Countering Violent Extremism
Countering Violent Extremism Overview
Headlines & Opinion
- The Threat Behind the Homegrown Threat
- State Department Announces Reorganization Changes
- Clinton Introduces the Global Counterterrorism Forum
- Coalition Opposes Misguided Commission on Domestic Threats
- Congressional Hearing Puts Spotlight on Global Cooperation to Counter Terrorism
- News, Opinion and Testimony Roundup of Pete King Hearings
- Briefing Highlights Work of US Nonprofits in Countering Terrorism
- Two Capitol Hill Events Spotlight Relationship Between Muslims and Law Enforcement
- QDDR Outlines Strategy for State Department and USAID
- House Haring Raises Issue of Countering Violent Messages on Extremist Websites
- Clinton Calls for Addressing 'Root Cause' of Terrorism
- US Slow to Counter Domestic Recruitment by Terrorists
- Experts Call for Increased Role of Civil Society in Countering Extremism
- Witnesses at House Hearing Contend that Profiling is Counterproductive
- Flawed Theories on Violent Extremism Lead to Bad Policy
- Key Counterterrorism Official Discusses Civil Liberty Violations
- Plea to Senate: Military Cannot Counter Extremism Alone
Resources
- Countering Violent Extremism in the 111th Congress
- Countering Violent Extremism in the 110th Congress
- Polls Show Americans Favor Humanitarian Aid to Combat Terrorism
- Obama Policy on Development
- Communities Disrupt Terror Plots
- Excerpts from Daniel Benjamin, State Department Coordinator, Speech on Counterterrorism
Reports
The Threat Behind the Homegrown Threat
Less than 24 hours after French authorities killed Mohamed Merah, the man allegedly behind the tragic massacre in Toulouse, French President Nicolas Sarkozy proposed a sweeping new law that would criminalize habitual visits to web sites that advocate for terror. "Anyone who regularly consults Internet sites which promote terror or hatred or violence will be sentenced to prison," Sarkozy said.
Two New Reports: Homegrown Terror Threat Exaggerated
Two new reports seperate the facts and myths surrounding claims of the increasing home-grown terror threat, which columnist Glenn Greenwald has called “wildly exaggerated to the point of pure fabrication.”
Two New Reports on the Exaggerated Homegrown Terror Threat
A new report from the James A. Baker III Institute for Public Policy categorized the demographics of persons suspected of having ties to terrorist activity over the last few years and concluded that “no one, all-encompassing profile can be made of the individuals,” and calls for the "safeguarding against the development of incorrect stereotypes that might hamper threat detection.”
A feared wave of homegrown terrorism by radicalized Muslim Americans has not materialized, says a new report from the North Carolina-based Triangle Center on Terrorism and Homeland Security. With plots and arrests dropping sharply in recent years, the report calls terrorism by Muslim-Americans “a minuscule threat to public safety.”Report: Community Groups Need to Play Larger Role in the National Strategy to Counter Violent Messaging
Although community organizations throughout America are uniquely positioned to counter the message of violent extremism, a June 2011 report from the Bipartisan Policy Center (BPC) finds the U.S. government engagement with these groups is mostly limited to law enforcement activities. Preventing Violent Radicalization in America outlines a domestic approach to countering terrorist messaging that rejects false theories about the process by which an individual becomes violent, and calls on the White House to implement the strategy with help from community leaders and non-governmental organizations.
Coalition Opposes Misguided Commission on Domestic Threats
On Sept. 26, 2011, a coalition of 36 organizations sent a letter to Sen. Diane Feinstein (D-CA) urging her to block a controversial proposal that would create a commission on “domestic radicalization.” The letter says the proposed commission would focus on ideology that is protected by the First Amendment and divert law enforcement resources from investigating criminal activity. It notes that “Such a course will not make us safer and will lead to the unjust and discriminatory targeting of an entire faith and ethnic community.” The commission was proposed as an amendment to the intelligence authorization bill (H.R. 1892) by Rep. Frank Wolf (R- VA).
Clinton Introduces the Global Counterterrorism Forum
On Sept. 22, 2011, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton addressed the first Global Counterterrorism Forum in New York. Clinton described the Forum as “a dedicated global venue to regularly convene key counterterrorism policy makers and practitioners from around the world – a place to identify essential priorities, devise solutions and chart a path to implementation.” The Forum will feature several working groups, including ones on rule of law, countering violent extremism, and capacity building, and experts from civil society will be invited to participate in the working groups’ activities. “We will work to strengthen the capacity of other governments, multilateral bodies, and civil society groups all over the world, especially those most affected by terrorism,” Clinton said.
Terrorist Trial Report Card: 2001-2010
An August 2011 report from the Center for Law and Security shows almost 50 percent of terrorism cases since 2009 have relied on FBI informants and the “use of aggressive and often controversial” sting operations. The report also finds that, since the beginning of 2011, almost 87 percent of terrorism cases have involved a material support charge, including charges that “do not require proof of intent that the material support go to illegal activities.”
Report: Radicalization Theories Are Misguided
The government’s excessive targeting of Muslims in domestic counterterrorism operations since 9/11 is misguided and violates basic human rights, according to a May 2011 report from the Center for Human Rights and Global Justice (CHRGJ) at New York University School of Law. Targeted and Entrapped: Manufacturing the "Homegrown Threat" in the United States says incorrect assumptions about Muslims, the religion of Islam and the “radicalization” process have led to a surge in surveillance of Muslims that undermine their rights to religious expression, a fair trial and effective remedy when violations occur.
Congressional Hearing Puts Spotlight on Global Cooperation to Counter Terrorism
Testifying before a House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on May 5, 2011, the State Department’s leading counterterrorism official emphasized the important role of global partnerships in countering violent extremism (CVE). The Coordinator for Counterterrorism, Ambassador Daniel Benjamin described the collaborative efforts between governments, international organizations and civil society groups as “an extraordinary global alliance against terror.” Benjamin
