Finnish experts warn against overreaction in combatting terrorism

Finnish experts warned against the collateral damage caused by strong reactions to events such as the truck attack in Nice.

They underlined long term social work to reduce inclination to support terrorism in Europe. Experts also took distance from "bombastic U.S. political culture" considering "declaration of war."

Talking on Finnish national broadcaster Yle, researcher Hussein al-Taee of the Finnish Crisis Management Initiative Institute said that tough security measures and increased policing will upset people in the targeted areas. Tough measures will antagonize those who do not support militant organizations.

Hussein al-Taee noted that increased policing will improve security in the short term, but joint efforts by social services, civic organizations and communities are needed in the long term. Such work will make societies less receptive to extremist indoctrination.

Finnish experts also saw formal declaration of war as the wrong way.

Mika Aaltola, program director at the Finnish Institute for International Affairs, commented on reports that politicians in the United States want a formal declaration of war against ISIS.

Aaltola said such an approach is not sensible. "Such declaration could mean that soldiers will be sent. But the area ISIS controls in the Middle East is already shrinking and current military efforts are sufficient."

Hussein al-Taee said that ISIS is just "one organization among others" and it can be overcome. But "declaration of war" will create new terrorism, he warned. He saw "declaration of war" only as an expression of "bombastic attitudes" in the United States. Endit