CounterterrorismState Department launches new Bureau of Counterterrorism
Last week, the State Department announced that its counterterrorism office has been upgraded to a “full-fledged bureau”
The Bureau of Counterterrorism will act as liaison with DHS // Source: flaglerlive.com
Last week, the State Department announced that its counterterrorism office has been upgraded to a “full-fledged bureau.”
According to Ambassador Daniel Benjamin, the new head of the Bureau of Counterterrorism, said at a special press conference, “The bureau will lead in supporting U.S. counter-terrorism diplomacy and seek to strengthen homeland security, countering violent extremism, and build the capacity of partner nations to deal effectively with terrorism.”
Benjamin added, “We believe that this change will strengthen the State Department’s ability to carry out its counter-terrorism mission around the world.”
Speaking last September, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said the United States should launch a diplomatic offensive to bolster ties with government and communities around the world engaged in the fight against terrorism.
To that end, the new bureau will take the lead on the State Department’s global engagement strategy with other governments with a particular focus on strengthening counterterrorism capabilities.
According to the State Department, the new bureau “will be the principal State Department link with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on counterterrorism strategy and operations. The Bureau will work in partnership with DHS, as well as other agencies and bureaus, to strengthen international cooperation on a wide range of homeland security issues including transportation security, the interdiction of terrorist travel, and critical infrastructure protection.”
The new bureau replaces the Office of the Coordinator for Counterterrorism, and some critics say the move only adds another layer of confused bureaucracy to the already bloated DHS, which has been plagued by such criticism since its creation.
