The Terrorist Next Door (35 page)

Special thanks go to Harry Crocker and the entire team at Regnery Publishing for giving me the opportunity to do this book and sound the alarm about the threats we're facing. It was an absolute pleasure working with the Regnery team from the beginning of the process to the end, and I am indebted to them for their confidence, honesty, and support.

My editor, Jack Langer, was the perfect fit for this book, and I believe that the final product reflects that. Jack's passion for and knowledge of issues relating to the Middle East and Islamic jihad, combined with his superb additions and editorial critiques, gave this project the polish and direction it needed. Jack was also unflappable when we got down to “crunch time,” which was not surprising considering he, like me, hails from Philadelphia. Go Phils.

In addition to being one of America's finest investigative journalists and a foremost expert on the Muslim Brotherhood, Patrick Poole is a
great friend. Pat, thanks for all of your guidance, suggestions, and insights pertaining to this book, particularly on chapter eight. You are a true watchman on the wall for our nation.

Thanks also to my friend, the great Michelle Malkin, who contributed an outstanding foreword that completely captured the tone and message of the book—no one could have done it better.

I would not be typing these words if it were not for my employer, the Christian Broadcasting Network, which took a flyer on me in 2005 and showed boundless patience as I grew and matured as an on-air presence. Thanks especially to Dr. Pat Robertson, Gordon Robertson, and Michael Little for their support and guidance through the years and for providing encouragement for this and every project I have embarked on during my time at CBN. The past six years working for CBN have brought one blessing after another, and I am very fortunate to call the network home.

I am also fortunate to have a news director at CBN, Rob Allman, who trusts my instincts and grants me the creative freedom to pursue the stories that I believe are important for our audience and our nation. Rob has stuck with me through growing pains and ups and downs, and has always been there to provide feedback and advice, not only professionally but on a personal level. I am extremely grateful.

What can I say about my colleagues at CBN's Washington, D.C. bureau? Simply put, you guys are family. Special thanks to bureau chief Robin Mazyck, for her daily support, guidance, and friendship, and her encouragement of this project; to David Brody, who has been a great and trusted friend and mentor since the day I began at CBN—they don't make'em any better as a reporter or a human being; and to Matt Keedy and David Page, two dear friends and creative geniuses who have managed to make me look good for six years—you guys are true masters of your crafts. And hey, we've had a lot of fun doing it.

Many thanks also to my fearless cameramen Ian Rushing, Steve Jacobi, Jerome Young, and Royce Sallstrom, who have followed me into some very nasty places through the years and come face-to-face with evil men as a result. They've never flinched, no matter how hairy the situation
may have become. They, and every D.C. crew member, are the unsung heroes of this book.

Big thanks to my fellow reporters John Jessup, Paul Strand, and Jennifer Wishon, for all the laughs, fellowship, and support; I'll stack our reporting corps up against anyone's. Thanks also to intrepid editor and good friend Jacob Moore; to Alegra Hassan, who was always there with a smile, a kind spirit, and great advice; to Crystal Woodall; and to the invaluable Pat Jenkins and Tamatha Papadeas, who make the whole thing run.

To everyone at CBN's Virginia Beach bureau: you guys are a joy to work with and there is no one I'd rather go to war alongside on a daily basis—period. Thanks most of all for your friendship. The same goes for the team at CBN's Jerusalem bureau, particularly my good buddy Chris Mitchell, who has helped me navigate the rough waters of the Middle East and more.

Thanks to my friends David Horowitz and Jamie Glazov, who gave me my first opportunity to write about the issues of Islamic jihad and the Middle East. I am eternally grateful. Thanks also to Steven Emerson of the Investigative Project on Terrorism, who gave me my first job in Washington, D.C. and greatly aided my development as a journalist.

Thanks to my good friend Nir Boms, a true freedom fighter who showed me the ropes of Washington, D.C., and to Daveed Gartenstein-Ross and Walid Phares, two indispensable allies in the fight to preserve our nation.

Thanks also to everyone at FOX News for their steady support and to the entire team at Christians United for Israel, especially my good friends David Brog and Ari Morgenstern.

To all my friends in Israel: stay strong, be blessed, and keep fighting the good fight. Know that I will stand with you always.

Closer to home, I'd like to thank everyone in Fox Chase. There are simply too many people to name. For anyone I ever shot hoops with, ate at Stoxy's with, dreamed with and shared a laugh with, thank you. I'll never forget. Fox Chase is a special place filled with special people who
have impacted my life immeasurably. Know that I'm writing this book, ultimately, because I want to preserve the way we grew up for us and our kids. I love you all and remember fondly the days where all we had to worry about was running a full up the Rec on a hot summer night with good music playing in the background, hanging out, laughing and talking into the wee hours. You're friends for life.

To my late in-laws, Maz and Gigs, thank you for accepting me into your family, encouraging my career, and treating me as your own son. You are gone but not forgotten. The same goes for my late Uncle Jim, an Iwo Jima veteran and true American hero. And to my dearly departed friends Eddie Polec, who was taken from us much too soon, and Danny Kuhlmeier, who paid the ultimate sacrifice for our country, I'll see you when I get there.

Thanks to Jose and everyone on the block for all the good times.

Thanks to Steve Chadwin, Kristine Long, and Dr. Thomas Lombardi for seeing something in me, helping me to grow, and encouraging me to follow my dreams.

Thanks to all of the Stakelbecks and Kilkennys everywhere, and to the entire Berkery clan—especially Joe Marshall, for all the late night talks about the future of our nation.

Thanks to my friend Rudy Atallah for teaching me about the peace of the Lord, and to Tass Saada, for helping me to finally attain it.

Endless thanks go to the men and women of the U.S. military, the “shadow warriors,” and all of the unsung heroes at home and in the trenches overseas who are battling to keep America safe and free.

At the end of the day, all credit for this book goes to my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. The Lord tugged on my heart for years and I resisted, trying to travel on my own path and on my own timetable rather than on His, which is always perfect. In 2009, I finally gave myself completely to Jesus, stopped fighting, and let Him take control of my life. Every day since then has been an adventure and a blessing. He truly changes lives—and I'll shout it from the mountaintops to anyone who will listen. Thank you, Lord, for everything.

1
“Malvo Case Defendant's Trial Exhibits,” Fairfax County, VA, government website,
http://web.archive.org/web/20041013003311/
http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/courts/cases/malvo_defendant_exhibits.htm
(accessed February 24, 2011).

2
Joel Mowbray, “Open Door for Saudi Terrorists,” National Review Online, July 2, 2002,
http://old.nationalreview.com/mowbray/mowbray061402.asp
(accessed February 22, 2011).

3
Domingo Ramirez, Jr., “College student in Texas arrested in terror case,”
Fort Worth Star Telegram
, February 24, 2011,
http://www.star-telegram.com/2011/02/24/2875816/college-student-in-texas-arrested.html
(accessed February 24, 2011).

1
Gordon Rayner and Duncan Gardham, “Cargo Plane Bomb Plot: Al-Qaeda Terrorists ‘Threatened' Another Lockerbie,”
Telegraph,
October 31, 2010,
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/uknews/terrorism-in-the-uk/8100970/Cargo-plane-bomb-plot-al-Qaeda-terrorists-threatened-another-Lockerbie
. html (accessed March 3, 2011).

2
“BA worker guilty of planning airline bomb plot,” Reuters, March 1, 2011,
http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/01/uk-britain-security-ba-idUSL-NE72002W20110301
(accessed March 3, 2011).

3
Raza Khan, “Al Qaeda extends to Somalia, Yemen,”
Washington Times,
September 10, 2009,
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/sep/10/al-qaeda-extends-reach/
(accessed March 3, 2011).

4
President Obama's remarks to students at St Xavier College in Mumbai, India, November 8, 2010. See video of his remarks here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=vCllTEankoA
(accessed March 3, 2011).

5
“The Future of the Global Muslim Population: Projections for 2010-2030,” Pew Research Center, January 27, 2011,
http://pewresearch.org/pubs/1872/muslim-population-projections-worldwide-fast-growth
(accessed March 3, 2011).

6
“Far From Ground Zero, New Mosques Face Opposition,” FOX News, August 8, 2010,
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2010/08/08/away-raw-emotionsground-zero-mosques-face-strong-opposition/
(accessed March 3, 2011).

7
WorldPublicOpinion.org
Staff, “Public Opinion in the Islamic World on Terrorism, al Qaeda, and US Policies,”
WorldPublicOpinion.org
, February 25, 2009,
http://www.worldpublicopinion.org/pipa/pdf/feb09/STARTII_Feb09_rpt.pdf
(accessed March 8, 2011).

8
“Muslim Americans: Middle Class and Mostly Mainstream,” The Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life, May 22, 2007,
http://pewforum.org/Muslim/Muslim-Americans-Middle-Class-and-Mostly-Mainstream%282%29.aspx
(accessed March 3, 2011).

9
Edwin Black,
The Farhud: Roots of the Arab-Nazi Alliance in the Holocaust
(Washington, D.C.: Dialog Press, 2010).

10
Bill Warner,
Sharia Law for the Non-Muslim
(USA: CSPI, 2010), available online at
http://www.cspipublishing.com/pdfs/WebSitePDF/Sharia_Law_for_Non_Muslim.pdf
(accessed March 3, 2011).

11
“Darkening gloom,”
The Economist
, February 4, 2011,
http://www.economist
. com/blogs/asiaview/2011/02/pakistans_blasphemy_law (accessed March 3, 2011).

1
Elisabeth Kaufmann, “In Murfreesboro, Tenn.: Church ‘Yes,' Mosque ‘No',”
Time,
August 19, 2010,
http://www.time.com/time/nation/article/0,8599,2011847,00.html
(accessed February 23, 2011).

2
Bob Smietnan, “Murfreesboro Mosque Spokeswoman Camie Ayash Has Felony Record,”
The Tennessean
, September 20, 2010,
http://www.tennessean.com/article/20100920/NEWS01/100920077/Murfreesboro-mosquespokeswoman-Camie-Ayash-has-felony-record
(accessed February 23, 2011).

3
Erick Stakelbeck, “Mega Mosque Plans Target America's Heartland,” CBN. com
,
August 22, 2010,
http://www.cbn.com/cbnnews/us/2010/August/Mega-Mosque-Plans-Target-Americas-Heartland/
(accessed February 23, 2011).

4
Ibid.

5
Russell Goldman, “Islamic Center Backers Won't Rule Out Taking Funds from Saudi Arabia, Iran,”
ABCNews.com
, August 18, 2010,
http://abcnews.go.com/US/Politics/islamic-center-backers-rule-taking-funds-saudi-arabia/story?id=11429998
(accessed February 23, 2011).

6
Michelle Theriault, “USA: Alaska's First Mosque,”
HalalFocus.com
, August 12, 2010,
http://halalfocus.net/2010/12/08/usa-alaskas-first-mosque/
(accessed February 23, 2011).

7
Jeff Jacoby, “The Boston Mosque's Saudi Connection,”
The Boston Globe,
January 10, 2010,
http://www.boston.com/news/globe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2007/01/10/the_boston_mosques_saudi_connection/
(accessed February 23, 2011), and Senate Subcommittee on Terrorism, Technology and Homeland Security,
Wahhabism and Islam in The U.S.,
108th Cong., 1st sess., 2003, available at the National Review Online,
http://www.nationalreview
. com/articles/2073 66/wahhabism-islam-u-s/stephen-schwartz (accessed February 23, 2011).

8
“Saudi Publications on Hate Ideology Invade American Mosques,” Freedom House,
http://www.freedomhouse.org/uploads/special_report/45.pdf
(accessed February 23, 2011).

9
Holly Hayes, “Dome of the Rock, Jerusalem,”
SacredDestinations.com
, last modified January 13, 2010,
http://www.sacred-destinations.com/israel/jerusalem-dome-of-the-rock
(accessed February 23, 2011).

10
Javier C. Hernandez, “Planned Sign of Tolerance Bringing Division Instead,”
New York Times,
July 13, 2010,
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/14/nyregion/14center.html
(accessed February 23, 2011).

11
Andrew Malcolm, “At Ramadan Iftar Dinner, Obama Supports New Mosque On Private Property Near Ground Zero,”
Los Angeles Times
Top of the Ticket, August 13, 2010,
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2010/08/obamaramadan-iftar-remarks-text
. html (accessed February 23, 2011).

12
Andrew Bostom, “Jihad, Dhimmitude, and Muslim Spain,”
Andrew Bostom
blog, August 24, 2010,
http://www.andrewbostom.org/blog/2010/08/24/jihad-dhimmitude-and-muslim-spain/
(accessed February 23, 2011).

13
“Letters from the Imam,”
The Wall Street Journal
Opinion Journal, September 1, 2010,
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703632304575451762406545760.html
(accessed February 23, 2011); Michael Ledeen, “Imam Rauf's Love of ‘Iranian Democracy,'”
PajamasMedia.com
, August 23, 2010,
http://pajamasmedia.com/michaelledeen/2010/08/23/imam-raufslove-of-iranian-democracy/?singlepage=true
; and Tom Topousis, “Imam Terror Error: Ground Zero Mosque Leader Hedges on Hamas,”
New York Post
, updated June 19, 2010,
http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/manhattan/imam_terror_error_efmizkHuBUaVnfuQcrcabL
(accessed February 23, 2011).