Are there steps the U.S. Government could be taking to encourage the establishment of deradicalization programs along the Saudi model in other countries?

Empowering civil society and elevating the voices of key local leaders is often put forward as one of the key components of an effective strategy to counter violent extremism.

how do we ensure that we do not compromise these credible local voices in our effort to CVE?

If you take that suggestion, you're talking about unleashing the civilian agencies of government instead of a military agency that has led this effort.

empowering credible local voices sounds easy on its face, but it is truly a complex effort that must be done carefully.

I can tell you, the way I will run the next hearing, either your panel will be first or all six of you will sit at the table together.

You said, General Stone, earlier, that General Petraeus understood and supported you and what you were doing in the prison in Iraq.

can identifying and empowering local voices be done without compromising the individual's credibility because of their association with the U.S. Government?

Senator Bill Nelson. Ambassador Benjamin, Mr. Reid, and General Kearney, how are community leaders and reputable voices identified by your departments?

The two commanders in that most violent part of the world that we're concentrating on, Afghanistan and Pakistan, are General Petraeus and his commander in Afghanistan.

It is very different than when I wore the uniform of this country during Vietnam.

Gentlemen, what are you doing to make it less attractive for people to be converted to violent extremism?

How do you build that capacity? What are you specifically doing with those religious leaders that you mentioned?

To truly honor our servicemembers, we all agree that the U.S. Government must take care of our veterans, their widows and orphans. In keeping with that moral principle, we must repeal the unjust offset that denies widows and orphans the…

I am deeply concerned about the way terrorist organizations--al Qaeda, Hezbollah, and Hamas--are funded.

the best strategies for undoing terror networks... is to co-opt the very same social and psychological processes

is there any CVE effort underway today that you feel is effective or noteworthy?

What do you think we ought to do to get our government more sensitized to the message that you all have here?