“Former New Jersey Gov. Thomas H. Kean and former Congressman Lee H. Hamilton of Indiana served as chairman and vice chairman, respectively, of the 9/11 Commission. Over the past year, they served as the chairs of the congressionally mandated Task Force on Extremism in Fragile States, which was convened by the United States Institute of Peace.”
And they haven’t got a clue. We are not going to be able to buy our way out of this fix, and no amount of US aid to help leaders “create alternatives to violence and extremism” is going to work unless the motivating ideology behind jihad terrorism is addressed. Kean and Hamilton here present their plan as something new, but actually it is what the United States has been trying to do ever since 9/11, both domestically and internationally. Jobs programs for Somali Muslims in Minneapolis were supposed to provide “alternatives to violence and extremism,” but Somali Muslim communities in Minneapolis have been hotbeds of jihad recruitment. And the nation-building projects that Kean and Hamilton rightly decry were supposed to create stable republics that would provide their citizens with “alternatives to violence and extremism.”
This approach has been tried time and time again, and has never worked. The reason why not is as clear as the wrongheadedness of mainstream terror analysts: jihad terrorists believe that by murdering Infidels and working for the imposition of Sharia, they are doing the work of Allah, and earning a place in Paradise. The longer we continue to ignore it, they will continue to make recruits among peaceful Muslims, no matter how many jobs programs and other alternatives to violence and extremism we provide.
Nonetheless, one thing is certain: no one will listen or consider this, and we will keep on making these same mistakes over and over again.
“18 years after 9/11: Terrorism needs to be prevented at the source,” by Thomas H. Kean and Lee H. Hamilton, USA Today, September 10, 2019:
…Over a decade and a half ago, as chairs of the 9/11 Commission, we called for a comprehensive strategy to prevent new generations of terrorists, in addition to safeguarding the homeland and defeating terrorist groups. That call remains largely unfulfilled, but we are encouraged by new thinking in Congress, in the administration and internationally, dedicated to preventing violence and extremism at its roots.
Last year, Congress charged the U.S. Institute of Peace with developing a strategy to prevent the spread of extremist violence in the world’s most fragile states and asked us to lead a bipartisan group of 13 of America’s most senior foreign policy leaders to address this critical challenge. Our final report calls for the United States to focus on the underlying causes of fragility, by helping to repair the broken social contract between citizens and their governments, rather than just respond to terrorist threats.
Today, we are encouraged to see many of our recommendations reflected in pending legislation, especially the Global Fragility Act (HR 2116 and S 727). If adopted, this legislation will be a critical first step in reshaping U.S. policy toward countries vulnerable to extremism and violence. Leaders on both sides of the aisle — Sens. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and Chris Coons, D-Del., Reps. Eliot Engel, D-N.Y., and Michael McCaul, R-Texas — are sponsoring this legislation. In April, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo concurred during a hearing that we must seize the moment and adopt this new approach. We applaud their leadership.
Let us be clear: We do not recommend nation building. We have learned that the United States cannot build other people’s nations. They have to do that for themselves. What we recommend is to focus on countries where the United States has committed partners and empower those leaders to create alternatives to violence and extremism. Their interest in peace and stability must be at least as great as our own.
Better to avoid the mess than have to clean it up later
Preventing widespread violence and state collapse is far cheaper than the use of military force after crises erupt. We cannot spend another $6 trillion fighting terrorism. By one recent estimate, we save $16 in costly military intervention and relief operations for every dollar spent on prevention. And when we invest in the ability of our partners to become self-reliant, to advance their own prevention agenda, we are working toward a worthy goal — a time when foreign assistance is no longer necessary.
Nor is prevention naive. The United States always reserves the right to use force to confront an imminent terrorist threat. But when we pursue today’s threats without regard to preventing tomorrow’s threats, we risk inadvertently fueling future grievances. We want to get ahead of the threat, not create an unsustainable cycle of violence.
A preventive approach is also prudent. Steering clear of harm’s way, in places where diplomacy and aid can prevent violent extremists from gaining a foothold, is the best way to honor the sacrifices our servicemen and women have made over the past two decades…
Walter Sieruk says
The day of this posting, 9/11/19, its now been eighteen years since those jihadist murderous attack and affronts against both humankind and America. Thus it’s appropriate to reiterate the very important message below .
There is a rather old song that was written way before the murderous jihad affronts which occurred on September 11, 2001. That many apply to this current late decade of this twenty–first century.
The title of that song to “Try to remember…”
Some of the lyrics to well apply to now are “Try to remember the kind of September when life was slow and ho, so mellow… Try to remember the kind of September when you were a tender and callow fellow…Try to remember the kind of September when life was tender that no one wept expect the willow… Try to remember the kind of September when love was a ember about to billow…”
Yes, that was the past and the somewhat as it was pre- 9/11 Septembers before those Islamic terror murder attacks on that specific day.
Now viewing things as they are .Life is no longer slow of mellow. For all patriotic Americans need the be fast and keep up with news and information regarding Muslim terrorist activities. Now men can’t be so tender and callow. Men need to keep strong vigilance for things, items and individuals the appear suspicious and it’s no longer good be naïve. Likewise the lyrics of the song further went “Try to remember the kind of September when life was so tender that no one wept expect the willow…” Now many people have wept because of the heinously vicious murdering actions commit by Muslim terrorists. In addition, the old song lyrics further are “Try to remember the kind of September when love was an ember about to billow…” Now love instead of being and “ember about to billow” the sad and tragic reality is vicious hate by jihad-minded Muslims now pose a danger. Nevertheless, people of the West need to reject hate as to not be of the same mindset as the jihadists are
Therefore, don’t let them fool you, the many apologists for Islam is will endeavor to set up a smokescreen to hide the reality of the truth about the violence and deadly essence of Islam by making the bogus claim that the al Qaeda operatives mass murderer on 9/11 were not real Muslims and that they were breaking the laws of the Qu ‘ran by their violence and deadly actions.” The apologists for Islam will further make the totally false claim that “Those terrorists on 9/11 were only criminals who hijacked the peaceful religion of Islam for Politics.” Those outrageously false claims are weak attempt of damage control for the image of Islam to the West. For the “holy book” of Islam the Qu ‘ran. For the Qu ‘ran instruct in Sura 9:111. Muslims who are engaging the jihad that “The believer’s fight in Allah’s Cause, they slay and are slain ,they kill and are killed “ That’s just what happened on September 11, 2001 the jihadists of al Qaeda “killed and were killed” in those 9/11 jihad attacks against both humankind and America. The Quran also teaches in Sura 9:123 to that jihad –minded Muslims behavior towards non-Muslims “let them find harshness in you…” Those Islamic attacks on 9/11 were indeed very “harsh.” As Sura 2:191 instructs “kill the disbeliever wherever you find them.” That’s a very strange kind of “peaceful religion” if there ever was one. Just to site one more out on many from the Qu ‘ran about the instruction of deadly violence is Sura 47:4. Which instructs “Whenever you encounter unbelievers strike off their heads until you make a great slaughter among them …” Let’s face it, using jet planes a missiles as those jihadist/ Muslims did of September 11, sure made a greater “slaughter among them” then sword can. Wake up West to the actual nature of Islam before it’s too late.
mortimer says
INSPIRING !!! PRES TRUMP REFERRED TO ‘RADICAL ISLAMIC TERRORISM’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qCCWXoCURKY
James Lincoln says
yes, mortimer, inspiring.
But it would have been more inspiring if he had just said “Islamic terrorism”…
Terry Gain says
Exactly. Saying radical Islamic terrorism is an indication of his cluelessness.
Jule Bacal says
Exactly
gravenimage says
Still *much* more accurate than most Western leaders at this point.
mortimer says
It’s the IDEOLOGY, stupid.
If Muslims are deprogrammed right out of Islam, they will stop being terrorists … and only then.
Islam is intrinsically a TERRORIST DOCTRINE … ‘Turhibunna’ (terrorize them) – Koran 8.60.
All we have to do is to convince Muslims that Mohammed wrote the Koran and they will all abandon Islam.
Mohammed is the ONLY source of the Koran, so according to Ockham’s Razor, Mohammed is the only suspect in this hoax and thus he is the source of it.
The author of the Koran could not have been divine, because he makes hundreds of mistakes. So human.
Mohammedans will leave Islam when they accept that Mohammed wrote the Koran.
Wellington says
I’ll put it a bit more expansively, mortimer, to wit, destroy Mohammed and you destroy Islam.
Debi Brand says
Precisely, Wellington. Well stated.
“Islam” –the whole of it — rest solely on the alleged “Prophet” from Mecca. In brief.
James Lincoln says
Wellington, that is true.
The religious ideology of Islam is held together by a Koran and a warlord named Mohammed. That’s why Muslims are so easily triggered – and fiercely protective of both…
Donovan Nuera says
What probably happened was that Mo was abusing his goat in that Noor cave above the Yemeni 5th Century town of Mecca when his friends were trying to find him and while standing at the entrance of the dark cave heard deep from its recesses Mo moaning “Oh, allah…oh, allah…oh, allah” and Mo, hearing their footsteps and not wanting to be caught in delicto flagrante cum caproium, thought of a lie on the spot and said..”oh…hi…I did not see you there…”
“Mohammad,….. who were talking too?? what are you doing in a dark cave by yourself…all sweaty…and WITH A GOAT?!!!”
“Er…uh….oh yes, I was “communicating” with “ALLAH” and he told me that I was his “prophet”…aaaaaaand….Allah revealed to me in a vision everything and said I was his representative……aaaaaaaaaaand you have to obey me from now on or I will keeeeel you! (Yep…that’s the ticket!”)
“Gee, that’s neat, Mo!”…..
Terry Gain says
You can’t destroy Islam so long as it is regarded as a religion. This is obvious by now.
gravenimage says
Since there has been no society that has ever decided to pretend that Islam is not a religion, this is a very odd assertion to make.
And the idea that if only you could get the publishers of dictionaries to ignore the meaning of words that Islam would cease to be a threat appears baseless, as well. In fact, we are being asked to ignore reality for Muslims entirely too much as it is, as exemplified by this story.
gravenimage says
Mortimer, you have never why pious Muslims would listen to the ‘filthy Infidels’ to “deprogram” them.
Joe says
We have Korans that predate Mohammed, and those verses are still there. Mohammed wrote most of the Koran. About 20 years after Mohammed, John of Damascus was discussing the Koran with the foremost Muslims who insisted that Mohammed received the Koran in his sleep. The story of the cave and Gabrielle were apparently started at a later date.
Jule Bacal says
This is just the point. Seriously, can our people really miss this? The Source is the Qur’an and until leaders change it or to give them a chance-delicately purge it of all human warlord rhetoric & tell their people they discover the Problem, until they do this there is NO Hope.ZERO. We cannot pretend.
I think a big problem is that we have forgotten how ‘Belief’ can work against humanity when the ‘Belief’ is insane. How can we watch these guys pray before murder and while they ‘work’ keep on praying and telling Allah they submittle themselves and they are doing all this for him so help them murder more, and not get how deep this is? We should not be afraid to tell their leaders this IDEOLOGY is the big Problem….so what are they going to do about it? And how can we Ever ever trust them past today/tomorrow and into next year? I can only trust they will continue to follow their religious way of life exactly as it is written/taught. Who can expect anything else? FIX THE SOURCE. The Qur’an.
Walter Sieruk says
A very callous statement by Ilan Omar referring to those murderous jihads affronts which occurred on September 11, 2001 are the results of “Some people did something” is, somewhat ,similar to a Muslim cleric who called 9/11 a “comedy film” is terribly heartless and cruel yet strong reminder that on the day of September 9 2016 some man I know who works as a security guard at a public place told me a Muslim actually had the nerve to walk over to him and said to him two Muslim “Jokes” about 9/11. As if it was a funny subject. It’s wrong to even try to “joke” about 9/11. Talk about bad “jokes” those two are the very much worst of all. The first was “What is the difference between September 11, 20001 and a cow?” answer “You don’t keep milking a cow after fifteen years.” Not only is that “joke” awful but those Muslims trying to be funny by say that cruel thing do have some gall because they have no room to talk . For they are still are “milking” the topic of the crusades and the crusades have been over for well more than seven hundred years. What gall they have!
The second “Muslim “joke” about 9/11 is “On September 11, 2001 the people trapped on the upper floors of the WTC had ordered their pizza sent two of them plane.” To say that such “humor” is terrible is an understatement. Furthermore, those two plane . Muslim who say those “jokes” are really only exposing their own sick, vicious, callous and heartless Islamic mindset.”
Walter Sieruk says
On September 11,2001 many Muslims rejoiced in different countries around the world then they found about the outcome of those al Qaeda jihad attacks in which so many people died . They were so glad and happy about all those people who died in such terrible ways. The reason they felt so happy with joy is because ,as the Bible explains such people have had “their conscience seared with a hot iron.” First Timothy 4:2. {K.J.V.] For them that “hot iron” is Islam
Walter Sieruk says
Those American heroes of United 93 banded together to fight the Jihadists and foiled their evil scheme by preventing more death and destruction in Washington D.C. The heroes united in a band or cord against those Islamic evildoers. The above is a reflection of Ecclesiastes 4: 12. This reads “Though one may be over-powered, two can defend themselves. A cord of three strands is not quickly broken..”
Finally, all these jihadists will have a harsh awakening after they die; they will find out that they were lied to about the 72 virgins in a paradise. That is just one of many “cleverly invented stories” of men Second Peter 1:16. Instead of the virgins they will find themselves in hell with no hope.
Walter Sieruk says
Those nineteen jihadists of al Qaeda with all their Islamic scheming in their malicious and murderous jihad and likewise demonically ambitious.
Furthermore, all those Muslim /jihadists of September 11, 2001 all had a very harsh reality check after they died in their deluded jihad Islam murder attack. Foe after those Islamic terrorists died they found themselves no in any kind of paradise whatsoever, with are without virgins, Those Muslim terrorists of al Qaeda found themselves trapped and suffering in the fires of hell. For the Bible teaches that a murderer “shall not inherit the kingdom of God,” Galatians 5:21.
Likewise, the Bible further teaches that “murderers …shall have their part in the lake of which burneth with fire and brimstone…” Revelations 21:8. [K.J.V.]
Walter Sieruk says
The jihadist members of al Qaeda , in their attacks /homicide attacks on September 11, 2001 were as evil and dangerous too the most hideous extreme.
Any sane person would ask “Why do those jihad –minded Muslims have such a mindset of murderous madness?” The answer is that they obtain the way of thinking and believing from the “holy book” of Islam, the Koran. As some people call it the Qu ‘ran. For example the Koran in Sura 9:111 instructs “The believers fight in Allah’s Cause, they slay and are slain, they kill and are killed.” Therefore it may be conclude that Islam is actually a death cult. In great and wonderful contrast to the death cult which is Islam there is Christianity which is centered on Jesus and His teachings. For Jesus did not teach killing and death but taught and gave life, a good peaceful well lived life and more. For example Jesus declared “I am come that they might have life, and that they might have it more abundantly.” John 10:10. [K.J.V.]
Walter Sieruk says
Those murderous jihadists in their horrible Islamic attacks on September 11, 2001 were not acting 2:191. out in a hijacked form of Islam but actual Quran based non-watered down hard core . As the Quran teaches in 9:111, “The believers fight in Allah’s Cause, they slay and are slain, they kill and are killed.” Likewise, this “holy book” of Islam also instructs in 47:4 “ Whenever you encounter the disbeliever strike off their heads until you make a great slaughter among them…”
Let’s face it, using plains as missiles as those as the al Qaeda jihadists did, on September 11, 2001 can, for sure, make a greater “slaughter among them” than a sword can. There are the other verses the give instruction for violence and killing for the cause of Islam, as 2:191. 5:33. 8:39.9:5, 38-39.
Wellington says
A variation on Churchill here respecting the continued willful ignorance of the worst religion of all time: Never in the history of mankind have so many done so little to save so much.
elee says
How about Churchill without substitution of terms: Islam is the most powerful retrograde force in the world. As in, they want to frogmarch the world back to the 7th century…….and be it noted, the seventh century in one of the most barbarous backwaters of the world.
Terry Gain says
Did the great Churchill mistakenly refer to Islam as a religion?
gravenimage says
Yes, Terry, he did–as I have pointed out to you in the past. He was not mistaken, though:
“Indeed it is evident that Christianity, however degraded and distorted by cruelty and intolerance, must always exert a modifying influence on men’s passions, and protect them from the more violent forms of fanatical fever, as we are protected from smallpox by vaccination. But the Mahommedan religion increases, instead of lessening, the fury of intolerance…”
https://winstonchurchill.hillsdale.edu/churchill-on-islam/
The idea that these great figures like Jefferson and Churchill lacked intelligence and courage because they didn’t want to ignore reality is a very odd claim.
Keys says
From the Commission:
“And when we invest in the ability of our partners to become self-reliant, to advance their own prevention agenda, we are working toward a worthy goal — a time when foreign assistance is no longer necessary.”
Is this like the trillions the USA has “invested” in Iraq, Pakistan, and Afghanistan ?
Is not this investment the same as “nation building”, but with no strings attached ?
Investing, if that means handing out cash or weaponry, in any nation with Supremacist ideologies governing them seems foolish to me. If investing means establishing fair trading partners/relationships, that seems more reasonable and beneficial. Otherwise, let these nations reap what they sow.
gravenimage says
That might indeed be what is meant by these weasel words, Keys.
vlparker says
John Adams and Thomas Jefferson learned what islam is over 200 years ago. Considering that our early encounters with islam were enshrined in the Marine Corps. hymn, one would think that Marine generals like Mattis would understand islam.
I don’t know if these politicians are really, really stupid or if they are just political cowards.
Terry Gain says
Very few people have the courage and intelligence to say that Islam is not a religion.
gravenimage says
Including Thomas Jefferson, who acknowledged that Islam was a religion. Does this make him stupid, and a coward?
In fact, all those brave people who faced down Islam over the centuries were the same.
Donovan Nuera says
We need to hammer home the point that islam SANCTIFIES the murder of apostates. No other “religion” does that. That is a HUGE violation of basic Human Rights. Also ask “who made up the rule that “religions” HAVE to be “Peaceful”???). Force “moderate” American and Canadian imams to simply write a public group letter back to Pope Facebook’s BFF mufti-wooftie-pie al-Tayyab at al-Azhar to “clarify” that apostacy is NOT a sin or worthy of death sentence. See what his response is. In the meantime, encourage liberation apostacy to everyone you meet! #APOSTATESLIVESMATTER
Terry Gain says
That fact alone disqualifies Islam as a religion. Those who insist that Islam is a religion have no understanding of the role of religion in our lives.
gravenimage says
There have been many evil religions. To think that all religions have been good means ignoring history. Certainly, the sacrifice of children to Baal and the sacrifice of rival tribes in the Aztec religion were not good things, but no one pretended that these faiths had no worshipers.
gravenimage says
9/11 Commission top dogs say “terrorism needs to be prevented at the source,” ignore its source
…………………….
More willful denial.
Terry Gain says
Well of course these people are told that Islam is a great Abrahamic religion. Who wants to take on that?
gravenimage says
Anti-Jihadists take it on all the time, Terry. That Islam is not a ‘great Abrahamic faith’ does not means that our pretending that it is not a religion is useful.
elee says
Read Ayaan Hirsi Ali. If you want to stop Islamic criminality at its source, you must p;revent lawful dawa. /sort of the same thing Muslims do in their countries, they p;rohibit talking to anyone about the religion that p;reaches love and turning the other cheek.
PaulH says
I have read Ayaan Hirsi Ali and she tells it like it is-from the inside.
FYI says
i’d love to see Ayaan Hirsi Ali debate ilhan omar especially on topics like FGM,islamic dawa etc
You Tube
Ayaan Hirsi Ali:is islamophobia a reality in the US?
{Big think 19 nov 2015}
David M says
The 9/11 Commission was a sham, just like the Warren Commission. Kean & Hamilton said it themselves & stated it was “set up to fail.”
TKF says
Islam=Jihad. Jihad=Islamic Terrorism. It’s really that simple.
Keys says
Agree, TKF. Simple math.
If A = B,
and if B = C,
then A = C.
Jay Dillon says
Here’s how you “prevent terrorism at its source.” You kill it: https://youtu.be/MTMcYHrAdl4
gravenimage says
That bomb did not actually kill Islam.
seabird says
What we learned about 9-11 is that if an extremely rich foreign country incinerates 3,000 of your citizens, our Govt. will help suspects leave the country without being questioned, obstruct and mislead the investigation and then sell them $billions in new weapons while calling them a “spectacular” ally practicing a religion of peace.
OLD GUY says
TRUE! Money talks.
Angemon says
Meanwhile, in ’98, Bill Clinton refused to have Bin Laden killed because innocents might die, and that would make him no better than OBL…