Concerns Raised Over New Counterterrorism Program
Brennan Center
Concerns Raised Over New Counterterrorism Program
http://www.brennancenter.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=78697&qid=3828644
The White House is spearheading a new program for “Countering Violent Extremism,” which is being piloted in Minneapolis, Los Angeles and Boston. Although the contours of these programs are still emerging, advocates have serious concerns that the initiative will repeat the mistakes of previous efforts. As detailed in the Center’s 2011 report Rethinking Radicalization, http://www.brennancenter.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=78660&qid=3828644 there is no empirical basis for identifying pre-terrorist behavior, making it likely that programs like these will use religious observance as a proxy. Moreover, as Freedom of Information Law documents http://www.brennancenter.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=78661&qid=3828644 obtained by the Center show, in the past law enforcement-led outreach efforts have been used as an excuse to spy on people who are not suspected of any wrongdoing. “While everyone can agree that preventing terrorism is a priority, the government should embrace truth and transparency to build relations with Muslim communities rather than pushing unproven psychobabble,” wrote Faiza Patel in The Washington Post. http://www.brennancenter.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=78662&qid=3828644 Read more in The Boston Globe, http://www.brennancenter.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=78663&qid=3828644 NPR, http://www.brennancenter.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=78664&qid=3828644 Politico, http://www.brennancenter.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=78665&qid=3828644 USA Today, http://www.brennancenter.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=78666&qid=3828644 The Intercept, http://www.brennancenter.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=78667&qid=3828644 and watch “NOW with Alex Wagner.” http://www.brennancenter.org/sites/all/modules/civicrm/extern/url.php?u=78668&qid=3828644
