Ambassadors Roundtable Series- State Department Event Summary

As part of the Ambassador Roundtable Series on International Collaboration to Combat Terrorism and Insurgencies, The Homeland Security Policy Institute (HSPI) hosted Ambassador Dell Dailey, U.S. State Department Coordinator for Counterterrorism, and U.S. Under Secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs James Glassman on September 15, 2008.

In counterterrorism efforts, the U.S. and its allies should take a long-term, comprehensive approach. According to HSPI Director Frank Cilluffo, “we can’t respond kinetically only,…it also takes a narrative, exposing the inconsistencies of the enemy’s ideology and thus helping facilitate its own downfall.” Glassman and Dailey described the intersection of current counterterrorism policy with public diplomacy, intended to confront and defeat the terrorist threat to the United States and beyond.

Glassman serves as the U.S. government’s lead on the “war of ideas.” Using “the tools of persuasion and inspiration,” his objective is to break the “sway of hostile ideologies.” The elevated role of public diplomacy in counterterrorism efforts is an indication that the U.S. recognizes that, in the words of Defense Secretary Robert Gates, “we cannot kill or capture our way to victory.” The challenge for policymakers is to ensure that grievances, whether legitimate or perceived, are not manipulated by extremists into support for or furtherance of violence. To help counter radicalization and recruitment, Glassman emphasized that we should confront the “ideology of violence” by developing and defining universal values that we all share. At the same time, we should draw upon social networking techniques in both the physical and virtual worlds to try to channel potential recruits into alternate, non-violent paths and activities such as sports or music.

Dailey, too, stressed the importance of using a range of elements of statecraft in the fight against terrorism. He noted that though polls of majority-Muslim countries around the world reflect a decrease in populations with favorable views towards the U.S., those same populations are losing patience with and sympathy towards groups such as al-Qa’ida. Moderates are speaking out against the violence of extremists. In light of these developments, Dailey observed that communications can be a challenge, and “gives non-state actors state-like power to turn world events.” A strategic communications team within his office supports Glassman’s public diplomacy efforts. The joint purpose is to assist international partners who may have the political will but not the requisite capacity in this area. Voices of violence in the host nation are best understood by the indigenous population, who can appreciate all of the nuances and, therefore, determine how to respond most effectively to these messages. This is crucial because, as Dailey observes, “[w]e could destroy terrorist leadership and eliminate safe havens, but unless local recruitment is eliminated,” says Dailey, “we can’t stop the violence.”

Glassman emphasized that the threat posed by al Qa’ida is not over, but seriously called into question its viability as a movement over the long term. Dailey, in turn, noted that al-Qa’ida is “imploding” because its message “does not resonate with moderate Muslims.” Over time, the aim is to push al-Qa’ida back from the international plane to the regional level, and ultimately to the national level, where local knowledge equips the authorities to craft a tailored and powerful response that, like the threat itself, is anchored in context. Cilluffo, too, underscored the need for policymakers around the world to “think global and act local.”

The Ambassador 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.

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