IPT Executive Director Steven Emerson was interviewed on December 29 by WABC Radio's John Catsimatidis and James Flippin about the threat of Islamic terrorism and how 2025 has been one of the bloodiest years in terms of worldwide terrorism. Emerson touches on the unprecedented wave of antisemitic violence and attacks on Jews worldwide, the massive re-arming of Hamas and their influx of new found wealth, and a problem that has only gotten worse over time―the continued persecution of Christians, and other religious minorities, in the Middle East, Asia and Africa.
Transcript:
James Flippin:
Back here on Sid & Friends in the morning. I'm James Flippin in for Sid, as is 77 WABC owner operator, John Catsimatidis. Burt Flickinger is here. He's getting ready for the coffee order tomorrow, Burt. So we're getting excited about that because you got to have the good Joe or even when it's not so good, it's still good. That's the way we work with coffee. So as we roll along here coming up on 9:22 this Monday before the start of the new year, Steve Emerson is on the line right now and he's been investigating something that's been a big topic of discussion here on these airwaves and also across the entire mediasphere, the rise of Islamic terrorism for the better part of 25 years in the U.S. and really around the world. So Steve, thank you so much for joining us this morning.
Steve Emerson:
Good to be with you guys. Nice to be here. I think I've been investigating it for actually 30 years, but it's come to the fore primarily because of the October 7th massacre. But then again, these massacres not only that magnitude have occurred almost every year since 1999.
James Flippin:
Yeah. And I've seen some pretty stunning figures, Steve, in terms of how many attacks there really have been since nine eleven. And it's just kind of mind blowing when you think about that, especially in comparison to, let's say, other types of terrorism, which if it's ever religious bend, just doesn't even really exist in comparison to the Islamic terrorism. So I mean, what do you think is driving this most recent increase or potentially in kind of combination with the antisemitic stuff? Is it just the right funding being put in the right place? Are people having a more sympathetic ear to some of these arguments for some reason? I mean, what is it in your view that's keying this?
Steve Emerson:
Well, you sort of hit the nail on the head and asked me that question because I don't think there's any one factor, but a complicity of factors, primarily one being the rise of the resurrection of the Muslim brotherhood. They've been around since 1928, but in this country, since 1964, obviously they have become very big in the United States, the Muslim Brotherhood, not in its form as the MB, as it's called, but rather in front groups like the Council on American-Islamic Relations and about 150 other front groups operating in the United States. Around the world, there are probably more than 500 Muslim Brotherhood front groups or aid organizations that operate as "charities," but in fact, proselytize or commit acts of terrorism or funnel money to terrorism. The rise of oil prices or the proliferation of oil money, especially by Qatar, which is the primary sponsor of Islamic fundamentalism around the world and brotherhood basically continues the operations of terrorist full-time employees.
Look, in Syria today, you have a jihadist who allegedly has become reformed, but he hasn't really. There have been 19,000 civilians, mostly minorities, Christians, alloys and Druze killed, massacred, all of this year by the jihadist who now control the Syrian government.
John Catsimatidis:
And also, you talk about where Donald Trump, President Trump hit Nigerian ISIS people because they killed 19,000 Christians in the last few years in Nigeria.
Steve Emerson:
Right. And I think that more credit is due to the president for taking that stance, even though there's a wave of isolationism in the United States, because it really is incumbent upon us to stand up against the Jihadists, and especially because they target Christians around the world, primarily in Africa and the Middle East, where Christianity is a dying breed.
Look, I can't tell you the number of horror stories that I've been working on in terms of investigating since this year alone, but also for the last 20 years in terms of the number of attacks on Christians, on minorities, Kurds, Druze, Yazidis, by Islamic militants around the world, but primarily in Africa and the Middle East and Asia.
And somehow it doesn't make the pages of the Washington Post because the Washington Post only likes to write about quote right-wing terrorism or Israeli "genocide." It's a fixation of the Washington Post.
They sort of ignore any type of massacre or genocide against the Christians. And I think it's a credit to the president for him standing up for the Christians in Nigeria.
John Catsimatidis:
But it's happening worldwide in the Christian community and the Jewish community is out there talking about it and speaking about it and is outraged about it, but the Christian community, I don't hear enough objections of what the heck is going on.
Steve Emerson:
Well, first of all, you're 100% right that the Jews are the number one recipient and proportionally in terms of attacks and massacres. There's no doubt about it. But then again, the fact is Jews don't count. That's the term that I've heard used many times by reporters who sarcastically say that to me in quotes. The reality is antisemitism is proliferated primarily because of Islamic militancy, Islamic terrorism and in New York, for example.
How do you explain the fact that we've now elected a mayor who has been an Islamist, a subscriber of the worst antisemitic violent statements that I've ever heard any U.S. politicians make, and yet he's been accepted and welcomed by Democratic officials. I can't explain that any more than I can explain the fact that in London or New York, we can now call New York-istan because it's become a London clone.
So it's happening around the world and yet Israel is also the recipient, the number one recipient as we saw on October 7th. And Hamas, even though it's supposed to disarm under the Middle East peace agreement, and which I don't believe exists, it is not going to disarm. And as long as it doesn't disarm, there will be no peace in the Middle East.
John Catsimatidis:
Understood. Where do we go from here? Now, Gaza, one of the suggestions was made, and Netanyahu is going to be meeting with President Trump, and I hope he goes by New York City on the way back, and tests and see if anything's going to happen.
Steve Emerson:
Well, Mamdani talks a good game about arresting Netanyahu, but he has no power to do so. I'd like to see him try that. Mamdani himself has made such outrageous statements. Some of them border on the same incitement that led to the massacre in Bondi Beach, Australia, just two weeks ago. No difference between the statements that were made prior to that massacre and what Mamdani has said back in 2021-22, which we have on our website.
Where do we go from here? Look, Gaza is a problem because the reality is the fundamental issue regarding the Middle East is the failure, the refusal to recognize the legitimacy of the Jewish state of Israel, period. There's no other question about that. And the reality is as long as Lebanon hosts Hezbollah and Hezbollah is re-arming now tremendously, Hamas is rearming and getting massive amount of funds where it's coming from, the Israelis can't figure out.
Iran is now talking about developing a new ballistic missile system that can attack Israel without any type of interaction. The situation in another year will be reverting back to normal, which is a war that will be taking place every year or so until the Israelis are able to stop it once and for all. And I don't think that's ever going to happen.
John Catsimatidis:
Understood. Well, Mr. Emerson, we used to talk all the time. I don't know why we lost each other, but let's talk more often in 2026.
Steve Emerson:
Absolutely. And I remember WABC Radio with cousin Brucey, my favorite star of all time.
John Catsimatidis:
And he's 89 years old and he's still on every Saturday night.
Steve Emerson:
Oh, man. You got to tell me where I can listen to him. Thank you.
John Catsimatidis:
Wabcradio.com or on your iPhone Worldwide 77WABC app.
Steve Emerson:
You got it, John. I'll be listening this Saturday night.
John Catsimatidis:
Thank you so much. And that was Mr. Emerson, who is one knowledgeable guy and one good friend. And thank you so much. And let's take a break and we're going to come back with Charlie Gasparino.
James Flippin:
Absolutely.