Today's religion and world affairs news from the United States and around the globe: how to counter terrorism, the role of nationalism in fighting extremism, and US Muslims combating the ISIS recruiting machine.
AROUND THE WORLD
On Terror, Gentle Hand or Iron Fist
by Peter Baker and Julie Hirschfeld Davis
New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/20/world/obama-extremism-summit.html?ref=todayspaper
As he sought to rally the world behind a renewed attack on terrorism, President Obama argued on Thursday that force of arms was not enough and called on all nations to “put an end to the cycle of hate” by expanding human rights, religious tolerance and peaceful dialogue. But the challenge of his approach was staring him right in the face. His audience of invited guests, putative allies in a fresh international counterterrorism campaign, included representatives from some of the world’s least democratic and most repressive countries.
How Not to Fight a Fanatic
by Susan Hayward
Foreign Policy
http://foreignpolicy.com/2015/02/18/how-not-to-fight-a-fanatic-violent-extremism-summit-isis-boko-haram/
As the U.S. government pursues religious engagement in its effort to prevent and counter violent extremism, it must avoid policies that have yielded limited impacts, had unintended negative consequences, or even backfired. Moving forward, U.S. policymakers and those who implement programs on the ground would do well to bear in mind three particular lessons: They need to expand their focus beyond Islam, men, and counter-messaging.
Why Countering Extremism Fails
by Humera Khan
Foreign Affairs
http://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/143104/humera-khan/why-countering-extremism-fails
The means to countering violent extremism can typically be broken down into four intersecting parts: preventing radicalization, intervening on behalf of individuals who have radicalized, interdicting or finding and prosecuting those who have engaged in criminal behavior, and reintegrating into society those offenders who are in prison, have served their term, or are returning from conflict zones. But there are very few countries that have programs addressing all four aspects—especially intervention and reintegration. As a result of this gap, individuals who have begun to radicalize are not turned around and those who have acted violently are not rehabilitated.
The Nationalist Solution
by David Brooks
New York Times op-ed
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/20/opinion/david-brooks-the-nationalist-solution.html
Young Arab men are not going to walk away from extremism because they can suddenly afford a Slurpee. They will walk away when they can devote themselves to a revived Egyptian nationalism, Lebanese nationalism, Syrian nationalism, some call to serve a cause that connects nationalism to dignity and democracy and transcends a lifetime.
New Partners in Struggle Against Terrorism
by Yohanan Plesner
YNet News op-ed
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4628088,00.html
At such a time, Israel's leadership should be transmitting a different message, one that is less confrontational and more inclusive: a message of partnership among democracies battling terrorism without sacrificing their democratic values. Such a campaign requires striking a balance between competing values, and steps that will minimize the violation of fundamental rights while guarding national security.
The Great Jewish Exodus
by Roger Cohen
New York Times op-ed
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/20/opinion/roger-cohen-the-great-jewish-exodus.html?ref=opinion&_r=1
Israel is indeed the home of every Jew, and that is important, a guarantee of sorts. It is equally important, however, that not every Jew choose this home. That is another kind of guarantee, of Europe’s liberal order, of the liberal idea itself. So it was shattering when millions of Jews, every one of them in fact, as if entranced, upped and left their homes in Milan and Berlin and Zurich.
DOMESTIC
US Muslims Take on ISIS’ Recruiting Machine
by Laurie Goodstein
New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/20/us/muslim-leaders-in-us-seek-to-counteract-extremist-recruiters.html?ref=todayspaper
With the Islamic State in particular deploying savvy online appeals to adolescents alongside videos of horrific executions, the sense of urgency has grown. Though some Muslim leaders still resist cooperating with the government, fearing that they would be contributing to religious profiling and anti-Muslim bigotry, many have been spurred to respond as they have come into contact with religiously ardent youths who feel alienated by life in the West and admit that they have been vulnerable to the Islamic State’s invitation to help build a puritanical utopia.
More Muslim Groups Voice Willingness to Combat Extremism in Their Faith
by Tom Gjelten
NPR
http://www.npr.org/2015/02/20/387611455/more-muslim-groups-voice-willingness-to-combat-extremism-in-their-faith
Some Muslim reformers who have been struggling to combat radicalism in their mosques and communities have been willing to talk about the extremist ideologies they encounter. Many other Muslim leaders, however, push back against any portrayal of the terrorism problem that suggests any ties to Islam.
On Terror, Gentle Hand or Iron Fist
by Peter Baker and Julie Hirschfeld Davis
New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/20/world/obama-extremism-summit.html?ref=todayspaper
As he sought to rally the world behind a renewed attack on terrorism, President Obama argued on Thursday that force of arms was not enough and called on all nations to “put an end to the cycle of hate” by expanding human rights, religious tolerance and peaceful dialogue. But the challenge of his approach was staring him right in the face. His audience of invited guests, putative allies in a fresh international counterterrorism campaign, included representatives from some of the world’s least democratic and most repressive countries.
How Not to Fight a Fanatic
by Susan Hayward
Foreign Policy
http://foreignpolicy.com/2015/02/18/how-not-to-fight-a-fanatic-violent-extremism-summit-isis-boko-haram/
As the U.S. government pursues religious engagement in its effort to prevent and counter violent extremism, it must avoid policies that have yielded limited impacts, had unintended negative consequences, or even backfired. Moving forward, U.S. policymakers and those who implement programs on the ground would do well to bear in mind three particular lessons: They need to expand their focus beyond Islam, men, and counter-messaging.
Why Countering Extremism Fails
by Humera Khan
Foreign Affairs
http://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/143104/humera-khan/why-countering-extremism-fails
The means to countering violent extremism can typically be broken down into four intersecting parts: preventing radicalization, intervening on behalf of individuals who have radicalized, interdicting or finding and prosecuting those who have engaged in criminal behavior, and reintegrating into society those offenders who are in prison, have served their term, or are returning from conflict zones. But there are very few countries that have programs addressing all four aspects—especially intervention and reintegration. As a result of this gap, individuals who have begun to radicalize are not turned around and those who have acted violently are not rehabilitated.
The Nationalist Solution
by David Brooks
New York Times op-ed
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/20/opinion/david-brooks-the-nationalist-solution.html
Young Arab men are not going to walk away from extremism because they can suddenly afford a Slurpee. They will walk away when they can devote themselves to a revived Egyptian nationalism, Lebanese nationalism, Syrian nationalism, some call to serve a cause that connects nationalism to dignity and democracy and transcends a lifetime.
New Partners in Struggle Against Terrorism
by Yohanan Plesner
YNet News op-ed
http://www.ynetnews.com/articles/0,7340,L-4628088,00.html
At such a time, Israel's leadership should be transmitting a different message, one that is less confrontational and more inclusive: a message of partnership among democracies battling terrorism without sacrificing their democratic values. Such a campaign requires striking a balance between competing values, and steps that will minimize the violation of fundamental rights while guarding national security.
The Great Jewish Exodus
by Roger Cohen
New York Times op-ed
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/20/opinion/roger-cohen-the-great-jewish-exodus.html?ref=opinion&_r=1
Israel is indeed the home of every Jew, and that is important, a guarantee of sorts. It is equally important, however, that not every Jew choose this home. That is another kind of guarantee, of Europe’s liberal order, of the liberal idea itself. So it was shattering when millions of Jews, every one of them in fact, as if entranced, upped and left their homes in Milan and Berlin and Zurich.
DOMESTIC
US Muslims Take on ISIS’ Recruiting Machine
by Laurie Goodstein
New York Times
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/20/us/muslim-leaders-in-us-seek-to-counteract-extremist-recruiters.html?ref=todayspaper
With the Islamic State in particular deploying savvy online appeals to adolescents alongside videos of horrific executions, the sense of urgency has grown. Though some Muslim leaders still resist cooperating with the government, fearing that they would be contributing to religious profiling and anti-Muslim bigotry, many have been spurred to respond as they have come into contact with religiously ardent youths who feel alienated by life in the West and admit that they have been vulnerable to the Islamic State’s invitation to help build a puritanical utopia.
More Muslim Groups Voice Willingness to Combat Extremism in Their Faith
by Tom Gjelten
NPR
http://www.npr.org/2015/02/20/387611455/more-muslim-groups-voice-willingness-to-combat-extremism-in-their-faith
Some Muslim reformers who have been struggling to combat radicalism in their mosques and communities have been willing to talk about the extremist ideologies they encounter. Many other Muslim leaders, however, push back against any portrayal of the terrorism problem that suggests any ties to Islam.
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