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The Subtle War: Radical Ideologies in US Universities
A student protester parades a Palestinian flag outside the entrance to Hamilton Hall on the campus of Columbia University, in New York, U.S., April 30, 2024. Photo: Mary Altaffer/Pool via REUTERS
In the complex landscape of US higher education, a critical issue that often goes unexamined is the influence of radical ideologies on the academic and social environments. American students and some faculty advocates display a concerning naivety towards the ideologies they endorse, frequently lacking a comprehensive understanding of radical Islamic terrorism, fanaticism, Khomeinism, Shiite terrorism, the Muslim Brotherhood, and the extensive networks of transnational terrorism. This lack of awareness fosters an environment ripe for the spread of these harmful ideologies, which have been deeply rooted in American universities for decades.
The roots of this ideological infiltration trace back to the 1960s and 1970s, when Marxist-Leninist and Islamic leftists mounted significant protests against the Shah of Iran, then America’s steadfast ally in the Middle East, among others. These events marked a critical and consequential shift in international relations and Iran’s internal policies, notably when President Jimmy Carter initially praised Khomeini.
The tumultuous events of 1979 transformed Iran from a nation celebrated for its 7,000-year-old civilization into one subjected to religious and political Islamic tyranny. This shift endangered not only Iran’s cultural heritage and populace, but also destabilized the Middle East and escalated threats to global security. A severe miscalculation in Washington was the assumption that radical Islam could serve as a strategic countermeasure against the Soviet Union — a naive belief that overlooked the existing collaborations between various Islamic terrorist groups and Soviet interests, including those led by figures like Yasser Arafat.
This underestimation allowed radical ideologies, especially Khomeinism, empowered by Western miscalculations, to proliferate globally. Ironically, the Khomeini regime began its international engagement with an act of aggression — hostage-taking — which sharply contradicted the supportive expectations of figures like Carter.
Within the United States, several academics and students actively propagated these ideologies, sowing seeds of discord and demonstrating a profound ignorance of the destructive nature of the doctrines they espoused.
Over the past four and a half decades, the repercussions of these ideologies have been severe. Wars, chaos, and political instability have increased, supplanting what were once opportunities for peace and cooperation. Educational institutions, which should be bastions of learning and enlightenment, have at times devolved into platforms for promoting and defending reactionary and destructive ideologies. This has not only compromised the academic integrity of these institutions but also endangered the future of many young Americans, who remain largely unaware of the true nature of the forces shaping their perceptions.
Today, the regime of Iran’s dictator, Ayatollah Khamenei, continues to exploit these ideological vulnerabilities. His regime’s brutality and suppression of dissent find a perverse reflection in the turmoil apparent in American universities. The recent protests in Iran, resulting in the deaths of 700 individuals and the severe injury or imprisonment of hundreds more, starkly demonstrate the regime’s ruthless tactics. Alarmingly, these actions resonate with certain American student groups that unwittingly champion the causes of such a tyrannical regime.
This phenomenon raises pressing questions: Do these students truly understand the forces they support? Are they aware of the consequences of their actions? The support for entities like Hamas and the display of Hezbollah flags not only contravenes US policy, which categorically rejects terrorism, but also threatens the very principles of American democracy.
The infiltration of radical ideology into US and European educational and cultural institutions is not just widespread, but deeply ingrained. These entities are active not only in universities but also permeate the media, lobbying groups, research centers, think tanks, and even religious institutions. This deep-seated engagement poses a severe risk to the democratic fabric of American society, a risk that is compounded by the widespread nature of this infiltration and the subtlety with which it operates.
Moreover, the role of international media in educating the public about these dangers is often compromised, as it falls prey to the same propaganda it should be critiquing.
Furthermore, the ideological battle between Iran and the West is not confined to military or physical confrontations; it is a deeper, more pervasive war that seeks to undermine social norms, cultural heritage, and historical narratives. The youth in America, influenced by these sinister forces, are often caught up in disturbances that threaten not only their future but also the stability and security of the nation they call home.
For the youth of America, and indeed to all who value democracy and freedom, it is imperative to scrutinize the lessons history offers. Iran, once a beacon of culture and prosperity, now lies in ruins — a stark testament to the destructive power of radical ideologies. The Iranian people endure perpetual turmoil, with their resources squandered on sustaining terrorist activities that bring them nothing but suffering and despair.
Reflecting on these developments, it is clear that the challenges we face are not just about combating overt acts of terrorism, but involve recognizing and countering the subtle, pervasive spread of an ideology that seeks to destroy from within. It is about standing firm against propaganda, recognizing the true nature of our enemies, and ensuring that the values of liberty and democracy are upheld. The struggle is daunting but essential for the preservation of our way of life and the protection of future generations.
In this critical moment, let us recall the wisdom of our Founding Fathers and strive to protect the principles they established. Observing the misuse of these freedoms to promote terrorism and radical ideologies, particularly in educational institutions like Princeton where Hezbollah flags have been seen, is deeply troubling. These actions betray the principles upon which our nation was founded and on which it must continue to stand.
Erfan Fard is a counterterrorism analyst and Middle East Studies researcher based in Washington, DC. Twitter@EQFARD.
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Trump Picks Massad Boulos to Serve as Adviser on Arab, Middle Eastern Affairs
Eric Trump, his sister Tiffany Trump and her boyfriend Massad Boulos arrive for U.S. President Donald Trump’s acceptance speech as the 2020 Republican presidential nominee during the final event of the 2020 Republican National Convention on the South Lawn of the White House in Washington, U.S., August 27, 2020. Photo: REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque/File Photo
US President-elect Donald Trump on Sunday said Lebanese American businessman Massad Boulos would serve as senior adviser on Arab and Middle Eastern affairs.
Trump made the announcement on Truth Social. Boulos, the father-in-law of Trump’s daughter Tiffany, met repeatedly with Arab American and Muslim leaders during the election campaign.
It was the second time in recent days that Trump chose the father-in-law of one of his children to serve in his administration.
On Saturday, Trump said that he had picked his son-in-law Jared Kushner’s father, real estate mogul Charles Kushner, to serve as US ambassador to France.
In recent months, Boulos campaigned for Trump to drum up Lebanese and Arab American support, even as the US-backed Israel’s military campaign against Hezbollah in Lebanon.
Boulos has powerful roots in both countries.
His father and grandfather were both figures in Lebanese politics and his father-in-law was a key funder of the Free Patriotic Movement, a Christian party aligned with Hezbollah.
His son Michael and Tiffany Trump were married in an elaborate ceremony at Trump’s Florida Mar-a-Lago Club in November 2022, after getting engaged in the White House Rose Garden during Trump’s first term.
Boulos has been in touch with interlocutors across Lebanon’s multi-polar political world, three sources who spoke to him in recent months say, a rare feat in Lebanon, where decades-old rivalries between factions run deep.
Particularly notable is his ability to maintain relations with Hezbollah, they say. The Iranian-backed Shi’ite Muslim party has a large number of seats in Lebanon’s parliament and ministers in the government.
Boulos is a friend of Suleiman Frangieh, a Christian ally of Hezbollah and its candidate for Lebanon’s presidency. He is also in touch with the Lebanese Forces Party, a vehemently anti-Hezbollah Christian faction, the sources say, and has ties to independent lawmakers.
Aron Lund, fellow at the Century Foundation think tank, said Boulos was well placed to influence Trump’s Middle East policy after playing a small but significant role in expanding Trump’s appeal to Arab American and Muslim voters during the campaign.
“Boulos’ Lebanese political past gives no real indication of a geo-strategic or even national vision, but it demonstrates ambition and a set of political allies that will stand out in Trump’s circle like a sore thumb,” Lund wrote.
MICHIGAN WIN
Boulos, a billionaire with extensive business ties in Nigeria, was born in Lebanon, but moved to Texas as a teenager, where he attended the University of Houston, earned a law degree and became a US citizen.
His son and Trump’s daughter, whose mother is Trump’s second wife Marla Maples, met on the Greek island of Mykonos, at actor Lindsay Lohan’s club, People Magazine reported in 2022.
Trump’s election win in Michigan came in part because of Boulos’ help flipping some of the 300,000 Arab Americans and Muslims in the state who overwhelmingly supported Biden in 2020 but opposed Biden’s policies in Israel, Gaza and Lebanon, Trump campaign officials and supporters told Reuters.
“Boulos played a big role in the outreach to Muslim voters,” said Rabiul Chowdhury, co-founder of Muslims for Trump.
Beginning in September, the Trump campaign held weekly meetings in person and via Zoom with dozens of Arab American and Muslim civic leaders and business executives.
Boulos spent weeks on the ground in Michigan, Pennsylvania and other states with big Arab American and Muslim populations, assuring audiences in private lunches and dinners that tapped his own connections to Lebanese American businessmen that Trump was committed to ending the wars in the Middle East.
The Trump campaign spent tens of millions of dollars on the effort to mobilize Arab American and Muslim voters, Boulos told Reuters in an interview shortly after the election.
Trump won endorsements from Muslim imams and the Muslim mayor of Hamtramck, another town near Detroit with a large Arab American population, as well as the large Bangladeshi community, and courted Iraqi Americans, Albanian Americans and others.
While the events on the ground in Lebanon played a factor, the economy did too. And conservative Arabs and Muslims were concerned about what they saw as the Democrats’ “far left ideology,” including support of transgender rights, Boulos said.
Boulos met with members of the 150,000 strong Albanian community in Michigan.
POLITICAL AMBITIONS?
The new role could offer Boulos the kind of political clout he could not achieve in Lebanon. He had a brief run for Lebanon’s parliament in 2018 alongside pro-Hezbollah candidates, but since then he has not consistently aligned himself with any particular party, sources in Lebanon said.He hails from a Greek Orthodox family. In Lebanon’s sectarian powersharing system, that would cap his chances at a senior role in government at the level of deputy speaker of parliament. The post of president – the highest Christian role in the country – is reserved for Maronite Catholics.
While he used to travel to Lebanon frequently, he has not visited in the last four years, one of the sources said.
Some people in Lebanon were hopeful about the prospects of having a friendly face in Trump’s inner circle even before the announcement on Sunday.
“It’s a nice thing – and hopefully he will work for Lebanon. And Trump maybe is of the type who makes a promise and could possibly be more loyal to it than others,” said Hamdi Hawallah, a Lebanese man in his late 70s.
“So we’re optimistic about him. These days we hold on to a piece of driftwood just to be optimistic.”
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Dubai Rabbi’s Killers Said to Be Planning Attack in Thailand
Zvi Kogan. Photo: LinkedIn via i24 News
JNS.org – The terrorist enterprise responsible for the murder of Rabbi Tzvi Kogan in Dubai is planning fresh attacks in southeast Asia and especially Thailand, Israeli authorities warned on Saturday.
“Intelligence suggests that the terrorist infrastructure that perpetrated the murder of Rabbi Tvzi Kogan in Dubai is planning additional terrorist activities,” according to a statement by Israel’s National Security Council. “Relevant security forces estimate this will happen in southeast Asia and especially Thailand,” the statement read.
Kogan’s body was found on Nov. 24. Local authorities arrested three men, all of them Uzbek nationals. Israeli authorities believe the murder may be linked to Iran, which has denied any involvement.
Hebrew media reported on Sunday that an Israeli tourist was assaulted by several Germans in Thailand.
The backpacker, identified only as Ilai, 22, told Ynet that the incident took place on Saturday night in Pai, a town situated about 800 kilometers (500 miles) north of Bangkok. Four Germans in their 20s asked him if he was Israeli and then punched him, leading to a scuffle, he said.
Ilai, a recently discharged Israel Defense Forces soldier who fought in Gaza, fought off his attackers and sustained only minor injuries, according to the report. He decided not to file a police complaint, he said, fearing this would complicate the rest of his stay in Thailand.
The Israeli government raised the threat level for travel in Thailand to level two on Nov. 24, meaning that it perceives a “potential threat,” and recommended that travelers “take increased precautionary measures.” It also maintained its “high threat” level-four advisory against travel in southern Thailand. Israelis in Thailand are advised not to display Israeli or Jewish symbols and avoid congregating with other Israelis.
The new security advice stopped short of calling on Israel to leave Thailand or avoid it.
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Israel Says It Killed Oct. 7 Attack Suspect Who Worked for US-Based Charity
Illustrative. Smoke billows over the city of Khan Younis in Gaza during an IDF ground assault. Photo: Reuters/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa
The Israeli military said on Saturday it had killed a terrorist who took part in the Oct. 7, 2023 Hamas attacks on Israel and who it said was employed by a US-based charity, World Central Kitchen, in Gaza.
The family of the man, Ahed Azmi Qdeih, said the Israeli allegations were false and meant to justify his unlawful killing. They said he was an engineer who dedicated his life to charitable work.
The military said that he had taken part in the attack on Kibbutz Nir Oz in southern Israel and was under surveillance but did not offer any evidence. Reuters could not independently verify whether he took part in the attack last year.
World Central Kitchen confirmed the airstrike and said it had no knowledge about an employee involved in the Oct. 7, 2023 attack.
“We are heartbroken to share that a vehicle carrying World Central Kitchen colleagues was hit by an Israeli airstrike in Gaza,” it said in a statement posted on X. “World Central Kitchen had no knowledge that any individual in the vehicle had alleged ties to the October 7th Hamas attack.”
The charity group said it was pausing operations in Gaza, adding that it was working with incomplete information and was urgently seeking more details.
Hamas did not immediately comment.
The official Palestinian news agency WAFA reported that three employees of the charity were killed when an Israeli strike targeted a vehicle in Khan Younis, southern Gaza. Medics said a total of five people were killed.
In a later attack in Khan Younis, medics said at least nine Palestinians were killed when an Israeli airstrike hit a car near a crowd receiving flour, a vehicle that was used by security personnel tasked with overseeing aid deliveries into Gaza.
The Israeli military says that it does not target civilians and accuses Hamas of operating from civilian facilities and using Gaza’s population as human shields, which the group denies.
NEW CEASEFIRE EFFORTS
Meanwhile, leaders of Hamas were expected to arrive in Cairo on Saturday for ceasefire talks with Egyptian officials, days after Israel and Hezbollah agreed to a ceasefire in Lebanon, two officials of the group told Reuters.
The visit is the first since the United States announced earlier this week it would revive efforts in collaboration with Qatar, Egypt, and Turkey to negotiate a ceasefire in Gaza.
The Hamas delegation is expected to meet with Egyptian security officials to explore ways to reach a ceasefire deal with Israel that could secure the release of hostages in return for Palestinian prisoners.
Progress before now has been limited in a series of on-off talks over months.
Hamas is seeking an agreement that would end the war while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that the war will end only when Hamas is eradicated.
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