Future Challenges: Deradicalization or Disengagement of Terrorists

When terrorists are "homegrown," non-military approaches to counter-terrorism become essential tool. Until recently, the United States has been relatively immune from homegrown Islamist terrorist strikes, but this is unlikely to last. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, a pioneer in terrorism prevention and counter-radicalization, claims to have found techniques that work–both inside prisons, and on the Internet. The United Kingdom and the Netherlands are experimenting with terrorism prevention programs in ethnic neighborhoods with high levels of alienation as well as unemployment. Whether such efforts to disengage or prevent the recruitment of Muslims to al Qaeda and related groups is a critical question that requires close examination.