Former terrorists' experiences could sway potential recruits
A better understanding of why people leave terrorism could be more important than why they became a terrorist, according to a Penn State terrorism expert. The information could also help counterterrorist agencies discredit militant outfits and prevent them from attracting fresh recruits. "The key issue here is that we need to pay more attention to the disengagement process because former terrorists are willing to speak about their experiences," said John Horgan, director of Penn State's International Center for the Study of Terrorism. "We need to identify those lessons, showcase them, and use them to combat the imagery, myths and credibility of the terrorist movements." (more)