Amid the rise of extremist movements in the Middle East and with growing fears by Western countries that their national security interests are threatened, an American organization, with an international presence to combat extremism, kicks off in New York today. Through "databases" and monitoring networks, this organization seeks to uncover the roots of extremism, and track groups and movements such as the Muslim Brotherhood. The Board of Directors of this new organization includes former high-level American and international officials.

"Counter Extremism Project" or "CEP" kicks off today in New York with a press conference presenting the people who worked on it throughout the past year. Among them is the former American ambassador Mark Wallace, former counter terrorism adviser, Frances Townsend, a former adviser to the White House Gary Samore, former Special Representative to Muslim Communities Farah Pandith, former Senator Joseph Lieberman, former Pakistani Ambassador Munir Akram and the former envoy to the Middle East Dennis Ross.