Ambassadors Roundtable
November 7, 2008
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Summary
As part of the Ambassadors Roundtable Series on International Collaboration to Combat Terrorism and Insurgencies, the Homeland Security Policy Institute (HSPI) hosted Ambassador Mike Smith, Assistant Secretary-General, Executive Director, Counter Terrorism Executive Directorate, United Nations; and Mr. Richard Barrett, Coordinator, Monitoring Team, Committee on Al-Qa’ida and Taliban Sanctions, United Nations, on November 7th, 2008.
Speaking first, Ambassador Smith noted three characteristics of Al-Qa’ida (AQ) and associated groups that demand the United Nations have a role in thwarting them: the global scope, ambition and impact of AQ and followers; the international character of the planning and execution of many of their operations; and the need for policymakers to respond through means that stretch across various agencies, departments and regions of the world. 
Smith noted that the UN has been involved in counterterrorism for over thirty years with the adoption of sixteen treaties and resolutions that span various UN bodies and committees. He also outlined the shift within the UN on counter-terrorism matters, as the General Assembly previously considered counterterrorism issues its purview. More recently however, the Security Council had led much of the body’s work in this arena. Ambassador Smith noted that with a much smaller membership, the Security Council is able to act much quicker and more decisively than the larger General Assembly.
In outlining the UN’s value-added in the area of counterterrorism, Smith emphasized the global reach of the UN – its ability to establish a global norm, have a dialogue with all countries, act as a convening power, and facilitate the provision of technical assistance to member states to combat terrorist activity and act in compliance with UN resolutions. While acknowledging the paltry budget for the UN Secretariat’s counter-terrorism’s work, Ambassador Smith noted one distinct advantage the organization has in comparison to national governments: the perceived influence and neutrality of the UN, along with its ability to work with regional organizations that can provide “expertise and gravitas.”
Mr. Barrett focused on the need – more than seven years after the September 11, 2001 attacks – for new leadership and energy within the UN system to more effectively counter Al-Qa’ida and its allies, and ensure that radicals and extremists do not turn to terrorism. He is surprised that while in many ways that the impact of the September 11 attacks has stretched longer than anticipated, the international community has “begun to lose that sense of direction” on what its counterterrorism goals are, and how to achieve them. As a result, he noted that we now “have a marvelous opportunity for a recalibration of these threats to look fundamentally as to what is to be done” to counter them.
Mr. Barrett highlighted milestone achievements such as the unanimous adoption in September 2006 of the UN’s Global Counter Terrorism Strategy, which brought together all constituent efforts of the UN to deal with terrorism. Over time, working groups have emerged to help implement the Strategy; these include a victims of terrorism group, and a group focused on terrorism and the internet. Regarding the UN’s AQ/Taliban sanctions regime, Barrett indicated that it pre-dated 9/11 but was not used seriously until afterwards. He identified gaps and challenges associated with earlier versions of this sanctions system, such as procedures for getting on or off the list, and legal problems related to enforcement, but pointed out that UN Security Council Resolution 1822, adopted in June 2008, tried to patch the gaps at issue.
Mr. Barrett remarked that beyond operations targeting specific terrorists, the international community must do a better job or understanding how and why individuals gravitate toward terrorism. He also stressed the need for pinning down terrorist supporters and financiers, as well as the need to counter terrorist ideology. Additionally, Mr. Barrett suggested the global Muslim community must stress that terrorism is not justified by any religion, let alone Islam. In creating strategies to tackle the ideology of terrorism, he urged a campaign in order to “reduce that cool factor” of terrorists and their operations.
During the question and answer session, former Department of Homeland Security inspector general Clark Ervin suggested that one problem with UN involvement in counterterrorism is a lack of international consensus on the definition of terrorism. Ambassador Smith indicated that the differences in defining the term are smaller than perceived. The various UN resolutions and agreements allow Member States the flexibility to define terrorism as they see fit, thereby allowing the problem to be localized and more effectively countered.
Ambassador Smith observed that the next U.S. Administration affords “an opportunity for renewal”; the world has changed since 2001, and a different mindset as well as a change in rhetoric is required. Mr. Barrett concurred, suggesting in the U.S. a “great feeling of refreshment” with the upcoming administration change. HSPI director Frank Cilluffo agreed, noting that this is not only a time to “reinvigorate, reframe, and re-energize” international cooperation in the counterterrorism arena, but also to promote initiatives to “unpack” Al-Qa’ida’s narrative to expose its “bankrupt” ideology in order to foster its demise.
Resources
As part of the November 7, 2008 Roundtable with UN counterterrorism leaders Ambassador Mike Smith, Director of the Counter Terrorism Executive Directorate and Mr. Richard Barrett, Coordinator of the Monitory Team on the Committee on Al-Qa’ida and Taliban Sanctions, the Homeland Security Policy Institute prepared a resource page where you will find some useful links to recent reports, government agencies and other relevant information.
Reports & Remarks:
“Terrorism Financing Blacklists At Risk Global System Faces Multiple Challenges,” Washington Post (November 2, 2008)
“The global blacklisting system for financiers of al-Qaeda and other terrorist groups is at risk of collapse, undermined by legal challenges and waning political support in many countries, according to counterterrorism officials in Europe and the United States.”
“Briefing by CTED Executive Director Mike Smith to UN Security Council,” United Nations Counter Terrorism Executive Directorate (March 19, 2008).
“On 10 December 2007, the Council adopted resolution 1787 (2007), which extended the mandate of the CTED [Counter Terrorism Executive Directorate] until 31 March 2008 and which requested me, in consultation with Council members, to recommend changes to the organizational plan of the Executive Directorate. I duly carried out that review of the Directorate’s organization and methods of work, consulting with all the members of the Counter-Terrorism Committee, the wider United Nations membership, CTED staff, other relevant United Nations agencies and experts outside the system.” Smith’s remarks review the changes in the Directorate that will further the ability of the office to successfully carry out its mission.
“Seven Years After 9/11: al-Qa’ida’s Strengths and Vulnerabilities,” by Richard Barrett for the International Center for the Study of Radicalization and Political Violence (September 2008).
“The core Al-Qaida leadership remains in place, but it is still far from recovering the position of strength it enjoyed in 2001. It has suffered from an inability to clarify its role and aims. Though it may still count on thousands of sympathizers across the world, the leadership has failed to find a consistent and reliable way to connect with and direct its supporters. Furthermore, there has been a considerable backlash against Al-Qaida-inspired violence across the Muslim world, with the result that even in places where Al-Qaida used to be highly active – such as Iraq, Algeria, Egypt, and Saudi-Arabia – its campaign has lost traction and influence.” The report makes recommendations for furthering the campaign against Al-Qaida.
“Building Global Alliances in the Fight against Terrorism,” Center on Global Counterterrorism Cooperation ( November 2007).
“Commissioned by the Better World Campaign of the UN Foundation, ‘Building Global Alliances in the Fight Against Terrorism’ outlines steps the next administration should take during its first one hundred days to improve international cooperation against terrorism, repair its damaged reputation on the international stage, and protect America from another major terrorist attack .”
“The UN Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy and Regional and Subregional Bodies: Strengthening a Critical Partnership” Center on Global Counterterrorism Cooperation ( October 2008).
“This report discusses the contributions that regional and subregional bodies can make to implementing the UN Counter-Terrorism Strategy. It provides a region-by-region survey of some of the contributions of those bodies and an overview of counterterrorism-related engagement between regional and subregional bodies and the UN system. It concludes with a series of forward-looking recommendations as to how to maximize the contributions of regional and subregional bodies to the implementation of the Strategy and to counterterrorism in general, as well as how to improve cooperation between those bodies and the United Nations.”
“Remarks by Ambassador Alejandro Wolff, U.S. Deputy Permanent Representative, on the adoption of the UN General Assembly Strategy Review Resolution, in the General Assembly, September 4, 2008,” US Mission to United Nations (September 4, 2008).
“ The United States welcomes the Review of the United Nations General Assembly Counter Terrorism Strategy. The unanimous adoption of the Strategy during the 61st General Assembly marked the first time that all UN member states agreed to a common strategic approach to fighting terrorism. The Strategy represents a pragmatic, action-oriented approach to that end.”
“Counter-Terrorism and the International Community: Waxing Fatigue, Waning Commitment?,” The Century Foundation (September 2008).
“Terrorism officials from dozens of countries came to the United Nations in New York for a two-day meeting of the General Assembly ( 4-5 September 2008) to review their governments' implementation of the U.N. Global Counter-Terrorism Strategy adopted in 2006. The meeting provided an opportunity for The Century Foundation and the Center on Global Counterterrorism Cooperation to organize a luncheon roundtable to allow candid discussion among those officials, U.N. representatives, U.S. representatives, and terrorism experts…The discussion explored the political priority of counterterrorism as an international issue seven eventful years after the World Trade Center attacks, the readiness of governments to work together – bilaterally or multilaterally – to deal with violent networks, and the obstacles to effective action both in the United Nations and among individual governments.”
“International Terrorism: Threat, Policy, and Response,” Congressional Research Service (January 2007).
“This report examines international terrorist actions, threats, U.S. policies and responses. It reviews the nation’s use of tools at its disposal to combat terrorism, from diplomacy, international cooperation, and constructive engagement to physical security enhancement, economic sanctions, covert action, and military force.”
News and Resource Links:
New York Times: United Nations
State Department: UN Counterterrorism
Center on Global Counterterrorism Cooperation: Resources
United Nations:
United States Mission to the United Nations
UN Security Council Counter Terrorism Committee
UN Security Council Al-Qa’ida and Taliban Sanctions Committee
UN Instruments to Counter Terrorism
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The Ambassadors Roundtable Series is designed to provide Ambassadors to the United States and their key diplomatic staff with a forum to discuss current and future counterterrorism and counterinsurgency efforts on a regional or country-specific basis. In an effort to draw upon various insights and experiences, the Ambassadors Roundtable Series builds upon and institutionalizes efforts over the past two years to engage in a dialogue with members of the international community, policy makers, and practitioners.
