- In confronting Islamic extremism, officials in the United States (US) and Australia must start by make clear its distinction from the religion of Islam.
- Undermining Islamic extremism requires US and Australian officials to, among other things, devise action plans that will induce vigorous debate within the global Muslim community.
- Additionally, US and Australian officials must continue to improve methods that have already been proven effective at countering the influence of Islamic extremism
The events of 9/11 marked the moment when the United States (US) formally began its war with Islamic extremism. Though Islamic extremists constitute a fraction of the global Muslim community, the size of the community, with its more than 1.6 billion people, means they pose an outsized threat to international security. Ranging from the stability of nation-states, nuclear proliferation and international trade, the US and key partner states, like Australia, must look to comprehensive measures to confront the problem. However, two key prerequisites must be achieved to ensure the success of any initiative: understanding the ideology of Islamic extremism, as well as an honest assessment of US and ally policies in confronting Islamic extremism thus far. Upon obtaining a deeper understanding, not only can the US and like-minded states beginning confronting Islamic extremism in a more effective manner, it can ultimately win the fight.