Read statements from officials and experts who participated in a conference on non-military tactics in the global fight against terrorism.
The U.S. counterterrorism enterprise has been remarkably effective from a tactical perspective, foiling attacks and disrupting networks around the globe. Yet it has been less successful from a strategic perspective—more individuals have been radicalized to the point of violence today than in 2001, resulting in a more diverse and dispersed terrorist threat. To address the fundamentally social underpinnings of this evolving challenge, Washington and its partners will need to shift away from an overreliance on expensive hard power and invest heavily in soft power instead.
On November 8, The Washington Institute convened a special symposium in which officials from various U.S. agencies joined other experts to discuss civil, political, diplomatic, financial, and law enforcement efforts to prevent violent extremism. Speakers included Ilkka Salmi, Christopher Landberg, Jill Rose, Patrick Reddan, Robert Jenkins, John Cohen, Paul Ahern, Chandana Ravindranath, and Damon Stevens. The event was conducted under the Chatham House rule, but participants offered the following statements for the record:
Opening Remarks
Matthew Levitt, Fromer-Wexler Fellow and Director of the Reinhard Program on Counterterrorism and Intelligence, The Washington Institute
