June 17th, 2017 
(DAILY CALLER) — By Francis Rooney, Congressman, Florida’s 19th District
We are at war with radical Islamic terrorism. The recent increase in attacks around the world underscores the ineffectiveness of current counterterrorism efforts. A strategy combining both hard and soft power is the only way to eradicate this threat. A new focus must be made on soft power to attack the root causes or stimuli of Islamic radicalism, which in turn leads to extremist terrorism and violence. To achieve this, Islam will have to undergo a reformation to reconcile itself with the 21st century world. Eliminating blasphemy laws and all consideration of the applicability of Sharia Law in the secular realm, as opposed to the religious, are milestone barometers of progress in this evolution.
Islamic extremism has extracted a huge price in life, freedom, and money from all peaceful and law abiding peoples. In the past year alone, Islamic terrorists have claimed responsibility for attacks in the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Sweden, and the Philippines, and repeatedly massacring Christians in Egypt. Further, the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) continues to destabilize the Middle East in their attempt to establish a caliphate in the region.
The increasing frequency of attacks proves the severity of challenges faced by the West to deter already radicalized terrorists. Classifying the terrorists as enemy combatants and restricting their movement in and out of Iraq and Syria would impede migration of the “returnee terrorists” to the West. Those who interact with terrorists and return home should be prosecuted for treason.
Further, an intensive vetting process is necessary for refugees and asylum seekers from countries that have a history with Islamic extremism. The United States and other Western countries need to know exactly who is entering their territory. One would think this fundamental aspect of national sovereignty would be obvious. Until proper procedures are put in place, including, in the United States, a massive overhaul of our leaky, unenforceable visa system, a travel ban from “at risk” countries is a reasonable precaution to assure that no extremists reach the West and to contain the threat.
Additionally, we need to set political correctness aside and have an honest discussion about religious extremism. We cannot turn a blind eye to those who are attending preaching’s of radical Islam. Embedding surveillance resources within communities where there is cause to believe Muslim individuals may have become radicalized is in our national security interest. These measures of increased surveillance, especially concerning social media, of people who follow or attend the preaching of radical Imams, can help expose the more “home grown” radicals and potential “lone wolves.”