Biden opens White House summit on violent extremism

By

Josh Lederman, The Associated Press

FILE – In this Feb. 11, 2015, file photo, President Barack Obama, flanked by Vice President Joe Biden, left, and Secretary of State John Kerry, right, speaks about the Islamic State group in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington. A White House summit this week on countering violent extremism will not focus exclusively on threats from the Islamic State group, senior administration officials said Monday, Feb. 16. The three-day conference will highlight both domestic and international efforts to prevent extremists and their supporters from radicalizing, recruiting and inspiring others, particularly disaffected young people. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin, File)

WASHINGTON — Vice President Biden says societies must offer an “affirmative alternative” to extremism for immigrant communities.

Biden on Tuesday opened a three-day White House summit aimed at countering the spread of violent extremism across the globe. He says solutions must go beyond military force and that “inclusion counts.”

The summit comes as the Islamic State group and a series of deadly attacks in Denmark, France, Canada and Australia have raised global fears about extremism and the radicalization of young people.

Biden took part in a round-table discussion with local leaders from Boston, Los Angeles and Minneapolis. The three cities have programs to counter extremism that the White House wants to promote as examples.

President Obama plans to address representatives from about 60 countries attending the summit Thursday.