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Myrick, Colleagues Question Administration Changes To Counter-Terrorism Policy

(Washington, DC)–US Representative Sue Myrick (NC-09), along with several of her colleagues, today sent a letter to Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and Attorney General Eric Holder regarding possible changes to federal enforcement and military counter-terrorism training and educational programs.

In the letter, Members expressed concern that any review and subsequent changes to the Administration’s Countering Violent Extremism (CVE) training may be influenced by politics and public perception, directly threatening our country’s national security.

Members also supported a February 2011 Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Government Affairs report, which recommended that the Department of Defense “update its policies on extremism and religions accommodation to ensure that violent Islamist extremism is not tolerated”, and “train servicemembers on violent Islamist extremism and how it differs from Islamic religious belief and practices.”

In closing, Members asked four questions regarding the Administration review of its CVE training:

  1. What non-government organizations, agencies, and other individuals are involved in the review process?
  2. What are the objectives of the training reviews?
  3. What changes are you planning to implement?
  4. How will the changes improve the current model of counter-terrorism training?

“We cannot expect our armed forces and law enforcement agencies to combat the threat of radical Islamist extremism while simultaneously preventing them from discussing it,” Rep. Myrick said in a statement. “Politics and political correctness should never interfere with the security of our nation”.

Signers of the letter are: Rep. Mark Amodei (NV-02); Rep. Dan Burton (IN-05); Rep. Jeff Duncan (SC-03); Rep. Randy Forbes (VA-04); Rep. Trent Franks (AZ-02); Rep. Louie Gohmert (TX-01); Rep. Kay Granger (TX-12); Rep. Randy Hultgren (IL-14); Rep. Mike Kelly (PA-03); Rep. John Kline (MN-02); Rep. Bill Posey (FL-15); Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (CA-46); Rep. Allen West (FL-22); Rep. Lynn Westmoreland (GA-03); Rep. Frank Wolf (VA-10).

            Click here for the full text of the letter.

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