Counter-Radicalization: Tackling Emotions to Tackle Terrorism

THE US FOUND NO WMD IN IRAQ WHATSOEVER, AND NO EVIDENCE THAT THERE WERE ANY PRIOR TO THE INVASION.

Amid the growing violence, Nigeria’s National Security Adviser Sambo Dasuki says the government will take a “soft approach” to counter terrorism, in addition to military efforts.

“My approach has been to understand the problem in order to apply the appropriate solutions. What we have learned is that there is not one particular path that leads to terrorism. Rather, there are many, often complicated, paths that lead to terrorism.”

Poverty, social injustice, isolation and sectarianism are among the causes of insurgency, he says. And prison reform, economic development, peace talks and educating the public are among the solutions.

Under the plan, two prisons will become “de-radicalization” facilities. The next step, Dasuki says, is to train the staff.

“The initiative will require substantial capacity building of prison staff in areas such as psychology, sport and art therapy, faith-based instructors and vocational training experts that would engage beneficiaries.”

Another key tenet of the “soft approach” to counter terrorism, he says, is economic reform in northeastern Nigeria, where most people live in abject poverty, fueling the insurgency.

But the insurgency also makes the region poor, adds Gbenro Olajuyigbe, a human security manager at anti-poverty organization ActionAid. The soft approach, he adds, needs to follow better security on the ground.

“If people are in insecure environment -- economics has collapsed, rights have collapsed, there is an intrusion of fear -- I think the best thing to do is to stabilize the country first.”
http://www.voanews.com/content/nigeria-launches-soft-approach-to-counter-boko-haram-/1873626.html

Torture has become such an integral part of policing in Nigeria that many stations have an informal torture officer, Amnesty International says.
Both the military and police use a wide range of torture methods including beatings, nail and teeth extractions and other sexual violence, it says.
One woman accused of theft in Lagos said she was sexually assaulted, and had tear gas sprayed into her vagina.
Nigeria's police told the BBC the force had a "zero tolerance for torture".
"It may happen and when it does happen it is appropriately dealt with," police spokesman Emmanuel Ojukwu told the BBC Hausa service."If somebody's tortured let him please report to the next higher authority and then action will be taken."
"Every officer in Nigerian police has a duty post - there is no duty post for torture," he said.
Entitled Welcome to Hell Fire, the Amnesty report says people are often detained in large dragnet operations and tortured as punishment, to extort money or to extract "confessions" as a way to solve cases.
The use of torture is particularly extreme in the north-east in the war against Boko Haram Islamist militants, Amnesty says.
The UK-based rights group says between 5,000 and 10,000 people have been arrested there since 2009, and executions in overcrowded detention facilities are common.
A teenage boy, pictured at the top, was among 50 people arrested by the army in Pokiskum in Yobe state last year on suspicion being a member of the Boko Haram.
At the time he was 15 years old and spent three weeks in custody in Damaturu and said he was beaten continuously with gun butts, batons and machetes.
"I was thrown inside a cell. I noticed a written sign on the wall 'Welcome to hell fire'… I was taken to the interrogation room.
"There was a police officer at one end with two suspects who were chained together.
"I saw ropes streaming down from the ceiling tops, bags of sand elevated on the perimeter wall fence of the hall and all types of rod and metal in different shapes and sizes.
"I heard shouts and screams from torture victims… I saw buckets of water on standby in case anybody faints or opts to die before appending [their] signature to already written statements."
The officer questioned him, tied his hands and legs, passed a rod between them and elevated him from a perimeter wall. They poured water on him whenever he passed out. He was charged with murder, has since been freed on bail and is awaiting trial.

Boston to host anti-extremist pilot program
(By Shelley Murphy | BOSTON GLOBE | September 24, 2014)

Boston is among three cities where the Justice Department will launch a pilot program aimed at deterring US residents from joining violent extremist groups, according to federal and local authorities.

The office of US Attorney Carmen Ortiz offered few details about the program, but said in a statement Tuesday that it was “aimed at countering violent extremism using prevention and intervention-based approaches.”

Boston was chosen “for the strength of our existing relationships, community engagement and community oriented policing programs,” the statement said.

The program, first announced last week by US Attorney General Eric Holder, will also be launched in Los Angeles and Minneapolis. Holder said pilot programs in cities across the country will be run in partnership with the White House, Department of Homeland Security, and National Counterterrorism Center. The White House is hosting a Countering Violent Extremism summit in October.
http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2014/09/23/boston-site-program-prevent-residents-from-joining-extremist-groups/YpEpq2cYvITZ6u8AFkbarL/story.html

Battle extremism with economic growth and trade, Harper tells UN
(JESSICA MURPHY | QMI AGENCY | September 25, 2014)

NEW YORK - Prime Minister Stephen Harper called on the international community to focus on economic growth and deeper trade relationships as a way to counter global strife and extremism - and made a funding pitch for his top foreign aid initiative.

Setting aside any hawkish tones in his address Thursday at the annual United Nations General Assembly - the third time he's taken the podium there since becoming prime minister - Harper called on the global community to contribute to ongoing efforts to improve maternal and child health in the world's poorest countries.
http://www.sunnewsnetwork.ca/sunnews/politics/archives/2014/09/20140925-202238.html

Quote:

Battle extremism with economic growth and trade, Harper tells UN
(JESSICA MURPHY | QMI AGENCY | September 25, 2014)

NEW YORK - Prime Minister Stephen Harper called on the international community to focus on economic growth and deeper trade relationships as a way to counter global strife and extremism - and made a funding pitch for his top foreign aid initiative.

Setting aside any hawkish tones in his address Thursday at the annual United Nations General Assembly - the third time he's taken the podium there since becoming prime minister - Harper called on the global community to contribute to ongoing efforts to improve maternal and child health in the world's poorest countries.
http://www.sunnewsnetwork.ca/sunnews/politics/archives/2014/09/20140925-202238.html

Quote:

Boston to host anti-extremist pilot program
(By Shelley Murphy | BOSTON GLOBE | September 24, 2014)

Boston is among three cities where the Justice Department will launch a pilot program aimed at deterring US residents from joining violent extremist groups, according to federal and local authorities.

It's not them going away that's the biggest problem,
it's them coming back all trained up with a clear objective.