Defense analyst says global terrorism won't go away anytime soon

Terrorism, Islamic extremism and the way the United States and its allies can and should deal with such threats were key topics of the presentation delivered Wednesday night by Anthony Cordesman.

The defense analyst with the Center for Strategic and International Studies was the fifth presenter in Southeast Missouri State University's Speakers Series. Cordesman is an author, former director of intelligence assessment for the Office of the Secretary of Defense and frequent consultant to the U.S. State Department, Defense Department and intelligence community.

University president Kenneth Dobbins introduced the speaker, taking a moment to discuss Southeast's connections with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a not-for-profit, bipartisan think tank based in Washington, D.C. Since 2007, students and faculty members have had the opportunity to meet and interact with members of the organization through a seminar hosted by the CSIS. Dobbins said students regularly describe the experience as life-changing.

When Cordesman stepped up to the microphone, he launched into some of the biggest questions facing the U.S. in its battle against terrorism. The process starts with first understanding the term, he said.

"Terrorism is a method. It's not a goal," he said

It is employed by groups who use violence to incite political change, he continued. The terrorist group most frequently discussed today is the Islamic State, or ISIS, though Cordesman was quick to point out it's only one extremist movement.

He said other groups with al-Qaida ties pose threats to Syria and the Middle East as well. To successfully eliminate ISIS might remove the most visible movement, but Cordesman said it wouldn't solve the entire problem.

Making progress also requires more knowledge about where the threats are, Cordesman said. The conversation often centers around the Middle East, but he displayed a map showing the spread of terrorism in northern African countries.

The Middle East also is typically seen as the region with the highest concentration of Muslims, which he said was a misconception.

"People tend to think, without knowing the culture and without knowing the geography, the Middle East is where most Muslims live. It's really where one-fifth live," he said.

Despite efforts, incidents of terrorism have continued to increase over the years. Cordesman predicted it will be a long time before the situation improves.

"These are patterns that are not going to change quickly ... and we need to live with that," he said.

Cordesman said improvement comes by focusing on the realities of the situation and building partnerships over time. The country cannot "retreat behind our borders" or simply focus on counterterrorism measures that protect the U.S. alone.

The Speakers Series will continue Feb. 25 with humanitarian, actor, author and health and wellness ambassador/educator Hill Harper presenting the Michael Davis Lecture.

srinehart@semissourian.com

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