Posted: 2:10 pm EDT
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According to FP’s John Hudson, the Bureau of Counterterrorism (State/CT) will now become the Bureau of Counterterrorism and Countering Violent Extremism (CT-CVE).  The name change will reportedly “play up the importance of non-military programs aimed at eliminating the root causes of terrorism — programs referred to in government-speak as CVE.”  The report also says it is unclear how “in practice the bureau would effectively coordinate the work of other key offices” citing in particular the State Department’s Center for Strategic Counterterrorism Communications (CSCC) recently rebranded as the Global Engagement Center (GEC). Excerpt below:

But the center, newly-branded as the Global Engagement Center, will not report directly to the bureau, according to officials. It will continue to report to the under secretary for Public Diplomacy and Public Affairs. Its new leader is Michael Lumpkin, a former U.S. Navy officer who previously served as assistant secretary of defense for Special Operations and Low-Intensity Conflict. Despite its lack of demonstrated effectiveness, the center’s annual budget of $5 million is expected to increase by at least $2 million. The president’s budget request for the next fiscal year is expected to be made public next week.

Some former officials said they worried that the Bureau of Counterterrorism’s new mandate is in name only. In reality, the bureau is heavily micromanaged by the Under Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy, and Human Rights Sarah Sewall– a dynamic that has caused tension and dysfunction in the past. “If they want it to function the way they say it’s going to function, then the under secretary needs to step back and let the bureau do it’s job, but I don’t think that’s going to happen,” said a former State Department official.

Active link for State/J added.  Read more:

A related note, HRC was furnished a copy of an oped on the Center for Strategic Counterterrorism Communications (CSCC) in 2012, drafted by then “R” Judith McHale and CSCC’s Richard LeBaron. In an email to Jake Sullivan, HRC writes, “This is a good idea but it was my idea which is not reflected in the text and I’d like us to clasim (sic) it.”  The email is available to read here (PDF) via foia.state.gov.

 

 

Related posts:

• @StateDept Gears Up For Counterterrorism Messaging in the Middle East, Central Asia and Africa
• @StateDept Announces Michael D. Lumpkin as Head of New Global Engagement Center
• State Dept’s Bureau of Counterterrorism Writes to “Correct the Record” on GAO Report That Needs No Correction