The way forward for Senate and DHS

Secretary Chertoff, DHS, and the Senate are on the right track, although there is much room for improvement.

Last week, the Senate’s Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee held the first in a series of meetings designed to explore the threat that homegrown Islamism poses to the U.S.Chaired by Sen. Joseph Lieberman (ID-CT), the hearings are intended to find ways to "detect, deter, and defeat what the Senator called "the most significant terrorist threat to the homeland today."  Lieberman and his colleagues heard testimony from Homeland Security Secretary Michael Chertoff and two of his assistants, Mr. Charles Allen and Mr. Daniel Sutherland.During the session, all three participants as well as many of the Senators in attendance voiced an opinion that "outreach" is crucial for the government’s effort to counteract radicalism.  For example, Sen. Voinovich (R-OH) spoke of the need to build an "infrastructure of understanding" in the U.S., and Sen. McCaskill (D-MO) wondered what DHS was doing to utilize American Muslims as our "strongest tool" against radicalization.In response, Mr. Sutherland noted that DHS has established "strategic partnerships" with this country’s Muslim community.   Mr. Allen noted that in his mind, "engaging with local communities in key."  However, and worryingly, the DHS luminaries provided little detail about those groups of Muslims with whom they work.  This omission is a matter of some import, because many "moderate" Muslims are not exactly who they seem.Take, for instance, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) or the American Muslim Council (AMC), groups which purport to aim at the establishment of a just and constructive rapport between Americans and Muslims.  Their benign assertions belie their real identity.  They are, in fact, front groups for Islamists.Over the past several years, the Center has clearly shown that these organizations have mounted influence operations to portray themselves as the clarion voices of the broader Muslim community.  Such assertions are patently incorrect and particularly disturbing, given the fact that leaders of these organizations, like CAIR’s Nihad Awad and AMC’s Abdurrahman Alamoudi, have publicly expressed sympathy for Hamas and Hezbollah.  Other supposed "moderates," like Sami al-Arian, are in jail for direct links to the Palestinian terror group Islamic JihadAre these the kinds of people to whom the Secretary Chertoff as his department are "reaching out?"  If so, they are making a grievous error – such radicals have routinely attempted to hijack American counterterrorism policy by penetrating DHS.  The Center has expressed its deep concern that the U.S. government take the appropriate steps to properly vet those Muslim-Americans whom it enlists imminently sound goal of fighting the war of ideas.It is on this note – the political and ideological war against homegrown Islamism – that the Committee struck its best note.  Senator Lieberman’s expressed desire to call hearings about terrorists’ use of the internet is a welcome change for a Congress that has been largely indifferent or hostile to U.S government communication at home and abroad.  It is high time the U.S. engaged the Islamists in the information arena and countered their efforts to propagate destructive ideologies.  Promisingly on this score, both Lieberman and Sen. Collins (R-ME) spoke at length about the importance they attach to waging a "hearts and minds campaign" to bring about greater anti-radical action on the part of mainstream American Muslims.Echoing the two Senate leaders, Secretary Chertoff spoke about DHS efforts to help engage and defeat what he called the "ideology of violent extremism" which "perverts that language of Islam" and seeks to remake the faith in a brutal, totalitarian mode.  He implicitly recognized that "countering the al-Qaeda" narrative is as crucial to the well-being of the U.S. as is any stringent new airport security standard or detection mechanism.Secretary Chertoff is to be lauded for his desire to fight the ideologies of terror.  However, he noted that DHS has been working in close coordination with Karen Hughes’ public diplomacy shop at the State Department.  Ms. Hughes’ organization, in charge of most U.S. government communications, is replete with intellectual and bureaucratic folly.  For example, she has made a point of giving air time to radical Iranian clerics who slander this country at the same time Ms. Hughes is trying to promote.  Such policy is counterproductive, to say the least.  DHS would do well to use discretion before wading too deeply into the current public diplomacy morass.

The Center congratulates Sen. Lieberman, the Homeland Security Committee, as well as DHS for their efforts to seek out and counter the political and ideological roots of domestic terror.  Additionally, all parties are to be commended for their recognition of the prominent role American Muslims must play in this burgeoning fight.  Many difficult challenges remain, however, and all government officials and Senators are advised to use caution and consideration before they take actions that may harm the security of this nation.