Understanding the root of terrorism is key to stopping it, Under Secretary of Defense Michèle Flournoy said yesterday speaking at the Center for a New American Security in Washington, D.C.Delivering a keynote at the center’s fourth annual conference “Shaping the Agenda: American Security in the 21st Century,” Flournoy spoke about the importance of identifying the causes for violent activity.
“We’re in the midst of rethinking and redrafting our counterterrorism strategy,” she said. “One of the discussions we’re having in that context is what are the root causes of violent extremism and what are the historical conditions that have given rise to this?”
Another question Flournoy brought up was how to understand the cycle of radicalization and whether there are ways the United States can efficiently interrupt and eventually reduce that cycle. She also mentioned how taking a strategic look at the Middle East is vital in any operational decision.
