The debate on Islamic extremism in the US is often like watching a tennis match, with government officials and Muslim representatives volleying accusations back and forth. On one side, the government (and many in the media) sees a Muslim community with a dismissive or lackluster (at best) response to the threat of homegrown extremism. On the other side, Muslims view government actions through the prism of foreign policy and a broad-brush approach to counter-terrorism that makes them only want to lay low and live the rather uneventful lives they'd always lived. Observers in the middle clamor for the very same Muslims to do something - anything - to counter an Islamist threat that is often invoked, though one that hardly anyone can quantify (witness the spate of downgraded charges and releases in the Jose Padilla and Yaser Hamdi cases). As a result, in the five years since 9/11, precious little has been accomplished in the way of meaningful counter-terrorism efforts on either side.

But however hackneyed the occasional domestic terror attempt may be (the hapless Fort Dix and "Sears Tower" seven groups come to mind), Muslims need to realize that they do have a stake in the extremism debate, and that making the prevention of homegrown extremism a priority is in the interest of all. We have been lucky - America has largely avoided the tensions in Britain and Europe that have contributed to extremism (both the violent kind and still-detrimental non-violent kind), mainly due to America's comparatively multicultural society and the relative ease with which Muslim immigrants have been absorbed. However, more extremism could still result if both sides in the debate exacerbate tensions and drive US Muslims into isolation.

Politics aside, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and American Muslim communities share the goal of keeping America safe from homegrown extremism. However, the tactics that have been suggested and/or employed since 9/11 have prevented a true partnership between Muslims and the US government from taking shape. Government officials have put an emphasis on wide surveillance, even going so far as to drive by random Muslim households with listening devices. Muslims, however, have mainly argued that there is no substitute for good detective work, and that there is no way that Muslims can effectively be partners in the fight against extremism and suspects at the same time. Perhaps government officials, burdened by the responsibility of keeping 300 million Americans safe, may feel that Muslim communities are not working fast or hard enough on internal anti-extremism programs. This might be true, but however slow or awkward Muslims might be in creating preventative measures and actively combating extremist ideology, a solution imposed from the outside will never be as effective as one spearheaded by Muslims themselves.

Somewhere in all this mess is a middle ground (albeit small) where Muslims can be freed up to combat extremism from within its ranks, and a role for government that does not exacerbate the problem. Here are a few suggestions that we think can begin to bring about a true anti-extremism partnership:

• Create a proper and effective role for government. A direct and visible government role in anti-extremism efforts involving Muslims (funding lectures, creating a presence in Muslim institutions, directly addressing Muslim youth) will almost certainly backfire, as it feeds the impression that Muslims in general are on the "wrong side" of the war on terror. There are ways, however, to contribute constructively to existing grassroots Muslim efforts against extremism and work towards building a partnership. One such example is for the government to provide comprehensive training to Muslim community members in identifying and counseling "at-risk" Muslims who may be susceptible to falling through the cracks if the Muslim community doesn't reach out to them. The relationship should never be - or be characterized as - paternal, coerced, or otherwise manipulated; otherwise, the credibility of Muslim participants would suffer irrevocably.


• Ensure transparency and accountability on both ends. Nobody expects the US government to simply take the word of Muslim institutions and community leaders when they say they will take the necessary steps to prevent extremism from taking root. Nor does anyone expect Muslims in the US to blindly trust the US government to not intrude on innocent activities given the history of "fishing expeditions" that catch lawful citizens in the dragnet. What is needed are regular, frank, and open discussions where leaders on both sides work on minimizing the obstacles to effective counter-terrorism efforts, providing each other with regular updates on programs and efforts being implemented, and asking for proper resources and assistance where applicable.


• Give Muslims the freedom to fight extremism on the front lines. The main place that extremism thrives is not your local mosque, but on the Internet. There are bulletin boards and websites where anger, hatred, and conspiracy - left unchecked by voices of reason - provide the fuel for extremist thought and action. It would be wonderful if moderate Muslims confronted this ideology directly, but few would risk being targeted by the government as a visitor to extremist websites under the current climate of assumed guilt. Without assurances that law-abiding Muslims wishing to confront extremists on the Internet won't get swept up in the anti-terror dragnet, few will take the risk. One way to get around this obstacle would be to create a mechanism through which Muslims seeking to debate extremists can provide advance notice of their intent so as to provide a degree of "immunity" for visiting these sites. This, however, would require a great deal of trust-building between the US government and its Muslim citizens, but it is not impossible.

Creating a mutually respectful partnership between DHS and the Muslim community would go a long way towards reaching the common goal of insulating the US from homegrown extremism of the type that currently afflicts the UK and Europe. It would also help combat the mistaken impression that American Muslims are not willing participants in fighting extremism. For those who are skeptical of any Muslim cooperation with the DHS, especially those who allege a bait-and-switch Islamist agenda, the unwillingness to let Muslims entrap themselves by showing their cards in such dealings is telling. Successful cooperation - and documented progress - would have scores of conspiracy theorists looking for new hobbies and embolden even more Muslims against those who undermine their communities from within.

Incidentally, I had the opportunity last week to personally convey some of these thoughts to DHS Secretary Michael Chertoff, who seemed receptive to many of these assessments. I'm also confident that Muslim leaders in this country would have little problem with these suggestions. So, the way forward is clear - all that is needed now is the political will on both sides to make such a partnership a reality.

thats the problem with american/western culture they are blind to realize that these extremists do not follow the straight path of Allah and have created a false impression of the Muslim community therefore, being the westerners they are, misconstrueing all Muslims as the enemy...and just as Muslims who practice their faith with extreme intention so do the Muslim extremeists and wont be set astray from their intentions even by innocent Muslim brothers

I have one more suggestion: let's encourage the US government to use less of our tax dollars to bring death and detruction to our Muslim brothers and sisters. This might go a long way toward increasing trust on both sides. In fact, if they undertake this initiative, we might not need to have this dicussion in the first place.

>>Give Muslims the freedom to fight extremism on the front lines<<

Maybe go one further and ask Chertoff to deputize a few of the folks on this site and you could turn in some occasional posters on here. But don't get any ideas... I am one of the 'good' Muslims... believe me, I would rather see my people slaughtered than express outrage at my own government, much less consipre to attack their would-be murderers-in-training.

Hmm. We have to keep in mind, the US Government operates on the premise of "self-interest", i.e. what is good for America is good for everyone else or is good in itself. So for Muslims to help root out extremism means you are helping the Governement do what THEY consider to be best for you. Which happens to include propping up undemocratic institutions (i.e. dictators) in third world countries. So, the two things go together.

You cannot dissent on some actions while supporting others, it is a sort of holistic thing. THe government looks at things from a broader long term perspective and that means eliminating extremists at home and helping dictators suppress free will abroad. Not sure how one can "actively" co-operate with the government at home while turning a blind eye to its horrible butchering of Muslims abroad (be it directly or indiretly thru its policies).

>>I had the opportunity last week to personally convey some of these thoughts to DHS Secretary Michael Chertoff,

Good on you; you've already gone far more good than most of the talkers on websites.

Abu Nurah, you're conflating two very different issues here: overseas actions / foreign policy with domestic issues. Out of self-interest, I care much more about domestic issues than overseas conflicts. When it comes to putting their money where their mouths are, most Muslims in the US implicitly agree. Participating in our government does far more good than angrily ranting on the internet.

OmarG, here's a hadith to remind us both: Anas relates that the Prophet (peace be upon him) said: “None of you truly believes until he loves for his brother what he loves for himself.” [Sahîh al-Bukhârî and Sahîh Muslim]

Then the question becomes, what are those oversea's Muslims loved for me to have that he/she themselves have? Remember, it goes both ways, and so far I've only seen money flowing from our side and patronizing delusions of granduer coming from thier side. The mark of intelligence is not simply quoting great people, but in understanding when, how and IF it applies to specific situations.

Normally I would praise the capture of would-be terrorists but I think this particular incident smells rather fishy. From what I have read one of the accused called the authorities to report the FBI informant who egged the group on. I doubt that a pizza delivery guy is all it takes to figure out the ins and outs of a military base. Does it make sense to attack a place full of soldiers who would have made short work of these amatuers? I think the Americans are trying to create another distraction from their failed domestic and international policies.

This is utter nonsense! You live in a liberal and democratic country and are entitled as a human being, as an American citizen and as member of this civilisation to defend your liberties and maintain a good system of government through dissent and politicing. Your efforts are mobilised to push government agenda!!! That is absurd!! Can you imagine civil rights activists saying they'll meet their government half way. WHy compromise muslims in this air of humility when it does nothing but legitimises a government (any governments) ability to discriminate ... whether openly or tacitly?!?

Omar G- I believe most Muslims bear no ill will to the American people, but one must understand their frustration and distrust of a government that seeks to destroy and humiliate them, supplying aid and weapons to an enemy who also wishes for their destruction, or at the least, their expulsion.
I have traveled extensively in the middle east and found the hospitality and generosity to be unmatched by anything I have experienced anywhere else. People who had nothing to give went out of their way to make me feel at home, offering what little they did have, with the full knowledge that I was American.

peace, I too have experienced that, but sometimes a little differently among males, since they seem to care sometimes about nationality. Aside from that, what do we really get for those who do not travel overseas? And, common hospitality is different from what I'm talking about. As far as distrust goes, I bet its common for people who come from dictatorships to distrust goverment. As a partial Libertarian, I mistrust the power of government and want it reduced whenever possible. However, I am also not one to idealistically ignore the gorilla in the room just because I mistrust its power. Let's take baby steps and if they screw us, then the situation will change. Until then, it is in our interests to displace the pro-Israel lobby with positive relationships since most of the targeting of foreign-born activists in our country is in the context of the Israeli-Arab conflict. To date, its hard to recall US-born Muslims who got shafted (other than fools who joined the Taliban or trained to go for "jihad" overseas). So, all US Muslims who are not training for "jihad" or fronting for Hamas or PIJ really don't have much to worry about. They shouldn't be importing thier damn communal conflicts to our country in the first place, so forgettaboud'em.

Shahed, thanks for taking a leadership stance on behalf of enhanced communication and understanding between American Muslims and non-Muslims of good will in an area in which the common good and the greater good most often correspond. Many Americans are not yet convinced, if they are even aware, of what I take to be a truism, a basic fact of life, that, as even that arch-Islamophobe Dr. Pipes often says, “The answer to the jihadist threat must come from the moderate Muslims”. Among the first steps in that direction is for moderate Muslims, at least in the US, to educate the rest of us as to who they are and how they differentiate from the “bad guys”. This is no less than I, personally, expect from any American sub-culture from which threats or actual danger to the commonweal may emerge. I expect DHS and the FBI to seek and be given assistance from leaders and citizens of secular, Jewish, Christian, Asian, AfAm, WASP, Irish, whatever community, just as from the Muslim – it’s called being an American. If the G-men do it wrong, there are plenty of paths to recourse the offended community or person can take, short of destroying the government.

Hey Shahed (Uncle Tom House Negro) Amanullah, have you reported me to the government? You got my ip, right? Let me know when , or if you have reported me - 'cause I can then atleast let my friends and family know not to miss me... and to go ahead and execute my will.

Hey Shahed (Uncle Tom House Negro) Amanullah, have you reported me to the government? You got my ip, right? Let me know when , or if you have reported me - 'cause I can then atleast let my friends and family know not to miss me... and to go ahead and execute my will.

I'm not even going to dignify this with a response. (Oops, I just responded! Damn!)

From today's San Francisco Chronicle:

"I like the idea of shifting the focus from policing an entire community to doing ideological battles with the very people who are threatening," said Shahed Amanullah, 39, an Austin blogger and editor of Altmuslim.com. "It's much more surgical."

My reasons for engaging w/the US goverment are to discourage the harmful policy of policing, spying, and profiling and to encourage cooperation with us for the common goal of protecting against extremism.