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P 272355Z FEB 08
FM SECSTATE WASHDC
TO ALL DIPLOMATIC AND CONSULAR POSTS COLLECTIVE PRIORITY
RUEHTRO/AMEMBASSY TRIPOLI PRIORITY 8825
RUEHDT/AMEMBASSY DILI PRIORITY 4622

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 03 STATE 020081 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SENSITIVE 
SIPDIS, NOT FOR INTERNET DISTRIBUTION 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: ASEC EFIN KCRM KPAO PTER KHLS AEMR
SUBJECT: U.S. AMBASSADORS FUND FOR COUNTERTERRORISM 
 
FOR AMBASSADORS FROM S/CT - AMBASSADOR DELL DAILEY 
 
¶1. (SBU) Summary: This cable provides guidance and 
instructions for the administration of the U.S. Ambassadors 
Fund for Counterterrorism.  The Fund was established by the 
Office of the Coordinator for Counterterrorism (S/CT) to 
support projects that apply tools of soft power to 
counterterrorism assistance in order to enhance the ability 
of law enforcement personnel to deter terrorists and 
terrorist groups from engaging in international terrorist 
acts, particularly in ways that counter violent extremist 
ideology and recruitment. This cable provides an overview 
of the program and its requirements, kinds of activities 
supported, exclusions, review criteria, selection process, 
and timeline. 
 
Program Overview 
 
¶2. (SBU) S/CT invites proposals that enhance the ability of 
law enforcement personnel to deter terrorists and terrorist 
groups from engaging in international terrorist acts, by 
applying the tools of soft power and supporting USG efforts 
to counter violent extremist ideology and recruitment. 
Projects can be regional in nature or focus on one specific 
country. Applicants can request up to $50,000 to support 
programming for up to 24 months. S/CT will award a total of 
$1,000,000 in FY 2008. These funds are provided through 
S/CT's FY'08 Nonproliferation, Anti-terrorism, Demining, 
and Related Programs (NADR) global account. 
 
Background 
 
¶3. (SBU) In the struggle against violent extremism, we 
cannot succeed using hard military power alone; success 
requires prevailing in ideological and intellectual arenas. 
Most often, terrorist groups are weak in the physical 
sphere and so compensate by exploiting the information 
domain to amplify their power. 
 
¶4. (SBU) To date, much of USG resources and effort has 
focused on eliminating terrorist leaders, disrupting the 
networks that support them, and depriving them of the safe 
havens that allow them to operate. This approach is, at 
best, a short-term measure that buys time by rooting out 
current members of extremist movements. To prevail over the 
long term, we will need to stop the flow of new recruits 
that feed the continued growth of extremist movements. 
 
¶5. (SBU) Embassies are key to our long-term success in 
these efforts. Embassies should have specific knowledge of 
different segments of a population that are at risk based 
on geography, age group, ethnicity, class, or occupation. 
Embassies are uniquely positioned to develop program 
opportunities based on clear identification of populations 
at risk while also being mindful of specific local, 
national and regional contexts. Embassy personnel should be 
knowledgeable about the relative importance of factors that 
fuel extremism in their countries and regions, and how 
these vary from one place to another. 
 
¶6. (SBU) The U.S. Ambassadors Fund for Counterterrorism 
will assist law enforcement efforts by funding innovative 
activities and programs that aim to shift the perceptions 
of target audiences, undermine the enemy's image, 
delegitimize extremist ideologies, diminish support for 
violent extremism and prevent radicalization of vulnerable 
populations. The Fund is not designed for traditional 
Public Diplomacy activities, which primarily aim to 
communicate America's views and values and advocate U.S. 
policies to the world. Proposals may have these ancillary 
effects but that is not their primary purpose. 
 
 
 
 
 
Requirements 
 
¶7. (SBU) Proposals will be accepted from U.S. Embassies on 
behalf of eligible entities. Eligible entities are foreign 
government non-defense agencies and ministries; non- 
governmental organizations; educational institutions; and 
commercial partners.  Proposals must demonstrate how they 
are expected to enhance the ability of law enforcement 
personnel in a foreign country or countries to deter 
terrorist acts by applying the tools of soft power and 
 
STATE 00020081  002 OF 003 
 
 
support USG efforts to counter violent extremist ideology 
and recruitment. Where appropriate, Embassies should engage 
with their respective Regional Strategic Initiative (RSI) 
Coordinator as they develop proposals. 
 
Proposal Themes 
 
¶8. (SBU) Proposals should support initiatives that promote 
at least one of the following objectives: 
 
- Promulgate alternative narratives to "West at war with 
Islam" and amplify locally-meaningful narratives. 
- Promote alternative opportunities for at risk populations 
(e.g., youth) 
- Amplify the ideological divide between the uncompromising 
global agenda of Islamic extremism and local and national 
agendas. 
- Empower credible voices - individuals or organizations 
viewed as credible within their own communities who speak 
out against violent extremists and the use of violence as a 
means to achieve political and other goals -- and build 
networks among them. 
- Counter enemy use of cyberspace as a propaganda tool 
through blogging and other activities. 
De-legitimize terrorism as an acceptable tactic by 
highlighting the personal, societal and economic costs of 
terrorism. 
- Strengthen public understanding of the threat, and 
enhance support for, national and/or local law enforcement 
efforts to combat terrorism and violent extremism. 
 
Kinds of Activities Supported 
 
¶9. (SBU) Soft counterterrorism measures aim to combat the 
appeal of extremist beliefs.  S/CT recognizes the critical 
role of communication as the medium of influence and 
persuasion in counterterrorism efforts. All media-- print, 
radio, TV, audio and video cassettes, films and the 
Internet -- are weapons of soft power. 
 
¶10. (SBU) The kinds of supported activities will depend on 
location and context. Activities may include education 
programs and materials for at-risk youth, coordinated 
public relations and media efforts, exchange programs, 
dialogues among citizens groups, conferences with a 
particular focus on victims of terrorism, public awareness 
campaigns, digital engagement with vulnerable populations, 
building of CT communities of interest across regions, 
amplifying non-extremist voices, and fostering critical 
thinking among youth. 
 
Exclusions 
 
¶11. (SBU) The Fund will not support the following: 
 
- Infrastructure development 
- Training 
 
Submission Process 
 
¶12. (U) Proposals must be submitted to S/CT by individual 
Embassies, which may forward multiple programs for 
consideration. Embassies may be awarded funding for 
multiple programs. Individual program requests should not 
exceed $50,000. 
 
¶13. (SBU) Application forms are posted on S/CT's Intellipedia 
website 
(http://www.intelink.sgov.gov/wiki/Portal:Coun terterrorism). 
To the extent possible, posts should submit their proposals 
on the web.  If not possible, cable applications will also be 
accepted.  Applications must include the following 
information: 
 
- Name of proposed project 
- Contact officer 
- Planned start date 
- Estimated total cost 
- Potential supplementary sources of funding (e.g., from 
local or regional partners) 
- Target audience for project and desired effect on 
audience perceptions 
- Project method (e.g., Inform, Educate, Motivate/Persuade, 
Support, Coordinate, Develop) 
- Tasks and activities 
- Explanation of how the proposal will enhance the ability 
of law enforcement organizations to deter terrorists and 
terrorist groups 
- Measures of effectiveness 
- Plan to disseminate best practices, if appropriate 
 
STATE 00020081  003 OF 003 
 
 
 
Review Criteria and Selection Process 
 
¶14. (U) Applications will be competitively reviewed 
according to the criteria stated below: 
 
- Advances Program objectives as described above. 
- Endorsement by Embassy. 
- Advances regional CT priorities. 
 
Timeline 
 
¶15. (U) April 15, 2008:  deadline for submission of all 
proposals to S/CT 
May 31: S/CT completes evaluation of proposals, announces 
awards. 
June: funds transferred to Posts. 
 
¶16. Minimize considered. 
RICE