White House summit: Joint efforts sought to battle extremism

Europe asked to emulate American model of assimilating immigrants

WASHINGTON: US Vice President Joe Biden kicked off a three-day White House summit on countering violent extremism by lauding the US ‘melting pot’ of assimilating immigrants, a model the administration believes Europe needs to emulate more.

The summit, which started on Tuesday and brings together local officials from across the country and ministers from around the world, follows recent shootings in Copenhagen and Paris that have galvanised Western resolve against such extremist attacks.

“We have to ... engage our communities and engage those who might be susceptible to being radicalised because they are marginalised,” Biden said.



“Societies have to provide an affirmative alternative for immigrant communities, a sense of opportunity, a sense of belonging that discredits the terrorist’s appeal to fear, isolation, hatred and resentment,” he added.

The White House believes Europe is especially vulnerable to such attacks because immigrants are often less integrated into societies there.

“I’m not suggesting ... that I think America has all the answers here.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 19^th, 2015.