American Jihad: The Terrorists Living Among Us Reviews

• Swiss cheese

  
  By ATDE9JYCPI0L1 on 2002-01-19
  Radical Islamic forces have many times threatened Steven Emerson's life. From their point of view, he knows too much. His Investigative Project has logged more than 6,000 hours of video and audio tapes, and its library is probably the world's most comprehensive on radical Islam. Emerson has thus for years lived in hiding, emerging only for talks and meetings to impart what he knows. In this book, he reveals an American intelligence system so full of holes that it resembles finely aged Swiss cheese. Readers get a solid, albeit unpleasant, taste.

  Emerson reveals the vision of a globe dominated by Islam prevalent among radical Islamic forces everywhere for the last two decades. Emerson's chatty account backs up this seeming scare mongering with enough facts about radical Islam's worldwide network to curdle one's blood. These forces have for 12 years achieved a new level of coordination, owing to their exploitation of civil liberties in the U.S.

  "None of these groups was ever able to coordinate its worldwide efforts with the others until they came to the United States," Emerson writes. They use freedoms of speech and assembly with little oversight from the FBI, CIA, Immigration and Naturalization Service or any number of other U.S. agencies, including the Federal Communications Commission, Federal Aviation Administration, and so on. Let us hope that free world leaders are listening.

  Emerson opens his first-person account with details on how he was drawn to pursue and document radical Islam. In 1992, as a reporter for CNN, he was covering an Oklahoma City press conference at which of former Iran-contra special prosecutor Lawrence Welsh released a statement from President Bush (le pere), pardoning former Secretary of State Casper Weinberger. He was bored.

  On December 25, Emerson passed some men in Arab robes clustered outside the Oklahoma City Convention Center. The Muslim Arab Youth Association meeting inside featured a "bazaar of vendors hawking all kinds of radical material," books preaching Islamic jihad, calling for the extermination of Christians and Jews, even coloring books instructing children 'How to Kill the Infidel'--and speakers from Hamas, the Muslim Brotherhood (founded in Egypt in 1920s), Palestinian Islamic Jihad, among others. A Detroit FBI agent fielded questions from "a visibly hostile audience" cheekily asking for "advice on how to ship weapons overseas." Emerson's call to FBI headquarters produced the astounding revelation that the FBI could and would do little to monitor these groups.

  Although a print journalist, Emerson after the February 26 1993 bombing of the World Trade Center pitched to the U.S. Public Broadcasting System a story on the recruitment and training of radical Islamic warriors inside America. The resulting hour-long program, Jihad in America, aired on November 21, 1994 and is available free on the Internet. In a Brooklyn, N.Y. Yemeni grocery store, Emerson found and bought 20 copies of videos promoting paramilitary training. His reporting took him to Florida, Texas, Chicago, the Middle East and Pakistan.

  The first calls for global jihad came from a Palestinian Arab mullah, Abdullah Azzam, whose base in Peshawar, Pakistan recruited and trained Muslim warriors for a jihad against the Soviet Union in Afghanistan. Azzam was killed in 1989 with his two oldest sons, a murder that went unsolved. But his followers, including a third son in Pakistan and a nephew in Chicago, spread his seditious message everywhere. On a 1993 trip to the West Bank, Emerson and translator Khalid Duran learned from a taxi driver that Azzam's brother-in-law lived in Jenin and from there, obtained more interviews.

  El-Sayeed Nosair, who murdered Rabbi Meir Kahane in New York, led to 47 boxes of Arabic material, which police unfortunately ignored until after the 1993 World Trade Center bombing. Nosair had planned to "thoroughly demoralize the enemies of God" by blowing up and destroying the World Trade Center. The February 1993 WTC bombing killed six and injured more than 1,000 others.

  Investigators eventually discovered the error in believing the WTC plotters inept. In fact, they were tied to a global network of al-Qaeda terrorists, including Mohammed Salameh, Palestinian Ramzi Yousef, Ahmad Ajaj, Nidal Ayyad, Sheikh Omar Abdel Rahman, a blind Egyptian cleric who ran a New Jersey mosque, and Osama bin Laden. One lieutenant, Ali Mohammed, was an officer in the U.S. Army's Special Forces. Their interconnected plots included theft of U.S. government documents, construction and operation of training camps within the U.S. and a 1994 plan to murder Pope John Paul II and blow up 11 American jetliners. The last was foiled only by accident, after Yousef fled the scene of a Manila "work accident" in December 1994, leaving behind a computer full of encrypted plans.

  Emerson details his search through the U.S., to jihad academies in Florida and elsewhere. He includes excellent chapters on Hamas; Osama bin Laden, Abdullah Azzam and al-Qaeda; and an appendix exposing the American support these groups get through the Muslim Public Affairs Council, Islamic Circle of North America, American Muslim Council and, last but not least, the Council on American-Islamic Relations. Press pundits often and erroneously quote sources from these groups as "moderate." They are no such thing.

  More importantly, Emerson maps out plans by which Western governments and agencies can fight back.

  Emerson was closely aided by Khalid Duran, whom Muslim terrorists have also threatened with death. A Spanish Muslim descended from Barbary pirates, Duran is a hero and scholar conversant in English, Spanish, Urdu, Arabic and German, and the author of Children of Abraham: An Introduction to Islam for Jews. His book was endorsed by Jordan's Prince Hassan and throughout the Muslim world.

  Duran rightly considers Islamic fundamentalism today a descendant of Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood of the 1930s, an imitation of European fascism that failed at the end of World War II but survived and spread throughout the Islamic world. It has proved especially appealing to well-educated, moneyed engineers.

  Duran taught Emerson that radical Islam is not the real thing. But he also helped to prove that violent Islamic fundamentalism will be a fixture on the U.S. and global political landscapes for years.

  This superb book can help us cope. Alyssa A. Lappen
  
  

• The Islamic militant who may be your next door neighbor

  
  By A2KG8WLR1AKO12 on 2002-03-05
  Steve Emerson wishes to dissuade those bigots who might target a whole ethnic group merely because of the actions of a few. This is why he adamantly declares "The vast majority of all American Muslims subscribe to the strong Islamic tradition of tolerance and human dignity." Unfortunately, Emerson adds "the extremists have disproportionate influence." The latter often set the agenda for the Muslim secular and religious groups throughout virtually every area of the United States. Emerson warns us that the extremists have taken full advantage of the politically correct attitudes dominating our mainstream media and academic institutions. The case of non citizen Professor Sami Al-Arian of the University of Florida is particularly upsetting to the author. Al-Arian was literally videotaped screaming for the "death to Israel." Nonetheless, for many years nothing effective was done to curtail his vile behavior.

  The author says that these militants have murdered people in the United States. Steve Emerson has himself received a number of serious death threats. Federal and local police agencies, however, are often hesitant to investigate the militants. Emerson believes that these law enforcement officials are fearful of being accused of ethnic discrimination. This might be true even after 9/11.

  How fanatical are the Islamic fascists? Libya's Muammar Qaddafi, a major terrorist in his own right, is perceived by them to be "too Western," adds Emerson. Coloring books are provided to Muslim children instructing them on "How to kill the Infidel." The adults receive tracts on the Jihad required to exterminate all Jews and Christians. These militants actively seek converts among those yearning for a "true believer" ideology to satisfy their existential angst. "American Jihad" is mandatory reading. The dangers cited by Steve Emerson will not disappear anytime in the near future. We are regrettably in this battle for the long haul.
  
  

• Makes you look over your shoulder

  
  By A23WCIQBYLEZQM on 2002-01-15
  One very evident item about this book is that it is convincing from its real supportive evidense and authors research. The book is short but is not filled with clutter, is rather condensed but the subject matter is well explained. Steve obviously went out of his way to research this out, almost in the way of a war correspondent. The book is convincing in that he demonstrates there are internal terrorists and that they are secretly supported and did anticipate tighter USA security. I feel he has even given away vital information that the terrorists dred the public knowing. Good for us, makes this book the book it is. I believe that's why the book was published in my opinion. The book lets us know not to be complacent in this intermediate time of peace, be looking, be ready. After reading it I am convinced another major attack is at least in the planning stages.
  I strongly recommend reading another book that is worth it, covers the religious terrorist and why they attack, what we can do, predicted these attacks and mentions we would be forced into a much stricter way of life. SB 1 or God By Karl Mark Maddox.
  
  

• A Brave Book

  
  By on 2002-02-07
  Under the threat of death from the very militants he was investigating, Emerson produced this book of chilling insights. Emerson traces the convergence of the various terrorist groups to the year 1989 and proceeds with a detailed history of their growth from there. Among Emerson's colleagues is the liberal Muslim, Khalid Duran, who wrote a book about fostering understanding between religions. Duran has also been subject to death threats from militant conservative Islamist organizations.

  Especially disturbing are Emerson's observations on how the militant groups hide under the cover of "charitable organizations" which are exempt from scrutiny. And the way the militants deny their activities even as they are caught red-handed is maddening.

  This is an extremely important book. We ignore it at our peril. The very existence of the United States is in danger unless we pay attention to the militant Islamist threat.
  
  

• Superb

  
  By A1ZMJIAC2CQODA on 2002-01-27
  That the consistent apologists for terror and front organizations for Hamas, like CAIR put so much effort into discrediting Emerson is a good first sign at the accuracy of his work. That they always fail is proof of just how right he is.

  They have gone so far as to publicly hypothesize that he is Jewish (he keeps his religion, whatever it is, to himself) and thus somehow unqualified. This is another sign of how hateful his detractors are.

  Simply put, Steven Emerson is the foremost authority on terrorism in the English-speaking world today. He is a meticulous researcher, and this book is no exception. He details the source of terror in America, and puts a frightening face on the domestic terror we now face. Highly recommended.
  
  

• Like a hollywood movie
  By on 2002-01-17
  This would be a good fiction novel, but in reality Emerson does not seem very well informed about Terrorism in the US. He mis-aligns groups and presents the subject with a strong opinionated overtone. His good would make a good movie though.
  
  
• A frightening look at terrorists in the USA...
  By A2FMUVHRO76A32 on 2002-03-29
  This book details the many militant Islamic terrorists groups that are operating in the US. Basically, the author proves that these groups are using the wonderful freedoms of our country to further their own evil ways. According to the book, the USA is being used to recruit new terrorists, raise funds, and hide terrorists from other governments. This book will certainly frighten you, as it details the huge struggle we face to eradicate the Islamic militant threat which lives within our midst. After I read this book, I had the sickening feeling that, while Americans fret over how to contain terrorism without 'insulting Islam' , these people are simply hatching new plans to kill large numbers of people. This book should be a must read for any responsible citizen.
  
  
• A MUST for every home library
  By A1HD8TG4YJNRE4 on 2002-02-04
  September 11 was a defining event in American history. For those citizens who want to learn how the terror network operates in the United States, this book is a must and should be on the shelves of every freedom-loving American. I found it to be well documented and researched while painting a picture of the threat to our very existence.
  
  
• Excellent and thought-provoking
  By on 2002-02-04
  Emerson's book is thorough and well-researched. Very readable. It was hard not to be angry all over again about the events of 9-11 after reading this book. The only short-coming is that it lacks a predictive section discussing possible future scenario's about the infiltration of terrorist organizations into U.S. society. I would also have liked more information included about the steps the U.S. government is currently undertaking to limit these activities. All in all, however, fascinating reading.
  
  
• Every American should read this!
  By A3RV3OSG41OQPQ on 2002-11-17
  I'd like to think that a book like this would help Americans wake up, but I'm not that naive.
  Emerson seems to have spent much time investigating the radical Islamic movement in America, and their links to terrorism. I applaud his research. Facts like these need to get out.

  One comment he made troubled me, however: he stated that he was wrong when he initially connected the Oklahoma City bombing with Middle-Eastern terrorists. Maybe he was unaware of the Iraqi connections at the time of publication--I hope he has learned of this since. (It's clear now how the OKC bombing fit exactly into the scheme that he himself has unraveled, and included several of the same players involved in other terrorist plots.)

  Most of Emerson's book tracks the flow of money and associations of the terrorists and terrorist sympathizers. He doesn't discuss a lot of the philosophical issues--I guess that could be another book in itself.

  Emerson reveals how the international terrorist organizations have used America and her freedoms to fuel their hate crimes against America herself, and many others overseas. He shows how the radical Islamic movement has hijacked the more moderate, peaceful Muslim groups, and has almost completely drowned out their voices.

  Unfortunately, this book doesn't have a happy ending. I hope real life turns out differently. But given the pluralistic, politically-correct quagmire our society has become encumbered in, I'm afraid that may not be the case.
  
  

• Thoughtful Look at Islamic Fascism's American Roots
  By AKT8TGIT6VVZ5 on 2002-11-30
  Steve Emerson's "American Jihad" is a thoughtful, excellent overview of Islamic fascism (militant Islam) and its American roots, brilliantly showing how American support aided and abetted terrorists ranging from Hamas to Al Qaeda. Emerson notes that Islam - as practiced by most of its believers - is a far more tranquil faith than the one espoused by fundamentalist Islamic militants, of which Hamas and Al Qaeda are among their most deadly, virulent strains. He also portrays courageous battles being waged by moderate Islamic scholars and religious leaders against militant Islam, especially here in the United States (Unfortunately while few in number, Islamic extremists have exerted substantial influence over American mosques, setting both their political and religious agenda.). Emerson depicts how Islamic fascists have successfully raised money here in the United States, from such unlikely outposts as Islamic cultural centers in Tucson, AZ and Islamic conventions held in the Midwest. In an appendix at the end of the book, Emerson provides an excellent thumbnail historical overview on the rise of militant Islam, which is a splendid coda to the rest. Without question, "American Jihad" should be regarded as required reading for many interested in understanding the rapid rise of militant Islam and its strong financial and cultural ties to the "Great Satan", the United States.
  
  
• Shocking revelations of the enemy now amongst us.
  By A56PCDBOVXXSR on 2003-03-16
  This remarkable book is an absolute `must read'. The author reveals through his exhaustive investigations, how Islamic terrorists living in the West, (primarily in the USA), have used our open society, freedom of speech and civil liberties to create and coordinate an Islamic Worldwide terrorist network intent upon Worldwide domination and Islamic expansion.

  The writer exposes the ease in which these many Islamic terrorist groups have been successful in the US by exploiting the freedom enshrined in the US Constitution. Just as disturbing are the revelations of the casualness and seeming impotence of the security services in dealing with the threats.

  It is surprising & alarming to learn that the national security establishment was completely unaware of things to come. Calls for Jihad against Israel and the West, from within the US soil itself during the 1980's going completely unnoticed.

  The book reads like a novel, but it's reality and immediacy will at times take your breath away. Having read this book, one can be left in no doubt that, if not apprehended, these Islamic terrorists living amongst us in the US and many other locations within the International community, will clearly pursue their destructive agenda of which the September 11 2001 atrocities were only the forerunners of many attacks yet to come.

  The writer reveals that when presenting his own considerable evidence of terrorist activities within the US in November 1994, he was amazed at how prominent mainstream elements of the media downplayed or ridiculed him. Accusations of `racism' and `crusader' were directed at him amongst the death threats from Islamic entities.

  Many sections of this book will shock you. One such case is how the author was personally able to purchase a number of videos readily on display at a Yemeni grocery store in Brooklyn. Videos which revealed in detail the torture until confession of alleged Palestinian `collaborators' with Israel. Victims who were tortured and upon confession executed.

  One can but commend the author's extensive research and the highly readable manner in which he has presented it here. Hopefully, the revelations within this book have now been taken seriously by the security services of the Western World, especially as war with Iraq appears imminent.

  I also highly recommend three other books for those interested in this topic. "Age Of Sacred Terror" by Daniel Benjamin, Steven Simon , "Jihad; The Everlasting Hatred" by Hal Lindsey, "Why Terrorism Works" by Alan Dershowitz & "The High Cost Of Peace" by Yossef Bodansky. Thank you for your time.
  
  

• An insightful book
  By on 2002-01-25
  Emerson depicts the struggles that we now face in America accurately and with precision. For those who know of what he writes about, this is a well written book.
  
  
• Give Me Your Tired, Your Poor-Your Jihad
  By A14A094R6ZEM10 on 2004-11-13
  What could be more American, more rousingly patriotic than a political convention held smack in the middle of Kansas City, USA? You know, the kind where you can stroll amongst the various booths in the lobby, then excitedly bounce up and down in your seat cheering the inspirational speakers. And maybe afterwards meet up with fellow activists and plot strategy at, say, a nearby Ramada Inn. Oh yes, forgot to mention, this was an Hamas convention, focusing on future "crusader-Zionist-infidel conspiracy" targets around the world , with discussion groups devoted to "car-bomb lessons," "how to handle improvised explosives" and the "interrogation and execution of collaborators."
  
  Yes, all true in the suicidal pre-9/11, bendy-border, got-my-visa-in-a-Cracker-Jack-box America, as meticulously and courageously detailed by Steven Emerson.
  
  While reading Emerson you keep wanting to smack the heel of your hand to the middle of your forehead-Nuuh! What UNBELIEVABLE dangers were allowed to grow up around us! The book's cover shows a map of America, pinpointing communities that unwittingly hosted terrorist headquarters, conventions, conferences, rallies, training camps, internet servers, money-laundering businesses, `charitable' groups and, yes, God strike me dead, `summer retreats for adults and children.'
  
  Besides Kansas City, what communities? Well, just a few out-of-the-way places, like: New York; Chicago; Los Angeles; Washington, DC; San Francisco; Philadelphia; San Diego; Dallas; Boston; Cleveland; Detroit; Denver; Seattle; Oklahoma City; Laurel and Potomac, Maryland; Brooklyn, New York; Charlotte, North Carolina; Orlando, Ft. Lauderdale and Boca Raton, Florida; Sacramento, Santa Clara and Anaheim, California; Tucson, Arizona; Bridgeview, Illinois; Herndon, Springfield and Falls Church, Virginia; Arlington and Richardson, Texas; Plainfield, Indiana; Oxford, Mississippi; and Manhattan, Kansas.
  
  Emerson's investigation into all this began on Christmas Day, 1992, when he was drawn into the Oklahoma City Convention Center by a buzz of activity involving men wearing traditional Middle Eastern attire, and then noticed books and videos on sale "preaching Islamic jihad." Gaining further admittance as a `recent convert,' he heard speaker after speaker "preach violence," while the audience chanted `kill the Jews!' and `Destroy the West!' Hmm.
  
  Since this was nine years before the 9/11 attack we might wonder exactly where were our half-dozen or so biggest mega-million-dollar national security and law-enforcement agencies, for example, the Federal Bureau of Investigation? At this point it is hard to avoid the Dave Barry line: "I'm not making this up."
  
  While observing a Muslim conference in Detroit in December 1993, Emerson tells how, "After five days of listening to speakers urging Muslims to wage jihad," he was startled to see introduced as a guest speaker a senior FBI agent from the Detroit office, who then delivered some perfunctory remarks that were greeted by hostility and sarcasm. When Emerson later asked FBI officials how this could possibly be, they first denied it, then admitted that the agent had gone there thinking it was `some kind of Rotary club.' (Name couldn't have been Clouseau?)
  
  What could account for such obliviousness, such a narcoleptic lack of urgency?
  
  Not long before 9/11 Emerson attended a security meeting of top government officials, afterward emailing a friend: `We are doomed.' Because the prevailing attitude seemed to be, `We are such good people that nobody would ever want to attack us.' (Not unlike the zippity-do-da fall-of-Baghdad expectations?)
  
  Americans had also become "numbed" by terrorist infiltration methods that take advantage of our very porous system (Emerson, Congressional testimony, 12/01)--which leads to what may be the most chilling development of all.
  
  It is not just that terrorists have penetrated our borders, but that America is being colonized by dozens of unassimilated cultures, to such an extent that foreign terrorists and criminal gangs can immerse themselves in neighborhoods where once suspicious behavior now goes unnoticed.
  
  Meanwhile most of America's political, corporate, media, educational, religious, and creative, e.g. Hollywood, elites have become enthralled with (no doubt some just plain terrified of criticizing) "diversity," "multiculturalism" and mass legal and illegal immigration. Is their now any major politician who does not daily bow down and chant "Our strength is in our diversity!"? Curious, since numerous studies have shown that nations with the greatest diversity are also the most war-torn. Exhibit A: Iraq.
  
  Only the intervention of average voters seems capable of turning these grave security threats around. This of course is made much less likely with a two-party monopoly system that almost never allows popular votes on the issues of lower legal immigration or greater border enforcement--in spite of (or because of ?) decades of opinion polls showing a clear majority of voters strongly favoring both reforms.
  
  Emerson stresses that most Muslim immigrants are decent hard-working people. No doubt, but experts, some of them Muslim, Emerson reports, estimated that 50 to 80 percent of the 1200 Muslim mosques in the US had been taken over by extremists.
  
  Is Emerson alarmist? Although estimating the number of "sleeper cells" and the like needs constant reevaluation, his basic thesis has been all too tragically vindicated. In June of 1997, after considering `the mounting evidence of the strength of al Qaeda and other groups,' he warned in an interview, `get ready for twenty World Trade Center bombings.' Pretty much what happened--only all at once.
  
  
  After 9/11 we kept hearing "Everything has changed." But has it?
  
  It is somewhat as if violent criminals had invaded, burned and ransacked our homes, butchering members of our family, and we respond by demanding random ID checks from the Avon Lady and mounting gun turrets on the roof--all the while we hop into bed each night continuing to leave our back doors yawning open in the breeze, beckoning to the dark unknown.
  
  Emerson's excellent reporting clearly demonstrates what happens when a nation comes to think of itself as an exception to history and virtually throws open its borders. On the individual corporal level we can imagine what would happen if someone were to cast aside their own protective immune system--so embarrassingly passé, so intolerant!
  
  For all these reasons I strongly recommend Steven Emerson's AMERICAN JIHAD.
  
  
  
  
• Gives Citizens More Intelligence Than FBI Can Handle
  By A1S8AJIUIO6M9K on 2003-02-16
  

  
  The FBI--as shown by the recent Congressional testimony of its Director--is still hapless, flailing and clueless when it comes to understanding the specifics of terrorist fund-raising, recruiting, training, and planning based in the USA. Pakistanis are fleeing to the Canadian border as this review is being written, because they know something the FBI is unwilling to compute: the greatest threat is not Al Qaeda, but rather Hamas and militarized Pakistanis, most of whom are legitimate US residents.

  Steve Emerson, who first made history in the mid-1990's with his Public Broadcast Service documentary on mullahs in American mosques calling for the murder of Americans deep in the heartland of America, has produced a "citizen's handbook" that is vastly superior to anything the FBI or the White House has been able to offer its taxpayers--and we can buy this for under $12, which compares rather favorably with the $3 billion or so we pay for the FBI, and the $35 billion or so we pay for national intelligence overall.

  There are really three stories in this book, which I urge every American--and every other citizen of the world--to read.

  First, and most importantly, the book documents the wide-spread and robust network of Islamic "charities" and other front organizations--the most important based in Texas where they have been ignored--that do fund-raising for terrorism overseas as well as terrorist recruiting and training in the US. The map at the end of the book showing over 50 terrorist nodes in over 30 US cities, is along worth the price of the book. *More than 20% of the addresses and phone numbers in a top terrorist's phone book, when captured, where in the US.*

  Second, the book provides insights into why the US Government is failing in the war on terrorism. The reasons for failure are balanced between policy failures--a pure unwillingess to confront Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Iran and other governments that nurture terrorists--and intelligence failures, including such mundane things as refusing to demand police record checks on individuals from countries known to be exporting terrorists, and poor relations (and a lack of unilateral clandestine penetrations) with key intelligence services such as the Sudanese, which knew about the "Day of Terror" well in advance but did not tell us...and if it did tell us, our Intelligence Community failed to notice and failed to communicate the warnings.

  The third story in this book is about sources and methods and mindsets, and the bottom line is this: an open mind can use open sources of information to such advantage, that it makes our closed source and closed mind bureaucracy look pitiful in comparison. The US taxpayer is not getting their money's worth from the US Government with respect to national security expenditures.

  Finally, although perhaps not intended by the author, his insights are helpful in identifying four specific strategic psychological operations (PsyOp) or "cultural outreach" themes that the US should have been pursuing these many years since the Soviets left Afghanistan: 1) Arab-Afghans isolated and despised; 2) Arab arrogance in relegating all Pakistani's to "untouchable" nonentity status; 3) Oneness of umma fanatically pursued actually attacks and undermines the many varied Muslim cultures, especially non-Arab Muslim cultures; and 4) US has made mistakes--in crime, in morality, in support for repressive regimes--and seeks to change in the true spirit of the Koran.

  The book's documentation of the crimes against the US of the American Muslim Council, to name just one ostensibly legitimate organization that is revealed in this book (which has been "lawyer-checked" and is bullet-proof against false claims of slander), and other similar "charitable" organizations, constitutes "citizen intelligence" at its best. Every Muslim in America should read this book before donating another dollar to any organization pupporting to be helping Muslims.

  There is one other cautionary note: the book addresses the specific strategy of bin Laden and other terrorist leaders of deliberately seeking out Muslim youth with US passports who can be used as couriers and suicidal volunteers. The actual examples provided--real people with real terrorist support missions--easily destroy the common misperceptions of terrorists as "foreign." As the author documents, they are within us, they are of us, and what we are doing now to defend ourselves is not likely to work in this context.

  This is an easy to read, informative book with an excellent map, several tables of Islamic extremist organizations based in America, good notes and a good index. I recommend it without reservation.
  
  

• Terror Is Not Invincible
  By A33H5G0LF065WX on 2003-07-29
  In his function as a staff reporter for CNN, Steven Emerson stumbled upon frightening voices emanating from the midst of the Religion of Peace: conferences celebrating terror and promoting books on "How to Kill the Infidel", sale of videos showing the torture by Palestinians of suspected 'collaborators' and terrorists boasting of their kills. And all this is taking place here, in the United States. The fruits of his investigation gradually grew into a clearinghouse of terror data, and culminated in an acclaimed PBS documentary titled "Jihad in America" that won the George Polk award.
  
  This book is a continuation of the theme. Naturally, such blatant practice of freedom of expression could not be allowed to go unpunished, and it was not long before violence and death threats forced the author into hiding.
  
  Some of the most grotesque institutions of terror have established themselves and operate out of America, publically proclaiming peace but perpetrating hate, destruction, and jihad in private. The groups that operate under such saccharine banners as 'literacy groups' or 'youth associations' engage in organized crime, money laundering, sham marriages, and immigration fraud. Many pro-Islamic institutions in the U.S. are actually funded directly by Saudi Arabia.
  
  The book recalls the exasperation of federal agencies who were not permitted to investigate these groups, their hands so tied that they couldn't attend terror conferences or even examine publically available data. Individual agents were actually prosecuted for attempting to investigate them. It is a testament to the professionalism and tenacity of the FBI that it nonetheless was able to prevent many attacks, among which the Day of Terror in New York City, the attempted bombing of American airliners, and the assassination of the Pope. Some of the schemes and people mentioned in this book were highlighted in the highly recommended Frontline documentary about John O'Neill.
  
  The terror networks are not invincible, and current events show that the tide is turning. Our investigation and prosecution of the 1993 World Trade Center bombing is awe-inspiring, but law enforcement must be permitted to be proactive. Emerson describes a Hamas leader who is also a tenured professor at the University of South Florida. Al-Arian was in fact finally arrested a few weeks ago, a full year after the publication of this book.
  
  The web of Islamic terror spreading through mosques is far-reaching, and Emerson acknowledges that he can touch only on a small part of it in this book. What becomes clear is that the organizations of terror are interconnected, and that it is pointless to distinguish between groups who only want to kill Americans, or just Jews, or only Hindus. Islamists suffer from what Emerson calls 'an extreme form of mission creep': everyone is a target.
  
  We relaxed our stance in the 90s in the hope that only Israel was the target of terror. We know now that Islamism has the entire free world in its sights. But if we have the will we can defeat those who would destroy civilization.
  
  
• Five stars should be pinned to the author's chest
  By A1LJE5IEP7BAK8 on 2003-06-11
  American Jihad is two stories. The first, as the title indicates, is an expose of an Islamist fifth column that has infiltrated America's Muslim community and poses a clear and present danger to the nation as a whole. The second story is author Steven Emerson's personal ordeal. After the author documented terrorist penetration of the United States, a death squad prompted Emerson to alter his appearance and to move to another location.

  Unlike many investigative journalists who have become targets, though, Emerson keeps his role in perspective. The author's humility strengthens his critical analysis of a religious community often too craven to counter extremists as well as a timid federal government that even now refuses to confront this threat squarely. In fact, Emerson's de facto internal exile is Exhibit A in why American Jihad is an important and maddening book. The confluence of America's cherished civil liberties with mindless political correctness has caused people like the author sometimes to be thrown overboard while potential mass murderers are coddled.

  This book clearly is much larger than death threats against one journalist. It excoriates universities, mosques, charitable organizations, federal agencies, Islamic centers, the media, the foreign policy establishment, and other institutions that have been guilty of, at a minimum, sins of omission. Many groups, some in the heartland, have outright aided and abetted those who want to destroy the United States. Emerson convincingly makes the case that not only did Hamas and Alkhifa flourish in the U.S., in some aspects these and like groups originated in America.

  From Tucson to Tampa, American Jihad exposes those who both enable terror and those who commit actual crimes. The University of South Florida is tagged as a hotbed of terrorists. An FBI agent speaks to radical Muslims about civil liberties at a thinly veiled terror-fest. Islamists flood the U.S. due to dangerously lax and often flaunted immigration laws. Sheikh Omar Abdel Rahman, central to the first World Trade Center bombing, actually entered the country after he was cleared of Anwar Sadat's murder. Sometimes America's institutions come across as being as delusional as the terrorists. If anything, this book lays to rest any question about whether or not September 11th was a surprise. America wasn't asleep. It was in denial. It still is.

  Emerson names names. Professor Sami al-Arian formerly of the University of South Florida, for example, is identified as a key figure in Middle Eastern terrorism (as a related aside, American Jihad makes clear that educated people as well as the ignorant and poor are drawn to Islamist movements). Sheikh Abdullah Assam, whose Alkhifa organization was the precursor to al-Qaeda, is revealed as a central supporter of violence who has deep American roots and family ties. Other figures large and small are named. It doesn't take much speculation to surmise this book was heavily and successfully lawyered.

  One of the weaker aspects of American Jihad is the author' s repetitive observation that the vast majority of Muslims aren't terrorists. Most readers obviously know that, so it seems Emerson is being overly solicitous. If 80 percent of U.S. mosques and Islamic centers are dominated by Islamists as one source asserts, not only are Emerson's apologies unnecessary, America's Muslim community needs to do a lot of serious soul-searching. How that 80 percent figure was derived, in fairness, is never explained. Further, some of the bravest figures in this book are the few American Muslims and clerics who confront the Islamists. Emerson is no bigot. He is, simply, painfully honest.

  The charts and appendices at the book's end prove quite useful. Emerson richly documents that many mainstream Muslim organizations and charities have been at the forefront of extremism, and he doesn't flinch from using graphics, flow charts and surreptitiously obtained tapes to prove his point. As a result--and on a personal note--I was shocked to find an al-Qaeda cell was detected in my city.

  Few journalists actually shape the national dialogue. Steven Emerson did to a degree. Americans may be a bit safer as a result.

  The five stars awarded this book should be pinned to the author's chest.
  
  

• the sobering facts
  By A358XP3X4U0X45 on 2006-06-03
  "The formula was simple: use the laws, freedoms, and loopholes of the most liberal nation on earth to help finance and direct the most violent international terrorism groups in the world." (p. 111)
  
  The author describes where and how he got videotapes of speeches, terrorist training manuals, instructions for making bombs, materials for forging passports and other legal documents, etc. He presents his own experiences in attending speeches in mosques, talking to people, etc. The result is a picture of militant Islamists taking over the leadership of religious and charitable Muslim organizations in the United States and using them for (1) a base of operations and support, (2) a base for recruitment and conversion of Muslims to fundamentalist Islam, and (3) a base for networking with each other.
  
  He makes a convincing case that not only Al Qaeda, but Hamas, Islamic Jihad, Hisballah, National Islamic Front, Muslim Brotherhood, Algerian Islamic Salvation Front, Algerian Armed Islamic Group, and others are established in the United States and are meeting and loosely working together. "In focusing only on Al-Qaeda as the group most threatening to the United States, the government and much of the media are making a strategic and fatal error." (p. 193 paperback edition).
  
  He names names, gives dates and continually cites evidence and sources. The cities hosting these groups are: Seattle, San Francisco, Santa Clara, Los Angeles, San Diego, Denver, Tucson, Arlington TX, Dallas, Houston, Oklahoma City, Kansas City, Plainfield IN, Columbia MO, Chicago, Detroit, Cleveland, Charlotte NC, Raleigh NC, Tampa, Orlando, Ft. Lauderdale, Boca Raton FL, Springfield VA, Herndon VA, Washington DC, Potomac MD, Laurel MD, New York City, Philadelphia, and Boston. This, as of 2003. (A news bulletin just out today says that Canadian officials believe there are 50 terrorist groups operating in Canada. People there as here cite permissive immigration policies as primarily responsible.)
  
  The author also shows how Islamic operatives have utilized American universities to house and legitimate their front organizations "all in the name of `multiculturalism'." (p. 111) The author devotes a whole chapter to a detailed case study of exactly what and how this was done at one university. (For a narrative account of how this hospitable climate came to exist in academia, see The Rape of Alma Mater.)
  
  The author does not forecast the outcome. "But one thing is certain. Unless we are able to recognize and define the enemy--militant Islamic fundamentalists--without fear of being castigated as racist, then we will certainly lose." (p. 195 PB ed.)
  
  And yet, after all these years, these same conditions exist and are getting worse. And you cannot tell anyone about them because they develop a brain spasm and see you as a bigot (much like the Body Snatchers saw the people who were still human). If you want to know how this country got that way and how more and more Americans are being transformed (their word) into this kind of person, read While America Sleeps: How Islam, Immigration and Indoctrination Are Destroying America From Within.
  
  
  
• A Warning to America
  By A1TKM36EYEQNSM on 2004-02-09
  Too bad Steven Emerson was ignored before 9-11. His book exposes the terrorists among us and shows that we seem not to even be interested.

  Emerson lists a number of incidents that were news items in the past decade and a little more. Surprisingly many were not mentioned as more than just a news item. Emerson goes behind the scenes, so to speak, and exposes that we did not learn the truth about them.

  Emerson risked his life visiting meetings and attempting to follow-up on leads to get him the information for this book.

  But in the end, do we really care? We should, and Emerson tells us why.
  
  

• An excellent book! A real eye opener!
  By A258WFAOVWDN8B on 2004-03-16
  This book is an enlightening look into the world of Extreme Islam as it exists right here in America. Reviewer Ford needs to read the book! In it, when asked by a television reporter, Mr. Emerson clearly makes a distinction that Islamist Militant Extremists "might" be responsible for the Oklahoma bombing. This was the thought of many people at the time especially since the bombing on February 26,1993 in which Islamist Militants tried to destroy the World Trade Center. The point being Mr. Emerson has never made the assertion they were 100% responsible for the Oklahoma bombing and I would challenge the reveiwer to provide proof otherwise.

  This book gives the reader enough knowledge to know that the threat is far more serious that once thought. This book is riddled with facts that can't be denied. It does not in anyway represent an attack on the "good people" of Islam. I believe the reveiwer from San Jose never read the book! The book only addresses and exposes those Islamist Militant Extremists and those who support them.

  Gary L.
  Its4gary@Pacbell.net
  
  

• Roots of Jihad tracked
  By A2HCAZIX7HJX1V on 2003-02-19
  Book exposes the activities of Jihadis in the US, exploiting the freedom of speech enshrined in the US constitution.

  It is surprising to learn that the national security establishment was completely unaware of things to come. Call for Jihad against Israel and the West, from within the US soil, in the 1980's went unnoticed, given the state department's focus on Soviet-occupied Afghanistan. It is equally surprising to note that similar calls in the 1990's (until 1993 WTC bombing) went unnoticed as well.

  Oil power is the key to strategic policies in the Gulf. US was a blind spectator to Saudi's role in the propogation of militant Islam (Wahhabism) throughout the world.

  Even if this book had been written 15 years back, WTC bombing in 1993 could not have been prevented. The US intelligentia, under the hang-over of cold-war and oil diplomacy, simply did not see these coming. Instead it relied on false optimism to carry forward their relationship with the muslim world.

  This explains stringent opposition to the author's documentary in Nov 1994 (Jihad in America).

  Al-Qaeda's roots lay in Pakistan. Even today, US considers Pakistan as its ally in the war against terrorism. US is a blind spectator to what is going on in Pakistan today. Unless it realizes its mistakes, threat of terrorism will not wane away.

  Stephen Emerson's book is a pointer in this regard.
  
  

• The Details Are Still Hidden
  By A222LQEPE7O7BV on 2004-11-14
  I finished this book with two overriding feelings, disappointment and confusion. I was disappointed in the book and its reporting and I was confused over the tempest in a tea pot up roar over the supposed anti Muslim "racism" supposedly detailed in the book. According to the dust jacket, this book sets out to describe the militant Islamic terrorist networks that seem to be littered across America and just how difficult it will be get rid of them. The author starts the book by telling us that he has spent the last ten years studying this topic and has had a staff of any where from 2 to 20 working with him. He also takes every opportunity possible to work in that he has also made a documentary covering the topic of the book. So I am thinking that with all this time, staff and material for a movie the book should be a jam packed treasure chest of what is going on in the States in regard to Islamic terrorist organizations. Well, either the author is not much of a reporter or we can all rest a little easier, because the book is just a bit light on the details and does not describe much of a threat.
  
  Sure the author details out a few men here and there that had something to do with Islamic terrorism, but the only group he covers that really appeared to be somewhat dangerous and motivated were the group responsible for the first World Trade Center bombing. That being the case, there are many other books out there that cover this topic much better and in far more detail. Most of the rest of the bad guys detailed in the book are all practicing their nefarious trade craft in the Middle East. Not terribly dangerous to Mr. and Mrs. Joe Six Pack in the mid west. The area I felt the author hit the mark on the best was with his coverage of the many different Islamic charities that operate in the U.S. and the damage that can be caused by this fountain of money flowing back to the Middle East. Yet here again the danger is off shore, similar to the funding the IRA got in the 70's and 80's.
  
  Lastly, I was confused as to where all the supposed anti Muslim reporting was in the book. Both in reading some reviews and in a few other books, it has been reported that this book paints an unfair if not down right racist view of Islam in American. I found just the opposite. This author was forever inserting in to each chapter that Islam is a religion of peace and that just of few radicals have taken it to an extreme. He then offers up one chapter on his Islamic hero's. Even without this pandering, I thought the book was fair. The most damaging words come not from the author, but by interviews many of the people detailed in the book make. You just can not spin it away when someone says that all Jews need to be eliminated.
  
  Overall I was disappointed with the book. It reminded me a of college student tiring to get the required length of a report by increasing the font, shrinking the margins and adding in long winded and off topic quotes to beef up page count. The book offered too little detail on the main theme of Islamic terrorists in the States and not enough to be a good broad overview of the problem.
  
  
• A very Sobering look at the terrorists living amongst us
  By A1EIT28MVYQM4P on 2005-10-12
  I found this book to a very sobering and scary look at exactly what is going on here in America. With our foolish open border policy it is clear that Islamic terrorists are using our freedoms against us. In the wake of 911 it is time we Americans take back our country from those who would destroy it. This book is a must read.
  
  
• Clear and important information on a vital subject
  By AUHG8KSHI529U on 2003-03-11
  This is an important book. What Mr. Emerson says is alarming without being alarmist. There are people who sympathize with the aims of Islamist radicals living in our country. The author explains which of these organizations are already HERE and working in this country. I had no idea that they held conferences in places as seemingly unlikely as Omaha! In this book we learn that there are many innocent sounding charities that are really front organizations doing fund raising for these groups. This is being confirmed in daily newspaper articles about this very subject.

  Mr. Emerson documents what the leaders of these organizations have said and what they have stated their goals to be. These goals are different than what their public relations people say on their behalf on the various talk shows. While the book isn't very long, it does contain some very strong stuff. We don't need to change America into a police state, but we do need heighten our awareness several levels. This book can help us know more about the threat and what we need to be aware of. Please read this book.
  
  

• Grounbreaking!
  By A250BI36M1IR26 on 2005-03-14
  Steven Emerson is one of those people that are called crazy.
  
  Only years later to find that his theories were 100% accurate.
  
  Only then will people say, why didn't' we listed to Steven Emerson.
  
  American Jihad: The Terrorists Living Among Us is a powerful and scary book.
  
  If you like democracy and want the US to stay a democracy, read this book.
  
  
• A must read for all Americans.
  By A1V4HZ2I5SD5YV on 2006-08-05
  It is heartening to read so many well informed five star reviews of Emerson's book. If only millions upon millions of Americans could be so knowledgeable about this critical subject. In general there is not much I can add other than to encourage buying the book.
  
  Still, there are two issues where I thought certain reviewers were off the mark. One reviewer considered the book to be sensationalistic and a second reviewer felt that only a few examples of terrorist threats were mentioned. First, the book is not sensationalistic. It is written in a lucid and judicious manner. Second, the reviewer who felt there were not enough examples of terrorists must not have read Appendix A where a map of the U.S. shows 31 terrorist cells operating in 22 states all across the country. This, in 2003.
  
  A bonus to Emerson's book is Appendix D, which is an 11 page "Brief History of Islamic Fundamentalism." This alone is worth the price of the book.
  
  
  
  
  
• Necessary, insightful, and well documented!!
  By on 2004-05-18
  It saddens me that some of the 1 star reviews posted here seem to be from people who likely haven't read this book. I write this because Steven Emerson is in no way attacking the Muslim community. In fact, he champions them in one chapter and shows how true followers of Islam (those who celebrate peace, love, and tolerance of other religions) are being hurt by the extremists hiding behind the guise of Islam. This is an investigative report that every American should read. The extremists have infiltrated our cities and are operating under the appearance of goodwill and charity. This is not a book against Muslims--- it's a book that shows (very specifically!!) who the terrorists are. These extreme fundamentalists are dangerous to Muslim Americans and non-extremist Muslim leaders as well. Their hatred doesn't discriminate-- they love to attack even the moderate Muslims. Steven Emerson should be applauded for his bravery and committment to a cause that could save American lives.
  
  
• A MUST READ!!!!!
  By A9RBS198L4J4D on 2005-08-31
  What an eye opener. Should be training material for the CIA, FBI, Homeland Security, and what about every member of the US Congress? Ignorance is NOT bliss and so shall we pay for it. A time bomb is ticking.
  
  
  
  
• Emerson has a complete knowledge of terrorists
  By ASYRFADHBWS87 on 2005-11-10
  This book should be a guide for all Americans to better understand the Islamic terrorists, and the dangers that we face with the potential of hidden elements within our country.
  
  Emerson has investigated and reported on this murderous ideology far longer than most considered it a threat. His book illustrates what we face now, and in the future.
  
  
• American Jihad The terrorists living among us
  By A1CH9Q2DA4VY5N on 2006-09-27
  This book should be REQUIRED reading by all our government representative who think they understand the Muslim mind and methodology. While most people aren't fond of dry historical accounts, this is a must read in our day and age to not only protect yourself and your family, but to start a national dialogue for our national protection from nerds in government who don't understand where the dangers are. Perfect account with lots of relavent information.
  
  

• Jihad Incorporated: A Guide to Militant Islam in the Us
• American Extremists: Militias, Supremacists, Klansmen, Communists & Others
• The Racist Mind: Portraits of American Neo-Nazis and Klansmen
• Religion and the Racist Right: The Origins of the Christian Identity Movement
• Future Jihad: Terrorist Strategies against the West