Beyond Bullets: A Pragmatic Strategy to Combat Violent Extremism

Violent Islamist extremism will remain a potent threat to American national security for the foreseeable future. On our own soil, catastrophic terrorism employing chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear weapons remains a remote but grave risk. Beyond U.S. borders, American interests, including American allies, institutions, and citizens, remain likely targets. From Pakistan to Somalia, a com¬plex assortment of Islamist extremists threatens to destabilize whole countries or regions, potentially unleashing political turmoil, economic distress, and widespread violence.

This global and complex threat demands a global and complex response. In this paper, Dr. Kristin M. Lord, Dr. John A. Nagl and Seth Rosen present a comprehensive strategy to combat violent Islamist extremism, one that employs nearly every resource America has to offer from military to diplomacy, to the public and private sectors. The paper examines the chronology of America s evolving response to violent Islamist extremism, while establishing a clear analysis of the threat and presenting strategic principles to guide U.S. actions. Though the authors mention that the United States must adapt its role to circumstance, being sometimes a leader, sometimes a quiet supporter, sometimes the coordinator of diverse actors, and sometimes the determined projector of force, they argue that the United States must press intelligently, carefully, and seriously for democratic reform in the Middle East before the opportunity to steer the region away from a deepening radicalization is lost.

Kristin Lord is Vice President and Director of Studies at the Center for a New American Security. Prior to joining CNAS, Dr. Lord was a Fellow in the Foreign Policy Studies Program and Saban Center for Middle East Policy at The Brookings Institution. At Brookings, Dr. Lord directed the science and technology initiative of the Project on U.S. Relations with the Islamic World.

Prior to joining Brookings, Dr. Lord was Associate Dean for Strategy, Research, and External Relations at The George Washington University's Elliott School of International Affairs. In that capacity, she oversaw the school's six research centers, graduate admissions, public affairs, and strategic initiatives. During her twelve year tenure at the Elliott School, she launched three master's programs, ten certificate programs, a global network of university partnerships, the school's skills curriculum, and numerous educational programs for students, diplomats, and mid-career professionals from the public, private, and non-profit sectors. As a member of the faculty, she also taught courses on U.S. public diplomacy, U.S. foreign policy and the causes of war.

In 2005-2006, Lord served as a Council on Foreign Relations International Affairs Fellow and Special Adviser to the Under Secretary of State for Democracy and Global Affairs. In that role, she worked on a wide range of issues including international science and technology cooperation, international health, democracy and the rule of law, communications, and public diplomacy.

Dr. John Nagl was appointed President of the Center for a New American Security by the Board of Directors on Friday, February 13, 2009. Prior to this position, he was a Senior Fellow at the Center. He is a Visiting Professor in the War Studies Department at Kings College of London, an Adjunct Professor in Georgetown University s Security Studies Program, and a life member of the Council on Foreign Relations and the Veterans of Foreign Wars. Additionally, Nagl was selected as an International Affairs Fellow by the Council on Foreign Relations and is a member of the Joint Force Quarterly Advisory Committee, the French-American Foundation Young Leaders and the American Association of Rhodes Scholars.

Dr. Nagl was a Distinguished Graduate of the United States Military Academy Class of 1988 and served as an armor officer in the U.S. Army for 20 years, retiring with the rank of Lieutenant Colonel. His last military assignment was as commander of the 1st Battalion, 34th Armor at Fort Riley, Kansas, training Transition Teams that embed with Iraqi and Afghan units. He led a tank platoon in Operation Desert Storm and served as the operations officer of a tank battalion task force in Operation Iraqi Freedom. He earned his doctorate from Oxford University as a Rhodes Scholar, taught national security studies at West Point, and served as a Military Assistant to the Deputy Secretary of Defense. Nagl also earned a Master of the Military Arts and Sciences Degree from the Command and General Staff College, where he received the George C. Marshall Award. He was awarded the Combat Action Badge by General James Mattis, USMC.