Sen. Lindsey Graham said Sunday that the decision to withdraw U.S. forces from Iraq has made the chances for another 9/11-like attack on American soil “inevitable.”

“The decision to withdraw U.S. forces created a vacuum,” the South Carolina Republican said on CBS News’ “Face the Nation,” Mediaite reported.

“Syria is launching pad,” he said. “If the central government in Iraq collapses — and that’s the goal of ISIS — Iran will own the southern part of Iraq, that’s where the Shiites live; they can operate ISIS from Baghdad to Kurdistan all the way in to Syria. They will eventually march on Jordan and Lebanon — our best ally in the region is the King of Jordan — and they will attack us from that part of Iraq and Syria. According to our own Director of National Intelligence, FBI Director, the next 9/11 is coming from here.”

“That’s a very serious statement,” host Bob Schieffer remarked.

“That’s what they say and I agree with them,” Mr. Graham interjected. “I think it’s inevitable. The seeds of 9/11 are being planted all over Iraq and Syria … They’re not hiding their agenda … They plan to drive us out of the Mideast by attacking us here at home.”

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