The Terrorist Next Door (34 page)

As I write this, I'm sitting in a hotel room overlooking the Old City of Jerusalem. In my conversations with Israeli government officials, they keep their thoughts on the damaged relationship with America—damaged through no fault of Israel's—close to the vest, revealing precious little, and understandably so. Average Israelis that I talk to are a different story, however: practically everyone here expresses grave concern about the Obama administration, for the reasons outlined in this chapter and throughout this book. At the same time, they display an upbeat attitude of pride and perseverance. As a people who have survived countless centuries of murderous pogroms, persecution, and discrimination culminating in the horrors of the Holocaust, Jews have learned to deal with whatever is thrown their way. Through it all, Israel not only survives, it thrives.

Despite the wedge the Obama White House has attempted to drive between the United States and Israel, poll after poll shows that an overwhelming majority of Americans stands solidly behind the Jewish State, as does a majority of Congress on both sides of the political aisle. The reasons for that support are varied; for many Christians and Jews, it is a religious duty, as they take quite seriously the precept in the Book of Genesis that God will “bless those who bless [Israel] and curse those who curse [Israel].” Others see Israel as an emerging scientific, technological, and economic juggernaut that is in America's best interests to cultivate. Still others see Israel as an ocean of democratic stability and pro-American sentiment as well as a strategic asset in a region inherently hostile to the United States.

At the end of the day, however, it all boils down to common sense: Israel's enemies are America's enemies—period. Americans instinctively realize that fact, and that the true “underdog” in the Middle East is not the Palestinians—notorious purveyors of Islamic terrorism who danced in the streets when they learned of 9/11—but Israel, a tiny democratic nation of 7 million people (only 6 million of them Jews) surrounded by some 300 million hostile Muslims.

W
e Americans need to stare our enemies in the eyes and make an unflinching commitment to winning the war against global jihad and rooting out the terrorists next door. On a governmental level, a stronger campaign to crush al-Qaeda wherever it rears its head, particularly in the tribal regions of Pakistan—whether the Pakistanis like it or not—is paramount. So is the need not only to neutralize Iran's nuclear weapons program, but to cultivate regime change in Tehran. Other crucial steps include curtailing Muslim immigration to the United States, fixing or eliminating deeply flawed refugee resettlement programs, securing America's borders in a real and effective way, and continuously reducing the influence of Saudi Arabia in U.S. institutions and particularly in American Muslim communities.

Outlawing the Muslim Brotherhood on U.S. soil is another vital defensive measure. Instead of giving Brotherhood operatives an open door to the halls of power in Washington, D.C., we should use all possible legal means to marginalize and discredit them and their plans to build mega-mosques nationwide. The Muslim Brotherhood, whose own
documents outline its plan to destroy America from within, is the enemy, and its American front groups should be treated as such.

That extends to the Middle East, where the Obama administration has apparently decided that it can work with the Brotherhood. How else to explain President Obama's infamous Cairo speech in 2009, for which he requested that members of the Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood be present?
¹
And how else to explain his support for the ouster of Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak, when it was clear that Egypt's powerful and well-organized Brotherhood faction was most likely to benefit?

Former White House press secretary Robert Gibbs articulated the Obama administration's position in the waning days of Mubarak's regime, saying a reformed Egyptian government “has to include a whole host of important non-secular actors that give Egypt a strong chance to continue to be a stable and reliable partner.”
²
The “non-secular actors” Gibbs spoke of were the Muslim Brothers. In essence, the Obama administration is pushing for the participation of an Islamic jihadist group in governing the largest and most influential Arab Muslim nation. This is pure madness, and unless Egypt suddenly blooms into an oasis of democracy after thousands of years of authoritarian rule, it may go down as one of the biggest foreign policy blunders in U.S. history.

When I travel the country to talk about the threats gathering against the United States, I'm constantly asked, “What can I do to help?” While there is no magic bullet to right this ship, there is plenty the average American can do to turn back the rising tide of jihad here at home. Above all, Americans must stay informed. Take at least twenty minutes each day to turn off your iPod, flip off the game, and get up to speed on current events, no matter how depressing you might find them. You owe it to yourself and your children to be aware of the rapidly advancing events in the Muslim world that will continue to affect every American, whether through a massive increase in oil prices or, God forbid, through Islamic terrorism.

Call me an alarmist, but given that we are locked in a civilizational struggle against folks who take the Koran and hadiths literally, it's probably a good idea that Americans be educated about them. Sadly, though,
if you stop the average man on the street and ask if he's ever heard of jihad, sharia, or the Verse of the Sword, or if he's ever read Islam's core texts, you'll likely get a shrug of the shoulders and a blank stare before he buries his head back into his Blackberry to text about the results of
American Idol
.

Americans and all people of the West should know the names Charles Martel and Jan Sobieski. Nicknamed “The Hammer,” Martel was the grandfather of the legendary Holy Roman Emperor Charlemagne. In the year 732 AD, in one of the pivotal battles of world history, known as the Battle of Tours, Martel led Frankish and Burgundian forces to victory over an advancing Muslim army near the villages of Tours and Poitiers, in north-central France. That's right: after conquering Spain, the armies of Islam advanced as far as central France, with designs on conquering all of Western Europe, until they were decisively defeated by The Hammer. Many historians believe Martel saved Europe and in the process, helped preserve Judeo-Christian, Western civilization. So why aren't Martel and the Battle of Tours taught in middle schools, high schools, and universities in every Western nation?

The same goes for Jan Sobieski, the Polish king who led a combined force of Poles, Austrians, and Germans to victory over the Turkish-led Ottoman Empire at the Battle of Vienna in 1683. It was the second time that the Ottoman Muslims had reached the gates of Vienna before being beaten back (the first being in 1571). In the battle's aftermath, the Ottoman Empire plunged into a long, downward spiral, while Sobieski was hailed by the Pope and others as the savior of Vienna and of Western European civilization. Again: the West is waging an existential struggle against Islamic aggression. Shouldn't Americans know that this is far from the first time that the West has been locked in such a struggle with the forces of Islamic supremacism, and draw inspiration from the courageous Western resisters to jihad that have come before us?

Recall that Ronald Reagan, years before he became president, would devour everything he could get his hands on about Communism, Marxism, and the Soviet system. By the time he was elected president he
had a profound knowledge of the Soviet bloc, ultimately helping to lead the United States to victory in the Cold War.

For many people, 9/11 came out of nowhere. This time around, Americans have no excuse. Educate yourself. You don't need to become a news junkie or an Islamic expert, but at least get to know the basics about your enemy. Who is the Muslim Brotherhoood? What is jihad? What is sharia? What is the history of your local mosque, and have reporters uncovered jihadist sermons or jihadist literature there? What does the Koran say about non-Muslims? Learn it, commit it to memory, and tell your family, friends, and neighbors. No pressure or anything: we're only embroiled in a long, generational conflict in which the future of Western civilization is at stake.

Secondly, stay engaged. Join local and national organizations that not only oppose the Islamization of America, but that have real influence in state capitals and on Capitol Hill. The fierce grassroots opposition to the Ground Zero mosque is a perfect example of how average Americans can raise awareness about a topic and help influence the national discourse. Pressure your state and national representatives on issues that matter to America's security. Make your voice heard, especially at the ballot box. Today, with the rise of social media and YouTube, it has never been easier to organize with like-minded people and make a difference.

As I walk through the streets of Jerusalem, which have seen so many deadly “chip away” style attacks over the years, I can't help but wonder whether a day is fast approaching when America's schools, shopping malls, buses, and trains will fall victim to a similar jihadist onslaught. Islamists have made their intentions clear and provided us, through their actions, words, and writings, with their blueprint for destroying America. This information is readily available and time is short. It's long past due for Americans to get to know the enemy as well as the enemy knows us.

I
t isn't often that a guy from Fox Chase, Philadelphia gets the opportunity to write a book. That means I have a whole lot of people to thank for helping me get here.

Although the information in
The Terrorist Next Door
is often disturbing and frequently infuriating, the following acknowledgments are a celebration of all the people who showed me love, support, and guidance through the years and helped make this book possible.

The book was written over a period of seven months in planes, trains, hotels, subway cars, coffee shops, public libraries, and at home with an energetic 4-year-old nipping at my heels. For much of that time, sleep was only a rumor, but I lived to tell the tale. And I pray that the book impacts the national dialogue concerning America's struggle against Islamic jihadism—if nothing else, for our children's sake.

First, I want to thank my wife, Lori. Where do I even begin? When we met, we were just a couple of kids back in the neighborhood, without a care in the world. Since then, you have stood by me through good times and bad, tragedies and triumphs, setbacks and opportunities. We've gone
through more in our fourteen years together than most people see in a lifetime, yet we're still standing, stronger than ever. I am eternally grateful for your boundless patience, understanding, and encouragement as I worked long hours to make this book a reality, with a newborn in the house, no less. It can never be repaid, and I know it would never even cross your mind to ask because that it is just who you are: a special, beautiful person. And pretty darn good-looking, too. You are a true blessing to me, and I thank God every day for bringing you into my life.

Speaking of blessings from above, my two daughters, Juliana and Leah, are the greatest gifts God could ever have given me. Special thanks go to the extraordinarily beautiful Juliana, for faithfully putting up with those weekends where Daddy would “disappear” to the library for a few hours to hammer out a chapter. It broke my heart every time I walked out the door to work rather than to stay home and play with you. But know that I wrote this book, ultimately, for you and your gorgeous little sister, Leah. I am determined to do everything in my power to ensure that you two little angels grow up in a free and prosperous America that is every bit as special and exceptional as the one I grew up in.

From the time I was just an outspoken little guy with big dreams, my mother Agnes and my late father Fred Sr. provided me with unending love, support, and encouragement in all my endeavors, no matter how improbable they may have seemed at first. Moreover, despite modest means, they did everything in their power to make those dreams a reality, sacrificing greatly to somehow send me to a prestigious high school that helped prepare me for college and my career beyond. Mom, you truly have a servant's heart: thank you a thousand times over for your patience with me, your forgiving nature, and for instilling a love of God in me at a young age. And Dad, you helped shape me into the man I am today. I know that you're reading a copy of this book in heaven and cheering me on the whole way. I love you and will see you again one day in a much better place.

My sister Judy and my brother Fred deserve special thanks for always picking up for their trouble-making, rowdy little brother in my pre-teen
years, until I became a rowdy teenager who sprouted to 6 foot 4 and grew big enough to handle himself. Judy, you have been my greatest fan and supporter ever since I was a fifth grader shooting hoops with dreams of someday making it to the NBA. You are a blessing to me and to everyone who knows you and you have the kindest, most generous heart of anyone I have ever known. Thank you for your everlasting friendship and for taking the time to thoroughly read through each of these chapters. Fred, thank you for the thousands of hours of conversation over the years about life, politics, the Middle East, and everything in between. It helped shape the contents of this book. And thanks for letting me tag along with you and “the older guys” up the Rec. I have learned more from you—and from those legendary experiences—than you know.

The idea for this book began not with me, but with my fantastic literary agent, Maura Teitelbaum of Abrams Artists Agency. Maura, endless thanks for the confidence you've shown in my ability and your enthusiasm and persistence in making this project a reality. You have been a tireless advocate for my work and you would not rest until this book was a done deal. Thank you.