State Department Creates Bureau of Counter Terrorism

While attending the Jamestown Foundation's conference regarding al Qaeda last month, I heard whispers in the hallway that the State Department was working to officially form a Bureau of Counter Terrorism, to codify ongoing activities and formalize the effort. 

The CT Bureau has now been formally established and Ambassador-at-large Dan Benjamin is at the helm.  When I was a senior defense fellow at a think tank several years ago, I was fortunate to work down the hall from Mr. Benjamin, who was in residence at the time.  His book "The Age of Sacred Terror" is superior to all others of the genre, and provides rare insight into the roots and rise of al Qaeda - from someone who was the director of transnational threats at the National Security Council in the years prior to 9/11.  Mr. Benjamin and his staff sounded early alarms about al Qaeda and an imminent, coordinated, major terrorist attack against the United States. I recall him discussing his warnings at an informal think tank luncheon, where he recalled his colleagues at the time calling him a "horseman of the apocalypse" for predicting such a dire event. As someone who works in the emergent threats arena, I appreciate and value his ability to see beyond today's fight and groups to what lurks around the corner. Who best to lead State's CT efforts?

Back to the CT Bureau...the mission is what we would expect, however this sentence is worthy of thought:
It will lead in supporting U.S. counterterrorism diplomacy.  After the destruction of al Qaeda's homebase in Afghanistan, it scattered to the far corners of the planet and we now have many nation states harboring cells (whether wittingly or unwittingly).  As we hunt terrorists in these countries, and ask for permission to engage with force, or train the country to do the mission themselves, engaging in diplomacy is certainly wise to preserve relationships, keep lines of communication open, and allow us continued access.

The CT Bureau will implement its mission by:

• Developing and implementing counterterrorism strategies, policies, and operations. Nothing new here, although this new organization pulls CT efforts together with "support for human rights, democracy, and the rule of law."
   
• Strengthening counterterrorism diplomacy. Strengthening existing partnerships and building new relationships is critical to countering terrorists and their operations.  I found this interesting: "The Bureau will lead U.S. government efforts on behalf of the State Department to support the Global Counterterrorism Forum, a new multilateral initiative focused on setting the international counterterrorism agenda for the 21st century."  The GCTF as it is being called, has 30 founding members, some of which surprised me - China and Russia, for example.  The inaugural meeting was September 22nd, although it didn't get much press.  http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2011/09/172010.htm
   
• Strengthening homeland security.  Interesting that State is leaning forward in this realm. "The Bureau will work in partnership with DHS, as well as other agencies and bureaus, to strengthen international cooperation on a wide range of homeland security issues including transportation security, the interdiction of terrorist travel, and critical infrastructure protection."  Some telling language here about the bureau's engagement in countering the threat in the homeland.
   
• Countering violent extremism.  The language regarding this mission specifically discusses recruitment. "The Bureau will work to delegitimize the violent extremist narrative, to develop positive alternatives for populations vulnerable to recruitment, and to build partner government and civil society capacity to counter violent extremism themselves."  Naturally, we have work to do here at home on these same issues, so perhaps some cross effort between this Bureau, DHS, the FBI and others would be of value.
   
• Building the capacity of foreign partners. Nothing new here, State has been engaged in capacity building in terms or rule of law, police training, and strengthen foreign militaries since its inception.

Israel has had a similar bureau since 1996, with a broader mission. One key difference is their engagement in border security, something conspicuously absent from the stated mission of State's effort.

Israel's Bureau of Counter Terrorism

Overall, this is a step in the right direction, pulling State's CT ongoing efforts under one umbrella and giving new credence and strength to their overarching goals.

http://www.state.gov/g/ct/
http://www.state.gov/r/pa/prs/ps/2012/01/180136.htm