The London Parliament attack is a reminder of how important counter-radicalization programs are to the safety of America and our allies overseas. Americans of all ages continue to be inspired by terrorists in cyberspace to commit attacks, and this problem could be exacerbated, if President Trump’s newly released budget defunds existing counter-radicalization programs.
Terrorist recruiters or virtual plotters 4,000 miles away continue to inspire our citizens to commit attacks. Most of the attacks on U.S. soil since 2009 have been the result of foot soldiers radicalized online by Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS), al-Qaida and its affiliates, such as Somalia-based al-Shabaab.
{mosads}The success of the 68-nation coalition in dismantling ISIS’s “Caliphate” has forced jihadists off the battlefield and into safe havens in cyberspace. This is driving an alarming trend of terrorists indoctrinating Americans more aggressively via social media than in prior years.
According to 2016 U.S. government estimates, approximately 250 Americans (up from 100 in 2014) had travelled, or attempted to travel abroad to support terrorist operations in Iraq and Syria. The Federal Bureau of Investigation has also indicted 10 extremists in the first three months of 2017 alone.
Border security has improved worldwide. As a result, it is more difficult for aspirants to travel to join ISIS in Iraq and Syria and its leadership has realized it’s cheaper and easier to use the web to inspire recruits to attack at home. Why risk being intercepted by airport intelligence when one can wreak havoc with a kitchen knife here at home?
The late ISIS spokesperson Abu Muhammad al-Adnani (killed in a coalition airstrike) said in a September 21, 2014 press statement that “the smallest bit of work that you can carry out in their countries is far better and beloved to us than any major operations here [in Syria and Iraq]… Smash his head with a rock, or slaughter him with a knife, or run him over with your car…”
These statements inspire newly radicalized recruits and encourage them to adjust their tactics and grow ISIS’ base. The 2015 office party in San Bernardino, CA and the 2016 Pulse nightclub in Orlando, FL are recent examples of shootings carried out by newly radicalized followers adhering to jihadist ideology. It is difficult to prevent ISIS-inspired attacks like these because of their simplicity.
Meanwhile, savvy Western recruiters online offer a brighter future to individuals searching for a greater purpose. These extremists target Americans with the goal of isolating them from family and friends and convince them to defect once these bonds are broken.
Terrorists actively cast a wide net, targeting those who have been exposed to trauma, violence, or who have the slightest cognitive opening to radicalization and recruitment. These victims cross racial and ethnic backgrounds, and hail from across the United States, including Minneapolis, Los Angeles, Boston, Orlando, and New York City.
The Bush and Obama administrations realized how disenfranchised Americans were falling prey to terrorists. The former U.S. Director of National Intelligence James Clapper at a 2016 Senate Armed Services Committee said, “homegrown terrorism is the greatest threat right now.” Community leaders and non-governmental organizations should lead “prevention” efforts, and all races and ethnicities, not just Arabs or Muslims.
The Department of Homeland Security’s Office of Community Partnerships and Department of State’s Global Engagement Center is leading the fight against radicalization and must receive full congressional funding, or our children will remain vulnerable.
Specifically, Congress must continue to help support comprehensive public messaging campaigns led by the private sector. This messaging should focus on countering terrorist group propaganda using social media and community engagement.
Secondly, the State Department should increase international partnership building with our trusted allies and create a Trans-European Radicalization Council to organize efforts. We each possess radicalized populations that are culturally unique. Why not confront this violent extremism threat together instead of operating parallel efforts?
Congress and the Trump administration must continue funding the counter-radicalization efforts of the previous administrations to prevent ISIS and others from using our own people against us.
Brad Belzak was recently the director of legislative affairs, and previously a counterterrorism analyst and senior policy advisor at the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
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