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Posted on Aug 20, 2021
Ways the Antiterrorism Fight has Shifted as the Longest War Ends
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When the United States military completes its withdrawal from Afghanistan after 20 years at war, it marks a turning point in the Global War on Terrorism, launched after Sept. 11, 2001.
As debates over the significance of the withdrawal continue throughout August’s Antiterrorism Awareness Month and well beyond, here are ways the United States’ fight against violent extremism — on the international and domestic fronts — is already shifting:
- Scaling back role in Middle East. As the U.S. military’s exit from Afghanistan makes plain, America is rolling back its hard power footprint in the Middle East. According to recent testimony of officials from the departments of State and Defense (DOD), this means countering threats from China, Russia and Iran; working with allies to disrupt terrorist networks; supporting partnerships and diplomacy; and pushing for “rules-based” respect for the rule of law and civilian control of the military.
“As the U.S. works alongside partners to address violent extremism, maritime threats, and more, we nurture strong relationships that serve as an effective counter to China and Russia,” said Dana Stroul, deputy assistant secretary of defense for Middle East Policy, in testimony on Aug. 10, 2021, before the Senate Foreign Relations subcommittee on Near East, South Asia, Central Asia, and Counterterrorism.
DOD’s activities, she said, are focused on the transfer of defense equipment and services, military exercises, military education and equipment, and institutional capacity development such as security sector reform.
Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Mira Resnick testified that in addition to “ironclad” support for Israel, other priorities include continued funding for Jordan’s fight against Al Qaeda, ISIS and their global affiliates and assisting in the economic diversification of “petrostates” like United Arab Emirates, which she said is an “outstanding” counterterrorism partner.
- Renewing focus on domestic terrorism. More than five months after the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, the Biden administration in June released a new National Strategy for Countering Domestic Terrorism, including from white supremacists and militia violent extremists.
The strategy considers domestic terrorism to be violations of criminal law and other acts of intimidation or violence against civilians or a government that occur “primarily within the territorial jurisdiction of the United States.”
It centers on four pillars: understanding the threat and information-sharing; preventing recruitment, incitement and mobilization to violence; deterring and disrupting violence before it occurs; and addressing long-term issues that contribute to domestic terrorism.
In tandem with the release of the strategy, the Department of Homeland Security for the first time designated “domestic violent extremism” a national priority area with its homeland security grant program, which freed up millions of dollars to respond to these threats, officials said.
- Confronting extremism within the military’s ranks. Biden’s counterterrorism strategy calls for DOD to warn service members separating or retiring on becoming potential targets for recruitment by violent extremists. The strategy also says the government is developing a way for Veterans to report being recruited by these individuals and developing better screening tools to prevent extremists from securing positions of trust in government.
Included in the strategy is DOD’s effort to counter extremism within the ranks, which was initiated by Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III in January, when he ordered DOD-wide “stand downs” on the issue. He also asked for an updated to the definition of prohibited extremist activities by uniformed personnel in Department of Defense Instruction (DoDI) 1325.06. (An early January analysis by NPR found that almost one in five people charged in the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol may have had a military history.)
The DOD efforts have not been without criticism. The stand downs “appeared mired in malaise,” argued Carrie A. Lee, chair of the Department of National Security and Strategy at the U.S. Army War College and Celestino Perez, associate professor at the college, in a War on the Rocks commentary. “To give extremism in the ranks the attention that it deserves, it should be folded into the regular curriculum.”
To sniff out those with such views within the military (and, for that matter, within law enforcement agencies), another expert advised focusing on individual behavior, not sweeping investigations.
“It will be hard for us to scrub everybody’s social media,” said Michael German, former FBI special agent for domestic terrorism, during a May panel discussion hosted by Common Good, a bipartisan government reform organization. “You don't have to do that,” German said. “You go down to the squad level.”
- Addressing cyberthreats and other threats. In addition to securing the border, among other traditional homeland security actions, combating terrorism increasingly means shoring up the nation’s cyber defenses, which recent events showed are vulnerable. The ransomware attacks on Colonial Pipeline in May and other intrusions into federal computer networks led President Joe Biden to issue an executive order on May 12 calling for stepped up efforts to protect the nation’s cybersecurity.
Being vigilant against cyberthreats and insider threats are specific areas of focus promoted by the U.S. Army for Antiterrorism Awareness Month.
- Redoubling support for Afghanistan Veterans. If you’re a Veteran of Afghanistan, be proud of your service and fulfillment of the mission, which was “to prevent further attacks on the homeland,” said senior enlisted advisor to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Ramón “CZ” Colón-López, in an Aug. 3 blog posted by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
“We wanted to make sure that we denied Al Qaeda, specifically, of sanctuary, training ground and places where they could plan terrorism attacks,” he said. “If you look at the past 20 years, that is exactly what we did. There hasn’t been a single attack on the homeland.”
Colón-López and VA health experts reminded Veterans watching news of the U.S. military’s exit from Afghanistan to be on the lookout for “red flags” such as isolating or increasing use of drugs and alcohol. You can seek help at the nearest VA or Vet Center or call 877-WAR-VETS to speak confidentially with trained staff, many of whom are fellow Veterans.
Learn more
Watch the Aug. 10 Senate subcommittee hearing: https://rly.pt/3D58YUn
Read the National Strategy for Countering Domestic Terrorism: https://rly.pt/3kd6bA0
Watch the Common Good panel discussion: https://www.c-span.org/video/?512182-1/common-good-discussion-domestic-terrorism#!
Read the July 16, 2021, War on the Rocks commentary: https://rly.pt/3y5691R
Read the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) statement on the May 12 executive order: https://rly.pt/3855ItK
Read the VA blog post, which has information about reconciling your service in Afghanistan and links to additional resources: https://rly.pt/3AVdsv1
As debates over the significance of the withdrawal continue throughout August’s Antiterrorism Awareness Month and well beyond, here are ways the United States’ fight against violent extremism — on the international and domestic fronts — is already shifting:
- Scaling back role in Middle East. As the U.S. military’s exit from Afghanistan makes plain, America is rolling back its hard power footprint in the Middle East. According to recent testimony of officials from the departments of State and Defense (DOD), this means countering threats from China, Russia and Iran; working with allies to disrupt terrorist networks; supporting partnerships and diplomacy; and pushing for “rules-based” respect for the rule of law and civilian control of the military.
“As the U.S. works alongside partners to address violent extremism, maritime threats, and more, we nurture strong relationships that serve as an effective counter to China and Russia,” said Dana Stroul, deputy assistant secretary of defense for Middle East Policy, in testimony on Aug. 10, 2021, before the Senate Foreign Relations subcommittee on Near East, South Asia, Central Asia, and Counterterrorism.
DOD’s activities, she said, are focused on the transfer of defense equipment and services, military exercises, military education and equipment, and institutional capacity development such as security sector reform.
Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Mira Resnick testified that in addition to “ironclad” support for Israel, other priorities include continued funding for Jordan’s fight against Al Qaeda, ISIS and their global affiliates and assisting in the economic diversification of “petrostates” like United Arab Emirates, which she said is an “outstanding” counterterrorism partner.
- Renewing focus on domestic terrorism. More than five months after the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol, the Biden administration in June released a new National Strategy for Countering Domestic Terrorism, including from white supremacists and militia violent extremists.
The strategy considers domestic terrorism to be violations of criminal law and other acts of intimidation or violence against civilians or a government that occur “primarily within the territorial jurisdiction of the United States.”
It centers on four pillars: understanding the threat and information-sharing; preventing recruitment, incitement and mobilization to violence; deterring and disrupting violence before it occurs; and addressing long-term issues that contribute to domestic terrorism.
In tandem with the release of the strategy, the Department of Homeland Security for the first time designated “domestic violent extremism” a national priority area with its homeland security grant program, which freed up millions of dollars to respond to these threats, officials said.
- Confronting extremism within the military’s ranks. Biden’s counterterrorism strategy calls for DOD to warn service members separating or retiring on becoming potential targets for recruitment by violent extremists. The strategy also says the government is developing a way for Veterans to report being recruited by these individuals and developing better screening tools to prevent extremists from securing positions of trust in government.
Included in the strategy is DOD’s effort to counter extremism within the ranks, which was initiated by Secretary Lloyd J. Austin III in January, when he ordered DOD-wide “stand downs” on the issue. He also asked for an updated to the definition of prohibited extremist activities by uniformed personnel in Department of Defense Instruction (DoDI) 1325.06. (An early January analysis by NPR found that almost one in five people charged in the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol may have had a military history.)
The DOD efforts have not been without criticism. The stand downs “appeared mired in malaise,” argued Carrie A. Lee, chair of the Department of National Security and Strategy at the U.S. Army War College and Celestino Perez, associate professor at the college, in a War on the Rocks commentary. “To give extremism in the ranks the attention that it deserves, it should be folded into the regular curriculum.”
To sniff out those with such views within the military (and, for that matter, within law enforcement agencies), another expert advised focusing on individual behavior, not sweeping investigations.
“It will be hard for us to scrub everybody’s social media,” said Michael German, former FBI special agent for domestic terrorism, during a May panel discussion hosted by Common Good, a bipartisan government reform organization. “You don't have to do that,” German said. “You go down to the squad level.”
- Addressing cyberthreats and other threats. In addition to securing the border, among other traditional homeland security actions, combating terrorism increasingly means shoring up the nation’s cyber defenses, which recent events showed are vulnerable. The ransomware attacks on Colonial Pipeline in May and other intrusions into federal computer networks led President Joe Biden to issue an executive order on May 12 calling for stepped up efforts to protect the nation’s cybersecurity.
Being vigilant against cyberthreats and insider threats are specific areas of focus promoted by the U.S. Army for Antiterrorism Awareness Month.
- Redoubling support for Afghanistan Veterans. If you’re a Veteran of Afghanistan, be proud of your service and fulfillment of the mission, which was “to prevent further attacks on the homeland,” said senior enlisted advisor to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Ramón “CZ” Colón-López, in an Aug. 3 blog posted by the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA).
“We wanted to make sure that we denied Al Qaeda, specifically, of sanctuary, training ground and places where they could plan terrorism attacks,” he said. “If you look at the past 20 years, that is exactly what we did. There hasn’t been a single attack on the homeland.”
Colón-López and VA health experts reminded Veterans watching news of the U.S. military’s exit from Afghanistan to be on the lookout for “red flags” such as isolating or increasing use of drugs and alcohol. You can seek help at the nearest VA or Vet Center or call 877-WAR-VETS to speak confidentially with trained staff, many of whom are fellow Veterans.
Learn more
Watch the Aug. 10 Senate subcommittee hearing: https://rly.pt/3D58YUn
Read the National Strategy for Countering Domestic Terrorism: https://rly.pt/3kd6bA0
Watch the Common Good panel discussion: https://www.c-span.org/video/?512182-1/common-good-discussion-domestic-terrorism#!
Read the July 16, 2021, War on the Rocks commentary: https://rly.pt/3y5691R
Read the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) statement on the May 12 executive order: https://rly.pt/3855ItK
Read the VA blog post, which has information about reconciling your service in Afghanistan and links to additional resources: https://rly.pt/3AVdsv1
Posted in these groups: 
Afghanistan
Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) - Afghanistan
Veterans Affairs (VA)
Terrorism
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Afghanistan Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF) - Afghanistan Veterans Affairs (VA) Terrorism Information
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 12
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Not a single American Soldier has died in Afghanistan for 20 months, yet we keep calling it a war. If that is war what is a weekend in Chicago? or LA? or???. All we were doing was handing out goodies to the locals. This failure starts at the top. No one cared enough to risk going outside
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SFC Randy Hellenbrand
Trump set this mess in motion and then did NOTHING. Biden has been busy trying to keep idiots alive here despite the gop.
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SFC Michael Hasbun
There hasn't been a single year without casualties. Let's not lie for the sake of political narratives.
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SPC John Tacetta
SFC Michael Hasbun -
As per https://www.archives.gov/research/military/vietnam-war/casualty-statistics there were 58,220 total deaths associated with the war in Vietnam (1Nov55-29Mar73), 40,934 of which were KIA. Contrasted against that backdrop, the conflict in Afghanistan does resemble more of an occupation than war, but let's not quibble, we care about every American life lost in this senseless struggle.
However, although there hasn't been a year without deaths in theatre, most recently there have been years without COMBAT deaths. It's unclear whether the recent 13 deaths will be treated as combat deaths.
As per https://www.archives.gov/research/military/vietnam-war/casualty-statistics there were 58,220 total deaths associated with the war in Vietnam (1Nov55-29Mar73), 40,934 of which were KIA. Contrasted against that backdrop, the conflict in Afghanistan does resemble more of an occupation than war, but let's not quibble, we care about every American life lost in this senseless struggle.
However, although there hasn't been a year without deaths in theatre, most recently there have been years without COMBAT deaths. It's unclear whether the recent 13 deaths will be treated as combat deaths.
Vietnam War U.S. Military Fatal Casualty Statistics
Electronic Records Reference Report Introduction Tables containing record counts that were generated from the Vietnam Conflict Extract Data File of the Defense Casualty Analysis System (DCAS) Extract Files (as of April 29, 2008 ) by the following field categories: Casualty Category Casualty Country/Over Water Code (Country of Casualty) Home of Record State Code Hostile or Non-Hostile Death Indicator Incident OR Death Date (Year) Member's...
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SSG Edward Tilton
SFC Michael Hasbun - It wasn't a war. We weregiving money to the rich industrialists. Colonialism at it's height
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Afghanistan is not the US's longest war. The Comanche War ran for 39 years.
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SPC John Tacetta
A semantic distinction. The US has been fighting the natives, regardless of tribe, since its Declaration of Independence and although hostilities largely ceased after the massacre at Wounded Knee in 1890 a Federal sniper still managed to fell an Oglala citizen during an occupation of that same site in 1970. Perhaps the recent appointment of Deb Haaland as Secretary of the Interior can truly be viewed as a closure to this conflict.
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SPC John Tacetta
1SG (Join to see) - I'd argue that those were campaigns within the larger conflict, interspersed with cease-fires (treaties) that the US inevitably and invariably violated.
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1SG (Join to see)
SPC John Tacetta it's a fair assessment, but it's not how the history is written or taught. You'll have to explain your framework every time just to communicate.
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