Marco Rubio Calls Paris Attacks a 'Wake Up Call': 'Either They Win or We Win

Republican presidential contender Sen. Marco Rubio called the terrorist attacks in Paris a "wake up call" in a statement on Saturday.

The Florida senator said in a video message that the terrorist attacks in the French capital shows what he called a "civilizational conflict with radical Islam." Rubio accused the group of wanting to "overthrow our society" because of the ability of young girls to attend school and drive and America's freedoms of speech and religion.

"This is a clash of civilizations," he said. "And either they win or we win."

Image source: YouTube

"This is not a geopolitical issue where they want to conquer territory and it's two countries fighting against each other," Rubio said. "They literally want to overthrow our society and replace it with their radical, Sunni Islamic view of the future."

Rubio's campaign released the video message Saturday afternoon, the day after he spoke at the Sunshine Summit, a GOP gathering in Florida.

Multiple terrorist attacks occurred in Paris Friday evening that left more than 120 people dead and hundreds of others wounded or unaccounted for. The Islamic State took responsibility for the attack in a statement released on Saturday.

In a series of tweets Friday evening, Rubio called on the U.S. to "assist" France in the days following the attacks. He also called on the U.S. to "increase our efforts at home and abroad" and advocated to improve defenses while destroying terrorist networks.

My prayers tonight are with the people of France as they come to terms with the terrible tragedy unfolding in Paris. (1/6)

— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) November 14, 2015

These brutal terrorist attacks against innocent civilians are a reminder of the increasing dangers facing free peoples around the world(2/6)

— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) November 14, 2015

It is important for all Americans to stand with the people of France in this difficult time. As we learn more about the attacks (3/6)

— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) November 14, 2015

and who is behind them, the United States should assist the French government in finding those who are accountable and bring them (4/6)

— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) November 14, 2015

to justice. We cannot let those who seek to disrupt our way of life succeed. We must increase our efforts at home and abroad (5/6)

— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) November 14, 2015

to improve our defenses, destroy terrorist networks, and deprive them of the space from which to operate. (6/6)

— Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) November 14, 2015

Watch Rubio's comments below.