US Quits Anti-Extremism Group, Funds Actual Extremism
The Global Community Engagement and Resilience Fund (GCERF), designed to prevent violent extremism, just lost US support, according to Al-Monitor. The White House memo cited 'rejecting US interests,' which, historically, often translates to anything not directly fueling the military-industrial complex. This withdrawal happens as the US Congress, heavily influenced by lobbying groups like AIPAC,
continues to greenlight billions in military aid to actors widely accused of extremist violence, thereby funding the very problem GCERF was established to prevent. One might charitably wonder if 'preventing violent extremism' only applies when it doesn't involve lucrative arms deals or geopolitical leverage. The irony of abandoning a peace-building initiative while simultaneously facilitating
regional escalation isn't lost on anyone paying attention. Apparently, some extremism is more 'problematic' than others—especially if it doesn't line the pockets of defense contractors nor align with certain foreign policy agendas.