CTS focuses on cyber threats and extremist ideology

Photo By Master Sgt. Edward Daileg | Paul Shemella, Combating Terrorism Program Manager for the Center for Civil-Military Relations (Naval Postgraduate School), speaks to more than 20 members of Iraq’s Counter-Terrorism Service during a three-day course focusing on cyber threat security and extremist ideology Sept. 4-6.  

BAGHDAD, IRAQ

09.06.2011

Story by Staff Sgt. Edward Daileg 

United States Forces – Iraq, Deputy Commanding General (Advising and Training)

BAGHDAD- More than 20 members of Iraq’s Counter-Terrorism Service participated in a three-day course focusing on cyber threat security and extremist ideology here Sept. 4-6.

“These two courses were requested by the Government of Iraq after they looked through the content that the Center for Civil-Military Relations (Naval Postgraduate School) has to offer for anti-terrorism programs,” said Paul Shemella, Combating Terrorism Program Manager for CCMR.

The key objectives of the training are to provide instruction and discussion on how members of the CTS can assist the GoI in combating terrorist threats on a national strategic level.

“The programs are targeted at the national strategic operation level,” said Shemella. “They are not operational programs that talk about tactics. We are talking about how governments make decisions; inter-agency decisions that will allow them to develop strategies which exploit their operational capacities.”

According to CCMR, extremist ideology are sets of ideas which constitutes one’s goals that are expressed through beliefs, strongly held, that present the group with an inspiring narrative and serve to legitimate acts of violence.

“There are three sources for extremist ideology; Iraq has them all,” said Shemella. “The sources are political philosophy, ethnic nationals and religion.”

“Extremist ideology is something that all governments have to deal with, but all governments have to deal with it in their own way,” he said. “It’s very much a context based problem and requires a context based solution.”

“What we want to leave the Iraqi government with, are some ideas on how to counter extremist ideology no matter what source it comes from,” said Shemella.

Today, terrorists use the Internet as one of their distribution engines for their extremist ideologies because of how easy it is to access, send and receive information.

“Cyber technology is largely an extension of everything that we do today,” said Kenneth Geers, a cyber subject matter expert with the Naval Criminal Investigative Service.

“Threats have migrated into cyberspace. Awareness plays a big part for an individual within an organization. Everything is different today because of connectivity,” he added.

A CTS member who attended the training, agreed with Geers on how important it is for the Government of Iraq to focus on cyber security.

“Terrorism is more powerful with the use of the Internet and computer systems to persuade people to go against their government or to conduct criminal activities against people,” he added. “It’s more powerful than actual terrorist activities appearing on the streets on a daily basis.”

Although the extremist ideology and cyber threat security play a major role in terrorism, Shemella emphasized the importance of the Iraqi government looking into all aspects of combating terrorism.

“You can’t talk about one aspect of fighting terrorism without talking about all of them,” he said. A lot of continuity and connectivity leads from one aspect to another.”

“Unless you take a holistic view of terrorism and other trans-national threats, you really can’t understand the whole picture. One of the things we’ll try to do is get them to think as broadly and strategically as possible,” he added.

“Once you have a broad understanding then you can focus on the pieces, but unless you know how the pieces connect, you’re not going to be able to come up with the best strategy,” said Shemella.

The three-day course provided important information to CTS members which gives the Iraqi government the tools to counter-terrorism as it continues to progress as a sovereign country.

“This training is important for the Government of Iraq because before they can make advances here the Iraqi government needs to be able to defend themselves,” said U.S. Army Lt. Col. Janina T. Reyes, a native of Culver City, Ca., and chief of training, Office of Security Cooperation - Iraq. “Right now the biggest problem they have is extremism and people need to be able to fight and counter it.””

• Date Taken: 09.06.2011
• Date Posted: 09.10.2011 15:34
• Story ID: 76811
• Location: BAGHDAD, IQ