I am pessimistic about America’s future and the unchecked rise of global Islamism. But I have an unbreakable faith in the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. It’s what keeps me going. All is not lost. Yet.
On the other hand, I’m also a brutal realist. And the way things are lining up, it appears that, before spring and renewal, we may be destined to suffer through a long, harsh Islamist Winter. It’s up to us.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
Much has happened in the two years since the release of my first book for Regnery,
The Terrorist Next Door
, and I have a lot of folks to thank: some are new and some are repeat offenders.
My lovely wife, Lori, has once again been a rock through this whole demanding process, full of love, support, understanding and above all, patience. Lor, your sacrifices and support are appreciated more than you know. I love you and thank God that he put us together.
My beautiful daughters, Juliana and Leah, bring such joy to my life and are my reason for being. Girls, one day you will understand why Daddy had to disappear once in awhile to “go get some writing done.” You are and will always be my little angels from heaven. I love you both dearly.
To everyone at Regnery Publishing, especially Harry Crocker and Marji Ross: thank you from the bottom of my heart for the opportunity to write this book and sound the alarm. I couldn’t be with a better team. You guys are the best in the business and I am grateful for your support. Harry also provided impeccable editing to the manuscript, and Maria Ruhl was a huge help in putting it all together down the stretch.
To my friend and colleague Patrick Poole, who graciously shared his vast knowledge about the Muslim Brotherhood throughout the writing of this book. Patrick’s expert insights were invaluable, particularly in the writing of Chapter Seven. He is simply one of America’s very finest investigative journalists and researchers and the Muslim Brotherhood’s worst nightmare.
To my mom, Agnes, my brother, Fred, and my sister, Judy: thank you for a lifetime of love and support and for encouraging me throughout the writing of this book and in everything I do. God couldn’t have chosen a better family for me, and I know Dad is smiling down on us from heaven.
To the entire CBN family, particularly Pat and Gordon Robertson and Michael Little: thank you for providing me the opportunity to fulfill the Lord’s calling on my life. I am eternally grateful.
To the entire CBN News team for their overflowing friendship, camaraderie, prayers, and support. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: I’ll stack our team up against anyone’s in the news biz.
I particularly want to thank CBN’s News Director, Rob Allman, and Washington, D.C., Bureau Chief, Robin Mazyck, for their leadership, wisdom, and wise counsel throughout our time together and for allowing me the freedom to spread my wings in so many ways. You have been more than just bosses: you have been friends and always accessible. Thank you for your endless support and confidence.
To the entire CBN News Washington, D.C., Bureau: you guys are family and I still have a blast coming to work every day. To all the reporters, shooters, directors, and editors: thank you for your dedication, friendship, and for making me look good: not an easy task.
Special thanks go to my CBN D.C. colleagues Tracy Winborn, the executive producer of CBN’s
Stakelbeck on Terror
show, and Matthew Keedy, the creative genius who makes the show look great week after week. Tracy is a prayer warrior and great friend, and has been a blessing for our newsroom. Matt has been my partner in crime since I started at CBN and I am blessed to work with such a talented, steady hand that makes it all so fun.
CBN Senior Political Correspondent David Brody has been a great friend, mentor, and kindred spirit since we met and I’m thankful for all the laughs and the legendary train rides home. Oy gevalt indeed.
Special thanks also go to videographer/editor extraordinaire Ian Rushing, who accompanied me on the overseas trips described in this book and never flinched, no matter how dicey the situation became. The sky is the limit for you, my friend.
To CBN’s entire Jerusalem Bureau, especially my great friend Chris Mitchell: thank you for always being such gracious hosts and wonderful brothers and sisters in Christ whenever I am in the Land of Israel.
To the entire team and membership of Christians United for Israel (CUFI), especially Pastor John Hagee and his lovely wife, Diana Hagee, David Brog, Ari Morgenstern, Pastor Victor Styrsky, Pastor Jay Bailey, Pastor Scott and Cindy Thomas, Shari Dollinger, and Velvet Ridings. Thank you for your support, friendship, and for providing me with the opportunities to sound the alarm about the dire threats facing America and Israel.
A special shout-out goes to David Brog and “Off the Record” Ari Morgenstern, my unofficial advisors, good buddies, and fellow warriors for the cause. And also to Victor Styrsky and his beautiful wife, Marita: thank you for your prayers, encouragement, and wise counsel. You are a blessing to me.
To my friend Glenn Beck and the team at TheBlaze TV, especially Joel Cheatwood, Tiffany Siegel, Jenna Diaco, Virginia Grace, Raj Nair, Joe Weasel, and the entire Dallas crew: thanks for the opportunities and for being a beacon of truth.
Thanks to Fox News for giving me the opportunity to spread the word to a wide audience: special thanks go to Sean Hannity, Neil Cavuto, Judge Jeanine Pirro, and their incredible teams.
To my dear friends Edwin Black and Carol DiSalvo, thank you for all the meals, laughs, support, and advice. Looking forward to many more.
To my razor-sharp attorney, Alexis Soterakis of Coran Ober P.C.: thanks for your guidance, dedication, and for always being ready and willing whenever needed.
To my friends Bill Koenig and Bill Salus for their insights into the Middle East and what’s coming.
To the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI) the Investigative Project on Terrorism (IPT), and the
Global Muslim Brotherhood Daily Report
: three indispensable sources of information that I leaned on heavily throughout the writing of this book.
To all of the brave men and women I’ve worked with through the years that have sounded the alarm about the dangers of the Muslim Brotherhood: keep up the fight and never waver.
To all of my “fixers,” and hosts around the world who helped make many of the stories described in this book possible. You know who you are. Thank you.
To all my dear friends from Fox Chase, Philadelphia: you are a source of endless inspiration, motivation, and fond memories. There will be a Rec in heaven where we will all have a good laugh together. Of that, I’m sure. There’s no place I would have rather grown up. Thank you.
Writing a book is a massive, often trying undertaking—but greatly rewarding. The final three weeks of getting this book finished were particularly challenging for a few reasons. But somehow, I got through it, with Philippians 4:13 always in mind: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.”
Indeed, I could not have completed this book without the steady, comforting presence of the Lord Jesus Christ. Yeshua. Thank you, Lord, for coming into my life in a powerful, personal way, and making all things new.
Trust in the Lord with all your heart
And lean not on your own understanding;
In all your ways acknowledge Him,
And He will make your paths straight
(Proverbs 3:5–6)
His love endures forever.
—Erick Stakelbeck
May 25, 2013
Washington, D.C.
Psalm 91
Isaiah 54
NOTES
PROLOGUE
1
Ian Johnson,
A Mosque in Munich: Nazis, the CIA, and the Rise of the Muslim Brotherhood in the West
(Boston, New York: Mariner Books, 2010), p. 230.
2
Lorenzo Vidino,
The New Muslim Brotherhood in the West
(New York: Columbia University Press, 2010), p. 152.
3
“EXCLUSIVE: European Muslim Brotherhood Youth Organization Announces Green Initiative; VP Of Group Is Daughter Of Rachid Ghannouchi,”
Global Muslim Brotherhood Daily Report
, December 23, 2012,
http://globalmbreport.org/?p=7751
.
4
Vidino,
The New Muslim Brotherhood in the West
, p. 153.
5
Johnson
, A Mosque in Munich
, p. 229.
8
Johnson,
A Mosque in Munich
, p. 231.
10
Johnson,
A Mosque in Munich
, p. 235.
12
Vidino,
The New Muslim Brotherhood in the West
, p. 46.
CHAPTER ONE
2
“#3476 Mohamed Morsi during Elections Campaign: Jihad Is Our Path, Death for the Sake of Allah Is Our Most Lofty Aspiration, the Shari’a Is Our Constitution,” Middle East Media Research Institute, May 13, 2012,
http://www.memritv.org/clip/en/3476.htm
.
5
Youssef Nada with Douglas Thompson,
Inside the Muslim Brotherhood
(London: Metro Publishing, 2012), p. 29.
9
“Egyptian Cleric Safwat Higazi Launches MB Candidate Mohamed Morsi’s Compaign: Morsi Will Restore the ‘United States of the Arabs’ with Jerusalem as Its Capital,” Middle East Media Research Institute, May 1, 2012,
http://www.memritv.org/clip_transcript/en/3431.htm
.
11
“Egyptian Cleric Safwat Higazi Launches MB Candidate.”
15
Lawrence Wright,
The Looming Tower: Al-Qaeda and the Road to 9/11
(New York: Vintage Books, 2011), p. 26.
17
Sayyid Qutb,
Milestones
(Salimah-Kuwait: International Islamic Federation of Student Organizations, 1978), pp. 112–13.