NEW: "The terrorist threat is far from behind us at this point" @StateDept's acting Coordinator for Counterterrorism & acting envoy to the Global Coalition to Defeat #ISIS John Godfrey tells @MiddleEastInst
Under @POTUS @JoeBiden "We will avoid announcing major policy initiatives or posture adjustments in a way that comes as a unwelcome surprise to partners & allies" @StateDept's Godfrey notes
"We will consult & we will coordinate"
"We will consult & we will coordinate"
Strategic review ongoing re white supremacist/domestic violent extremism - but not just domestically
"We're also focused on the transnational linkages of these domestic violent extremists" per @StateDept's Godfrey in @MiddleEastInst virtual conference
"We're also focused on the transnational linkages of these domestic violent extremists" per @StateDept's Godfrey in @MiddleEastInst virtual conference
NEW: "We've seen increasing evidence of connections between those [domestic] actors & REMVE (racially- & ethnically-motivated violent extremists) actors abroad, especially but not only in the digital space" per @StateDept's Godfrey
"We've also heard concerns from a number of partners, foreign partners, that the #UnitedStates is a central hub, particularly online, for global REMVE ideology" per @StateDept's Godfrey
US - and new administration - urging countries to repatriate #foreignfighters & their families, per @StateDept's Godfrey
Godfrey says US has repatriated 12 adults - 10 charged w/crimes - & 16 minors
Godfrey says US has repatriated 12 adults - 10 charged w/crimes - & 16 minors
.@StateDept's Godfrey praises #Kazakhstan for repatriating 100s of #foreignfighters & family members
#ISIS "underwent a fairly serious period of evolution" between 2019-2020, per @StateDept's Godfrey
That included a fairly serious internal reorganization "delegating more authority & resources to branches & affiliates" and metastasization of branches, networks in #Africa
That included a fairly serious internal reorganization "delegating more authority & resources to branches & affiliates" and metastasization of branches, networks in #Africa
"If you're doing it right, counterterrorism directly buttresses efforts to compete w/near-peer competitors" per @StateDept's Godfrey
"It allows us to remain a security partner of choice"
"It allows us to remain a security partner of choice"
NEW: @StateDept acting Counterterrorism Coordinator John Godfrey applauds #Britain for providing $$$ to expand prison for captured #ISIS in #Hasakah #Syria (as 1st reported by @DefenseOne's @KatieBoWill)
"We remain concerned that more countries have not stepped up, from our vantage point, to assume responsibility for the #FTFs but also the associated family members" per @StateDept's Godfrey
Per @StateDept's Godfrey, still about 2,000 #foreignfighters in custody of US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (#SDF) & 10,000 associated family members
"The situation on any given day in northeast #Syria can be less than stable" per @StateDept's Godfrey, noting #Turkey's incursion as well as #Russia|n #Iran|ian & #Syria regime actions
That could allow #ISIS fighters to escape, even return to West
That could allow #ISIS fighters to escape, even return to West
NEW: @StateDept acting Counterterror Coordinator John Godfrey talks of "doomsday scenario" w/kids in NE #Syria IDP camps
"We've seen inductions of radicalization in kids as young as 10 & 11 years of age"
"We've seen inductions of radicalization in kids as young as 10 & 11 years of age"
"it's a huge problem" per @StateDept's Godfrey "We have devoted bilaterally resources to helping countries develop rehabilitation & reintegration protocols"
Also working w/@UN, others "to try to get some more attention & resources" to rehabilitate/reintegrate
Also working w/@UN, others "to try to get some more attention & resources" to rehabilitate/reintegrate
#Sahel - @POTUS "keenly aware of how dangerous that area is" per @StateDept's Godfrey, calling progression of the threat there "pretty alarming"
"We are aware that we need to remain invested in West #Africa & the #Sahel" per @StateDept's Godfrey
"There will be a requirement for some continuing US military presence" he says
"There will be a requirement for some continuing US military presence" he says
#Somalia - "The threat posed by #alShabaab remains" to the country and the region, per @StateDept acting CT Coordinator Godfrey
#Afghanistan: "It's a very dynamic conversation" per @StateDept acting CT Coordinator John Godfrey, asked about #Taliban-#alQaida & the Taliban-US agreement
New administration "very keen" to get it right
"That's hard to do, the options are not all great" he says
New administration "very keen" to get it right
"That's hard to do, the options are not all great" he says
#ISIS #alQaida -"The threat is more geographically diffuse" per @StateDepts' Godfrey "The creates complications frankly in our ability to collect intelligence but also conduct operations"
"There going to be a greater need for less military-centric capabilities" in geographically far-flung places, per @StateDepts' Godfrey
Cites need to bolster policing & prosecution in those areas
Cites need to bolster policing & prosecution in those areas
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