The Barbarians Are Here: Two Terrorists Caught on US Soil

Thursday the New York Times reported that a Bronx man from Lebanon documented security protocols at Kennedy International Airport in New York in preparation for potential attacks. The man, Ali Kourani, a 32-year-old naturalized citizen from Lebanon, told the F.B.I. in a series of interviews that he believed he had been recruited to join Hezbollah’s Islamic Jihad Organization as part of an effort to develop “sleepers” who lived ostensibly normal lives but could be “activated and tasked” with conducting operations, the criminal complaint said.

Erick Stakelbeck, host of The Watchmen With Erick Stakelbeck on TBN, joined The Glenn Beck Program on Friday for an update on this and another terrorist caught on U.S. soil.

Listen to this segment from The Glenn Beck Program:

MIKE: I'm happy one of my former Blaze colleagues is joining me on the phone right now, especially since we haven't covered the topics he covers enough because we've all been focused with Comey 2017. You know Eric maybe from the early days of TheBlaze and TheBlaze TV back when it was GB TV, he can was around. But now he's around at TBN and the director of Christians united Israel's Watchman project. Eric, welcome back to the program. We miss you here.

ERIC: Always great to catch you with you guys again.

MIKE: Well, you know, it's your old home. So it's one of those places if you have to go there, we have to let you in. Those are the rules.

ERIC: And I don't have to pay. It's free.

MIKE: That's good. That's true. You should follow Eric on Twitter because he's posting things that the mainstream news seems to forget about and avoid. And, you know, for people that don't know about the watch man prom that's on Friday nights, new episodes on Friday nights at 10:30, what's the elevator pitch to explain it to us?

ERIC: Yeah, you know, The Watchman is based -- four times a year, Mike, we're in Israel, we're on the ground. The elevator pitch is really the on the ground perspective from the Middle East, from the heart of it all that you're not getting here in the mainstream media. We're showing you the truth of what's going on in the Middle East. We're based in Jerusalem for a good chunk of the year and also in DC, and we're bringing not only the hot stories about the security threats, Hamas, Hezbollah, ISIS, Iran, that affect not only Israel but America. Affect everyone in our country. Not only that, encouraging, uplifting stories that are happening right now in the Holy Land that people aren't hearing about. So we're having a lot of fun.

MIKE: Well, the like the fact that there's uplifting information mixed in with the scary stuff because we need a little bit of that. But speaking of scary stuff, Eric. I'm following you today, and I'm happy that you're available because I said I have to talk to Eric about this. You tweeted less than an hour ago arrest of two Hezbollah operatives of U.S. soil. On U.S. soil. What's going on?

ERIC: My big deal here is everyone wants to focus on James Comey, obviously, but this is a huge deal to my mind because I believe that Hezbollah is really the most dangerous terrorist organization in the world. And they're not just a terror group. This is a terrorist military. Well trained, well funded by Iran. And, look, two Hezbollah operatives as you said right here on U.S. soil. One based in Dearborn, Michigan which has the largest Arab population in the United States. Dearborn just outside of Detroit. And another man arrested in the Bronx, New York. And, Mike, what they wanted to do were allegedly scouting out terror targets right here on U.S. soil. The one Hezbollah operative was scouting out JFK international airport in New York. Another had paid a trip to Panama, was looking at the Panama canal and looking at U.S. and Israeli targets there.

So, look, this, to me, this is a step up in what Hezbollah is doing. We know they're embroiled in the Syrian civil war. Hezbollah has a major presence there. We know they're perched on the Syrian border with some 150,000, imagine that, rockets and missiles aimed at every inch of Israel. But, yes, this shows that Hezbollah has a presence right here on American soil. And people need to know that Hezbollah has more American blood on its hands than any other terrorist organization, other than al-Qaeda. Besides al-Qaeda, it's Hezbollah that's killed more Americans than any other terror group. Look no further than the 1983 marine barracks bombings. 243 U.S. Marines killed.

MIKE: Absolutely. Eric Stakelbeck is joining us. Jeez. I got a chill when you said the Bronx man associated with Hezbollah picked up scouting JFK. And I looked at it, and I thought, you know, somebody's going to say you're just a bunch of antiMuslim conspiracy nuts. Well, the story's in The New York Times, people. The New York freaking times. It's not conspiracy. This is the real deal. We have been fortunate. Fortunate not to have the kind of attacks that the European Community has had over the last couple of weeks. Although, you know, you can look at Orlando, you can look at San Bernardino, you can look at Ohio. You can look at all of the small attacks and say we're lucky it hasn't spread any further. But if someone's looking at the Panama canal and someone's looking at JFK, guess what they're doing, people? They're looking at transportation. They're looking at shutting down significant commercial transportation, which is what the Panama canal would do if it were attacked and JFK. Can you imagine a bigger trophy than to attack an airport with the initials JFK? I'm a little nervous, Eric. I'm a little nervous today.

ERIC: I'm ruining your weekend. No, in all seriousness, though, Mike. People need to remember here that Hezbollah is -- what makes them so dangerous is that they are funded, supported, armed, and trained by Iran.

MIKE: Thank you.

ERIC: They have a state, a powerful country behind them. That's a big deal. Hezbollah was created by Iran. To this day funded, armed as I said. And, look, this shows you the true face of the Iranian regime. Right now under the Obama administration, you probably would have not heard much about these arrests, and they would have pooh-poohed it and tried to ignore it. But we hope -- we're hoping that it's a new day now with a new administration that's taking a tougher line against Iran, and I think the big picture here, Mike, is that, yes, ISIS serious threat. Absolutely. They're here. The barbarians are here. Make no mistake about it in western Europe and the U.S. to a lesser degree, but they're here.

MIKE: Well, I have to say a quick moment of thank god that the men and women of our intelligence divisions, all the different intelligence groups and our first responders are tracking these people. And unlike we saw in London where they knew about them but did nothing, we're at least watching and apprehending and hopefully continue to prevent. Eric, before I let you out of here, you and I talked about this earlier in another place. What's your take on whether or not we will get the embassy, the American embassy and Israel moved from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem?

ERIC: Mike, great question. I think it eventually will be moved. Hopefully sooner rather than later. I and many others were disappointed when the embassy was not moved last month. I think right now that President Trump is giving a shot at number one, seeing if peace is possible between Israel and the Palestinians. Number two, I think that king Abdullah from Jordan, the visit he paid to the White House, that already had a big effect. What President Trump wants to do right now is kind of put together an Arab NATO, I guess you could call it with Saudi Arabia, Jordan, the gulf states, Egypt aligned alongside Israel against Iran and ISIS. Will that work? Hopefully that works. In terms of peace between Israel and Palestinians, I think the president's going to be in for a rude awakening because the Palestinians have showed no desire for peace or Israel's right to exist. So signed a six-month waiver not to move the embassy yet. But that was a campaign promise he made time and time again, so I'm sure that the pro Israel community here in the states and the Israeli government will really be holding him to that, and I think he will eventually move it.

MIKE: Well, the Christians, the evangelicals, as well as I would hope American Jews would support this and see what happens. Tonight 10:30 on TBN. Eric has The Watchman, and you have to watch The Watchman. Thank you, my friend. Hope to see you in person soon.

ERIC: I would love to, Mike. Take care.

MIKE: He's one of the good ones. Follow him on Twitter.

The Deep State's NEW plan to backstab Trump

Brandon Bell / Staff | Getty Images

We cannot make the same mistake we made in 2016 — celebrating victory while the deep state plots its next move.

In 2016, Donald Trump shocked the world by defeating Hillary Clinton. Conservatives cheered, believing we’d taken back the reins of our country. But we missed the bigger battle. We failed to recognize the extent of the damage caused by eight years of Barack Obama and decades of progressive entrenchment. The real war isn’t won at the ballot box. It’s being waged against an insidious force embedded deep within our institutions: the administrative state, or the “deep state.”

This isn’t a new problem. America’s founders foresaw it, though they didn’t have a term for “deep state” back in the 1700s. James Madison, in Federalist 48, warned us that combining legislative, executive, and judicial powers in the same hands is “the very definition of tyranny.” Yet today, that’s exactly where we stand. Unelected bureaucrats in agencies like the Environmental Protection Agency, the Department of Energy, and the Department of Justice hold more power than the officials we vote for. They control the levers of government with impunity, dictating policies and stifling change.

This is the fight for the soul of our nation. The founders’ vision of a constitutional republic is under siege.

We’ve felt the consequences of this growing tyranny firsthand. During COVID-19, so-called experts ran our lives, crushing civil liberties under the guise of public safety. Our intelligence agencies and justice system turned into weapons of political warfare, targeting a sitting president and his supporters. Meanwhile, actual criminals were given a pass, turning American cities into lawless war zones.

Thomas Jefferson wrote in 1816 that “the functionaries of every government have propensities to command at will the liberty and property of their constituents.” Today, we see Jefferson’s prophecy fulfilled. The deep state exercises unchecked power over our freedoms, and information itself is controlled by the fourth branch of government: the legacy media.

Even when we win elections, the deep state doesn’t concede defeat. It switches to survival mode. Trump’s first term proved this. Despite a historic mandate to dismantle the bureaucracy, the deep state fought back with everything it had: leaks, investigations, court rulings, and obstruction at every turn. And now, with the possibility of Trump returning to office, the deep state is preparing to do it again.

Progressives are laying out their attack plan — and they’re not even hiding it.

U.S. Rep. Wiley Nickel (D-N.C.) recently boasted about forming a “shadow cabinet” to govern alongside the deep state, regardless of who’s in the White House. Nickel called it “democracy’s insurance policy.” Let’s be clear: This isn’t insurance. It’s sabotage.

They’ll employ a “top down, bottom up, inside out” strategy to overwhelm and collapse any effort to reform the system. From the top, federal judges and shadow officials will block Trump’s every move. Governors in blue states like California and New York are gearing up to resist federal authority. During Trump’s first term, California filed over 100 lawsuits against his administration. Expect more of the same starting January 20.

From the bottom, progressive groups like the American Civil Liberties Union will flood the streets with protesters, much as they did to oppose Trump’s first-term immigration reforms. They’ve refined their tactics since 2016 and are prepared to unleash a wave of civil unrest. These aren’t spontaneous movements; they’re coordinated assaults designed to destabilize the administration.

Finally, from the inside, the deep state will continue its mission of self-preservation. Agencies will drag their feet, leak sensitive information, and undermine policies from within. Their goal is to make everything a chaotic mess, so the heart of their power — the bureaucratic core — remains untouched and grows stronger.

We cannot make the same mistake we made in 2016 — celebrating victory while the deep state plots its next move. Progressives never see themselves as losing. When they’re out of power, they simply shift tactics, pumping more blood into their bureaucratic heart. We may win elections, but the war against the deep state will only intensify. As George Washington warned in his Farewell Address, “Government is not reason, it is not eloquence — it is force; and force, like fire, is a dangerous servant and a fearful master.”

This is the fight for the soul of our nation. The founders’ vision of a constitutional republic is under siege. The deep state has shown us its plan: to govern from the shadows, circumventing the will of the people. But now that the shadows have been exposed, we have a choice. Will we accept this silent tyranny, or will we demand accountability and reclaim our nation’s heart?

The battle is just beginning. We can’t afford to lose.

Editor's Note: This article was originally published on TheBlaze.com.

Drone mystery exposes GLARING government incompetence

Gary Hershorn / Contributor | Getty Images

The drone issue is getting way out of hand.

Earlier this month, Glenn first reported on the mysterious drones stalking the night sky over New Jersey, but the situation is increasingly concerning as the sightings have escalated. Not only have drones been seen across the Northeast Coast, including over New York City, Maryland, and Pennsylvania, but recently, they have been spotted over the night skies of San Diego and other parts of Southern California.

It doesn't take an expert to identify the potential dangers and risks that dozens of undetectable, unidentified six-foot or larger drones pose to national security. Yet, our government's response has been one of unimaginable incompetence, leaving us to speculate on the origin and intention of these drones and wonder in astonishment at the government's ineptitude. Here are three examples of the government's lackluster response to the mystery drones:

Iranian Mothership and Missing Nuclear Warheads

- / Stringer | Getty Images

After several weeks of hubbub, New Jersey Representative, Jeff Van Drew gave an interview on Fox News where he claimed that the drones originated from an Iranian "mothership" off the East Coast of the United States. This theory has since been disproven by satellite images, which show that all Iranian drone carriers are far from U.S. shores. Another theory suggests that drones may be equipped with sensors capable of detecting nuclear material and that they are looking for a nuclear warhead that recently went missing! With these apocalyptic theories gaining traction in the absence of any real answer from our government, one can't help but question the motive behind the silence.

Pentagon's Limp Wristed Response

Alex Wong / Staff | Getty Images

In a recent press conference, national security spokesman John Kirby responded to reporters demanding answers about the government's lack of transparency, which has caused increasing public anxiety. He insisted that the drones did not pose a threat and were not assets of a foreign power, such as from Iran or China--even though he is still uncertain about their identity and origin. He also claimed that many of the sightings were simply misidentifications of normal aircraft.

This lackluster answer has only further inflamed national anxieties and raised even more questions. If the government is unsure of the identity of the drones, how do they know if they are a threat or if they aren't foreign assets? If they aren't foreign, does that mean they are U.S. assets? If so, why not just say so?

The Pentagon has also stated that they are leaving it up to local law enforcement to spearhead the investigation after concluding that these drones pose no threat to any military installation. This has left many feeling like the federal government has turned a blind eye to a serious issue that many Americans are very concerned about.

Where's Pete Buttigieg?

Chip Somodevilla / Staff | Getty Images

We are in the closing weeks of the Biden administration, and with the finish line in sight, Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg probably figured nothing else could go wrong on his watch—but boy was he wrong. As Secretary of Transportation, Buttigieg is in charge of the FAA, the agency responsible for managing all air traffic across the nation. One would think that mysterious, 6-foot-long, seemingly intractable drones are invisible on radar and flying above major cities would pose a serious threat to the myriad of legal aircraft that traverse our skies. Yet, Buttigieg has been silent on the issue, adding another failure to his resume which includes: malfunctioning airplanes, the train derailment in Ohio, and the Baltimore Key Bridge collapse, just to name a few.

Glenn: How Alvin Bragg turned hero Daniel Penny into a villain

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We cannot allow corrupt institutions to punish those who act to protect life and liberty.

America no longer has a single, shared understanding of justice. Two Americas now exist, each applying justice differently depending on who you are and where you live. One America, ruled by common sense and individual courage, praises heroes who stand up to protect others. The other, driven by political agendas and corrupted institutions, punishes those same heroes for daring to act.

This stark division couldn’t be clearer than in the case of Daniel Penny, the Marine whose trial in New York City this week drew strong reactions from both sides across the divided line of justice.

If we let this slide, we accept a world in which heroes are treated as criminals and the law is a weapon for ideological warfare.

Penny was on a subway train last year when Jordan Neely — a man suffering from severe mental illness and reportedly high on drugs — began threatening passengers, saying, “I’m going to kill you all.” The fear on that subway car was palpable, but nobody moved. Nobody, that is, until Penny did what needed to be done. He took action to protect innocent lives.

In the America many of us used to believe in, Penny’s response would be heralded as heroic. His actions mirrored the courage of Todd Beamer on Flight 93, who, on September 11, 2001, rallied others with the words, “Let’s roll,” to prevent further tragedy. But in New York, courage doesn’t seem to count anymore. There, the system turns heroes into villains.

Penny subdued Neely using a chokehold, intending only to restrain him, not kill him. Tragically, Neely died. Penny, filled with remorse, told the police he never meant to hurt anyone. Yet, instead of being recognized for protecting others from a clear and present threat, Penny stood trial for criminally negligent homicide.

In Alvin Bragg’s New York, justice bends to ideology. The Manhattan district attorney has made a career of weaponizing the law, selectively prosecuting those who don’t fit his narrative. He’s the same prosecutor who twisted legal precedent to go after Donald Trump on business charges no one had ever faced before. Then, he turned his sights on Daniel Penny.

A jury may have acquitted Penny, but what happened in New York City this week isn’t justice. When the rule of law changes depending on the defendant’s identity or the prosecutor's political motives, we’re no longer living in a free country. We’re living in a state where justice is a game, and ordinary Americans are the pawns.

The system failed Jordan Neely

It’s worth asking: Where were activists like Alvin Bragg when Neely was suffering on the streets? Jordan Neely was a tragic figure — a man with a long history of mental illness and over 40 arrests, including violent assaults. The system failed him long before he stepped onto that subway train. Yet rather than confront that uncomfortable truth, Bragg’s office decided to target the man who stepped in to prevent a tragedy.

This isn’t about justice. It’s about power. It’s about advancing a narrative where race and identity matter more than truth and common sense.

It’s time to demand change

The Daniel Penny case — and others like it — is a wake-up call. We cannot allow corrupt institutions to punish those who act to protect life and liberty. Americans must demand an end to politically driven prosecutions, hold DAs like Alvin Bragg accountable, and stand up for the principle that true justice is blind, consistent, and fair.

If we let this slide, we accept a world in which heroes are treated as criminals and the law is a weapon for ideological warfare. It’s time to choose which America we want to live in.

Editor's Note: This article was originally published on TheBlaze.com.

CEO Brian Thompson's killer reveals COWARDICE of the far-left death cult

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Early on the chilly morning of Wednesday, December 4th, Brian Thompson, CEO of health insurance giant, UnitedHealthcare, was walking through Midtown Manhattan on his way to a company conference. Suddenly, a masked and hooded figure silently allegedly stepped onto the sidewalk behind Thompson, drew a 3-D printed, silenced pistol, and without warning fired multiple shots into Thompson's back before fleeing the scene on an electric bicycle. After a multiple-day manhunt, a 26-year-old lead suspect was arrested at a McDonald's in Altoona, Pennsylvania after being recognized by an employee.

This was not "vigilante justice." This was cold-blooded murder.

As horrific as the murder of a husband and father in broad daylight in the center of New York City is, the story only gets worse. Even before the murder suspect was arrested, left-wing extremists were already taking to X to call him a "hero" and a "vigilante" who "took matters into his own hands." Even the mainstream media joined in on the glorification, as Glenn pointed out on air recently, going out of the way to show how physically attractive the murder suspect was. This wave of revolting and nihilistic fanfare came in response to the findings of online investigators who surmised the murder suspect's motives to retaliate against healthcare companies for corruption and denied coverage. The murder suspect supposedly underwent a major back surgery that left him with back pain, and some of his internet fans apparently viewed his murder of Thompson as retribution for the mistreatment that he and many other Americans have suffered from healthcare companies.

The murder suspect and his lackeys don't seem to understand that, other than depriving two children of their father right before Christmas, he accomplished nothing.

The murder suspect failed to achieve his goal because he was too cowardly to try.

If the murder suspect's goals were truly to "right the wrongs" of the U.S. healthcare system, he had every tool available to him to do so in a constructive and meaningful manner. He came from a wealthy and prominent family in the Baltimore area, became the valedictorian at a prestigious all-boys prep school, and graduated from the University of Pennsylvania with a master's in engineering. Clearly, the murder suspect was intelligent and capable, and if he had put his talent into creating solutions for the healthcare industry, who knows what he could have accomplished?

This is the kind of behavior the far-left idolizes, like communists on college campuses who wear shirts that celebrate the brutal Cuban warlord, Che Guevara. Merchandise celebrating the UnitedHealthcare CEO murder suspect is already available, including shirts, hoodies, mugs, and even Christmas ornaments. Will they be sporting his face on their T-shirts too?

This macabre behavior does not breed creation, achievement, success, or life. It only brings death and risks more Americans falling into this dangerous paradigm. But we still have a chance to choose life. We just have to wake up and take it.