the United States, in many instances, are one in the same, and I think that we should work shoulder to shoulder to address these issues, for the betterment of all mankind," he said.
