Terror, Inc.

The Islamic State (IS) arose from the ashes of al-Qaeda in Iraq (AQI) in 2011. Moving with blitzkrieg-like speed, this modern-day phoenix has spread death and destruction across the Middle East and far beyond. Blazing a path across Syria and Iraq, its powerful army has seized large swaths of land and formed a new caliphate-an Islamic dominion. It seeks to rid the world of infidels- nonbelievers-and extend its Islamic domain around the globe. Using horrendous tactics-beheadings, crucifixions, rape, mass executions, and other heinous abuses-the Islamic State has redefined terrorism and what it means to be a terrorist. In a few short years, IS (also known as ISIS and ISIL) has become the newest, wealthiest, fiercest, and most dangerous terrorist organization on the planet. No one is beyond its reach. Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi has said, "We will raise the flag of Allah in the White House"-a threat no American should dismiss lightly.

The Islamic State (IS) arose from the ashes of al-Qaeda in Iraq (AQI) in 2011. Moving with blitzkrieg-like speed, this modern-day phoenix has spread death and destruction across the Middle East and far beyond. Blazing a path across Syria and Iraq, its powerful army has seized large swaths of land and formed a new caliphate-an Islamic dominion. It seeks to rid the world of infidels- nonbelievers-and extend its Islamic domain around the globe. Using horrendous tactics-beheadings, crucifixions, rape, mass executions, and other heinous abuses-the Islamic State has redefined terrorism and what it means to be a terrorist. In a few short years, IS (also known as ISIS and ISIL) has become the newest, wealthiest, fiercest, and most dangerous terrorist organization on the planet. No one is beyond its reach. Islamic State leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi has said, "We will raise the flag of Allah in the White House"-a threat no American should dismiss lightly.

Hezbollah-Lebanon's "Party of Allah"-wears many faces. Founded by Muslim clerics following Israel's invasion of Lebanon in 1982, it is a powerful political party, a Shia Islamic religious and social movement, Lebanon's largest militia, and a close ally of Iran. Originally, Hezbollah's reason for being was to resist the Israel invaders. Over time, it grew from a small militia to a paramilitary group more powerful than the Lebanese Army. Trained and funded by Iran, it maintains close ties with its benefactor. As a political order, it holds seats with veto power in the Lebanese government. And as a religious and social movement, Hezbollah operates hospitals, clinics, schools, and centers for agricultural training and assistance. Eclipsing whatever good it may do for Lebanese citizens, Hezbollah is known best for the evil it does around the globe as one of the world's foremost terrorist groups. Some call it the "Party of Satan."

In January 2006, Palestinian voters shocked the Western world by giving Hamas a majority of seats in the parliamentary elections. Stunned Westerners found it hard to imagine how the blood-soaked Islamist terrorist organization won the support that brought it to power. Western thinkers found it harder yet to envisage how a Hamas government would play a positive role in Palestinian-Israeli relations. Hamas, an acronym for an Arab phrase meaning "Islamic Resistance Movement," emerged from a Muslim Brotherhood branch in Palestine in 1987. At its birth, Hamas announced its intention to "raise the banner of Allah over every inch of Palestine." It vowed to murder Jews across the world. Its charter declared, "Allah as its goal, the Prophet [Muhammad] is the model, the Qur'an its constitution, jihad its path, and death for the sake of Allah its most sublime belief." Hamas has left little doubt about its aims.

The Muslim Brotherhood, Egypt's oldest and largest Islamist organization, is the father, mother, and guiding light of several of the world's leading terrorist groups. Members of the Brotherhood (also known as the Muslim Brothers) have either founded or influenced the founding of such Islamist militant groups as Hamas, al-Qaeda, the Islamic State, and numerous lesser known groups. Founded in 1928 by an Egyptian schoolteacher, the Brothers embarked on a mission to Islamize the world by promoting Islamic (sharia) law, morals, and values. They rejected the Western concept of secular, democratic government. Instead, they combined religious preaching with social welfare activities and political activism-even violence-to advance their cause. The Muslim Brotherhood is perhaps known best for the assassination of Egyptian President Anwar al-Sadat in 1981. Allegedly, it has since renounced violence. Today, it plans to conquer the Western world-including America- from within, as it continues its march toward establishing a worldwide caliphate.

A new kind of war came to America on September 11, 2001. It came on the silver wings of four Boeing jet liners. Middle Eastern hijackers turned four commercial aircraft into flying bombs. Two jets smashed into the twin towers at New York City's World Trade Center. A third rammed into the Pentagon in Virginia's Arlington County. And a fourth crashed short of its intended target in a remote Pennsylvania field. Almost 3,000 people died on that bright autumnal day in September. It was a day that Americans promised to never forget-a day that America declared war on terrorists. Responsibility for the heinous attacks went unclaimed for three years. On October 29, 2004, Osama bin Laden, leader of the terrorist group al-Qaeda, finally announced that he had ordered the 9/11 attacks. Today, Osama bin Laden is dead, killed by Navy SEALs on May 2, 2011. But al-Qaeda is alive and well-and still represents a real threat to all Americans.

In January 2006, Palestinian voters shocked the Western world by giving Hamas a majority of seats in the parliamentary elections. Stunned Westerners found it hard to imagine how the blood-soaked Islamist terrorist organization won the support that brought it to power. Western thinkers found it harder yet to envisage how a Hamas government would play a positive role in Palestinian-Israeli relations. Hamas, an acronym for an Arab phrase meaning "Islamic Resistance Movement," emerged from a Muslim Brotherhood branch in Palestine in 1987. At its birth, Hamas announced its intention to "raise the banner of Allah over every inch of Palestine." It vowed to murder Jews across the world. Its charter declared, "Allah as its goal, the Prophet [Muhammad] is the model, the Qur'an its constitution, jihad its path, and death for the sake of Allah its most sublime belief." Hamas has left little doubt about its aims.

Hezbollah-Lebanon's "Party of Allah"-wears many faces. Founded by Muslim clerics following Israel's invasion of Lebanon in 1982, it is a powerful political party, a Shia Islamic religious and social movement, Lebanon's largest militia, and a close ally of Iran. Originally, Hezbollah's reason for being was to resist the Israel invaders. Over time, it grew from a small militia to a paramilitary group more powerful than the Lebanese Army. Trained and funded by Iran, it maintains close ties with its benefactor. As a political order, it holds seats with veto power in the Lebanese government. And as a religious and social movement, Hezbollah operates hospitals, clinics, schools, and centers for agricultural training and assistance. Eclipsing whatever good it may do for Lebanese citizens, Hezbollah is known best for the evil it does around the globe as one of the world's foremost terrorist groups. Some call it the "Party of Satan."

Boko Haram is running wild, spreading death and destruction deep in the heart of Africa. Its very name has become a national symbol for fear in Nigeria. Allied with the Islamic State, and inspired by a distorted vision of a worldwide caliphate, the threat of its presence casts a dark shadow over the lives of all Nigerians within its grasp. And its grasp is spreading. Boko Haram, roughly translated, means "Western education is forbidden." Its members abhor Western influence on traditional Islamic teachings and seek to suppress it. In their quest to establish a world ruled by sharia (Islamic) law, they routinely kill or maim anything or anyone they consider "un-Islamic." Life under the Boko Harem in areas they have "liberated" include beheadings, amputations, forced marriages, and the use of children as suicide bombers. Most of more than 300 Chibok schoolgirls kidnapped by the Boko Haram in 2014 remain unaccounted for-and its reign of terror rages on.

Boko Haram is running wild, spreading death and destruction deep in the heart of Africa. Its very name has become a national symbol for fear in Nigeria. Allied with the Islamic State, and inspired by a distorted vision of a worldwide caliphate, the threat of its presence casts a dark shadow over the lives of all Nigerians within its grasp. And its grasp is spreading. Boko Haram, roughly translated, means "Western education is forbidden." Its members abhor Western influence on traditional Islamic teachings and seek to suppress it. In their quest to establish a world ruled by sharia (Islamic) law, they routinely kill or maim anything or anyone they consider "un-Islamic." Life under the Boko Harem in areas they have "liberated" include beheadings, amputations, forced marriages, and the use of children as suicide bombers. Most of more than 300 Chibok schoolgirls kidnapped by the Boko Haram in 2014 remain unaccounted for-and its reign of terror rages on.

A new kind of war came to America on September 11, 2001. It came on the silver wings of four Boeing jet liners. Middle Eastern hijackers turned four commercial aircraft into flying bombs. Two jets smashed into the twin towers at New York City's World Trade Center. A third rammed into the Pentagon in Virginia's Arlington County. And a fourth crashed short of its intended target in a remote Pennsylvania field. Almost 3,000 people died on that bright autumnal day in September. It was a day that Americans promised to never forget-a day that America declared war on terrorists. Responsibility for the heinous attacks went unclaimed for three years. On October 29, 2004, Osama bin Laden, leader of the terrorist group al-Qaeda, finally announced that he had ordered the 9/11 attacks. Today, Osama bin Laden is dead, killed by Navy SEALs on May 2, 2011. But al-Qaeda is alive and well-and still represents a real threat to all Americans.

The Muslim Brotherhood, Egypt's oldest and largest Islamist organization, is the father, mother, and guiding light of several of the world's leading terrorist groups. Members of the Brotherhood (also known as the Muslim Brothers) have either founded or influenced the founding of such Islamist militant groups as Hamas, al-Qaeda, the Islamic State, and numerous lesser known groups. Founded in 1928 by an Egyptian schoolteacher, the Brothers embarked on a mission to Islamize the world by promoting Islamic (sharia) law, morals, and values. They rejected the Western concept of secular, democratic government. Instead, they combined religious preaching with social welfare activities and political activism-even violence-to advance their cause. The Muslim Brotherhood is perhaps known best for the assassination of Egyptian President Anwar al-Sadat in 1981. Allegedly, it has since renounced violence. Today, it plans to conquer the Western world-including America- from within, as it continues its march toward establishing a worldwide caliphate.