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 also said a decision about removing the Mujahadeen-e-Khalq (MEK) from the State Department’s list of foreign terrorist groups was to be expected within six months.

“The magnitude and breadth of the terrorist challenge makes clear that no country or organization can defeat it alone,” Benjamin said told members of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Europe and Eurasia. “[W]e must continue to work closely with our partners around the world…to identify areas where further work remains to be done and how we can further collaborate ever more effectively,” he added.
In his written testimony, Benjamin highlighted the adoption of the 2010 Declaration on Counterterrorism between the U.S. and European Union (EU) as a joint “commitment to forge a durable framework to counter terrorism within the rule of law.” He also identified civil society groups as a key contributor in countering violent extremism. “[T]he 2010 Declaration acknowledged the important role of civil society to help isolate terrorism, as well as the importance of addressing legitimate concerns of minorities and individuals regarding civil rights and civil liberties.”
Benjamin said the key to CVE is to “diminish the drivers of radicalization that leads to violence and demonstrably reduce the effectiveness of terrorist propaganda.” To that end, he said his office at the State Department uses a three pronged approach to reduce terrorist recruitment:
  • Delegitimize the violent extremist narrative to diminish its appeal

  • Develop alternatives for youth who are susceptible to the terrorist narrative

  • Build partner capacity to carry out these activities

Benjamin called attention to a project between the State Department, the Dutch government and the International Center for Counterterrorism, a Dutch NGO. The project aims to “provide a multilateral platform for policymakers and practitioners” for sharing and comparing lessons and best practices for rehabilitation and disengagement programs.
Also speaking at the hearing was Mark Koumans, Deputy Assistant Secretary for International Affairs at the Department of Homeland Security. He addressed concerns several European partners have expressed about the collection and storage of personal data by the U.S. “[B]oth DHS and the United States government as a whole share a strong commitment to protecting individual privacy and civil liberties, including in the context of homeland security programs,” Koumans said.
The chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Europe and Eurasia, Rep. Dan Burton (R-IN), emphasized the importance of sharing information, and said the U.S. “can learn from the approaches taken” by its European allies.