Terrorism schools: Defense Department prison policies fomenting radicalism, expert says.

• Author: Magnuson, Stew
• Position: SECURITY BEAT: Homeland Defense Briefs

The practice of mixing suspects with hardened terrorists in Iraqi prisons is further spreading radicalism, and could spawn the next generation of violent extremists who could threaten Europe and the United States, said a terrorism expert who recently toured the facilities.

Rohan Gunarama, director of the International Center for Political Violence and Terrorism Research at Nanyang Technological University in Singapore, was part of a delegation that studied Iraqi prisons sit the invitation of the Defense Department.

He observed ordinary Iraqis who had been rounded tip as "suspects," mixing with hardened radicals. The delegation was allowed access to a "large number" of detainees, he said at the Global Security Asia conference in Singapore. All were held in communal conditions.

The majority of detainees were not bombmakers, ideologues or terrorist recruiters, but they mixed with many who were, he said.

"In our assessment, many of the detainees were radicalized in those facilities," Gunaratna said. Those operating the prisons were Failing to identify and isolate the hardened insurgents, he said.

Prisons have long been recognized sis fertile recruiting grounds for terrorists. They have also been called "crime schools" where more experienced criminals pass on...