Lieutenant General Michael Flynn revealed to German newspaper Bild that graphic sexual images, such as pornography, go some way to desensitize extremists and their brutal acts.
"We looked a ruthless enemy in the eye — women and children, girls and boys, raped and exploited, the beheadings stored on a laptop next to pornography," Flynn wrote.
"At one point we actually had determined that the material on the laptops was up to 80 percent pornography."
Meanwhile Clarissa Smith, professor of sexual cultures at Sunderland University remains unconvinced that there is enough evidence detailing the Daesh pornography link.
"I think we need to remain skeptical," Smith told Sputnik.
"I'm unsure about the evidence linking extreme porn to extremism — but it's an accusation that can be deployed to make a case against someone. Accusations surrounding looking at pornography sticks — it's a very sticky accusation to make," Smith told Sputnik.
"However it wouldn't surprise me that they're hypocritical about sexuality. Research in some states of America suggests that predominantly Christian states have been found to have a high incident of pornography searches and downloads."
"When you forbid something — it becomes forbidden fruit. Or the very fact that it's forbidden makes it more interesting," Smith told Sputnik.
However, it's not the first time the link between Daesh and sexually explicit downloads has been made. In 2015, former London Mayor and now Britain's Foreign Secretary, Boris Johnson, called out Daesh terrorists for being literally w*****s.
"If you look at all the psychological profiling about bombers, they typically will look at porn. They are literally w*****s.
Professor Smith remains unconvinced by the link, is however, unsurprised.
"Since we're generally talking about young men, it doesn't surprise me on that basis. Sex is a big interest for young men."
