The Barbarians Are Here: Two Terrorists Caught on US Soil

June 09, 2017

Contributor

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.

'Rage against the dying of the light': Charlie Kirk lived that mandate

PHILL MAGAKOE / Contributor | Getty Images

Kirk’s tragic death challenges us to rise above fear and anger, to rebuild bridges where others build walls, and to fight for the America he believed in.

I’ve only felt this weight once before. It was 2001, just as my radio show was about to begin. The World Trade Center fell, and I was called to speak immediately. I spent the day and night by my bedside, praying for words that could meet the moment.

Yesterday, I found myself in the same position. September 11, 2025. The assassination of Charlie Kirk. A friend. A warrior for truth.

Out of this tragedy, the tyrant dies, but the martyr’s influence begins.

Moments like this make words feel inadequate. Yet sometimes, words from another time speak directly to our own. In 1947, Dylan Thomas, watching his father slip toward death, penned lines that now resonate far beyond his own grief:

Do not go gentle into that good night. / Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Thomas was pleading for his father to resist the impending darkness of death. But those words have become a mandate for all of us: Do not surrender. Do not bow to shadows. Even when the battle feels unwinnable.

Charlie Kirk lived that mandate. He knew the cost of speaking unpopular truths. He knew the fury of those who sought to silence him. And yet he pressed on. In his life, he embodied a defiance rooted not in anger, but in principle.

Picking up his torch

Washington, Jefferson, Adams — our history was started by men who raged against an empire, knowing the gallows might await. Lincoln raged against slavery. Martin Luther King Jr. raged against segregation. Every generation faces a call to resist surrender.

It is our turn. Charlie’s violent death feels like a knockout punch. Yet if his life meant anything, it means this: Silence in the face of darkness is not an option.

He did not go gently. He spoke. He challenged. He stood. And now, the mantle falls to us. To me. To you. To every American.

We cannot drift into the shadows. We cannot sit quietly while freedom fades. This is our moment to rage — not with hatred, not with vengeance, but with courage. Rage against lies, against apathy, against the despair that tells us to do nothing. Because there is always something you can do.

Even small acts — defiance, faith, kindness — are light in the darkness. Reaching out to those who mourn. Speaking truth in a world drowning in deceit. These are the flames that hold back the night. Charlie carried that torch. He laid it down yesterday. It is ours to pick up.

The light may dim, but it always does before dawn. Commit today: I will not sleep as freedom fades. I will not retreat as darkness encroaches. I will not be silent as evil forces claim dominion. I have no king but Christ. And I know whom I serve, as did Charlie.

Two turning points, decades apart

On Wednesday, the world changed again. Two tragedies, separated by decades, bound by the same question: Who are we? Is this worth saving? What kind of people will we choose to be?

Imagine a world where more of us choose to be peacemakers. Not passive, not silent, but builders of bridges where others erect walls. Respect and listening transform even the bitterest of foes. Charlie Kirk embodied this principle.

He did not strike the weak; he challenged the powerful. He reached across divides of politics, culture, and faith. He changed hearts. He sparked healing. And healing is what our nation needs.

At the center of all this is one truth: Every person is a child of God, deserving of dignity. Change will not happen in Washington or on social media. It begins at home, where loneliness and isolation threaten our souls. Family is the antidote. Imperfect, yes — but still the strongest source of stability and meaning.

Mark Wilson / Staff | Getty Images

Forgiveness, fidelity, faithfulness, and honor are not dusty words. They are the foundation of civilization. Strong families produce strong citizens. And today, Charlie’s family mourns. They must become our family too. We must stand as guardians of his legacy, shining examples of the courage he lived by.

A time for courage

I knew Charlie. I know how he would want us to respond: Multiply his courage. Out of this tragedy, the tyrant dies, but the martyr’s influence begins. Out of darkness, great and glorious things will sprout — but we must be worthy of them.

Charlie Kirk lived defiantly. He stood in truth. He changed the world. And now, his torch is in our hands. Rage, not in violence, but in unwavering pursuit of truth and goodness. Rage against the dying of the light.

This article originally appeared on TheBlaze.com.

Glenn Beck resurrects the 9-12 Project to support Charlie Kirk's family

Glenn Beck is once again calling on his loyal listeners and viewers to come together and channel the same unity and purpose that defined the historic 9-12 Project. That movement, born in the wake of national challenges, brought millions together to revive core values of faith, hope, and charity.

Glenn created the original 9-12 Project in early 2009 to bring Americans back to where they were in the wake of the 9/11 attacks. In those moments, we weren't Democrats and Republicans, conservative or liberal, Red States or Blue States, we were united as one, as America. The original 9-12 Project aimed to root America back in the founding principles of this country that united us during those darkest of days.

This new initiative draws directly from that legacy, focusing on supporting the family of Charlie Kirk in these dark days following his tragic murder.

The revival of the 9-12 Project aims to secure the long-term well-being of Charlie Kirk's wife and children. All donations will go straight to meeting their immediate and future needs. If the family deems the funds surplus to their requirements, Charlie's wife has the option to redirect them toward the vital work of Turning Point USA.

This campaign is more than just financial support—it's a profound gesture of appreciation for Kirk's tireless dedication to the cause of liberty. It embodies the unbreakable bond of our community, proving that when we stand united, we can make a real difference.
Glenn Beck invites you to join this effort. Show your solidarity by donating today and honoring Charlie Kirk and his family in this meaningful way.

You can learn more about the 9-12 Project and donate HERE

The dangerous lie: Rights as government privileges, not God-given

Bloomberg / Contributor | Getty Images

When politicians claim that rights flow from the state, they pave the way for tyranny.

Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) recently delivered a lecture that should alarm every American. During a Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing, he argued that believing rights come from a Creator rather than government is the same belief held by Iran’s theocratic regime.

Kaine claimed that the principles underpinning Iran’s dictatorship — the same regime that persecutes Sunnis, Jews, Christians, and other minorities — are also the principles enshrined in our Declaration of Independence.

In America, rights belong to the individual. In Iran, rights serve the state.

That claim exposes either a profound misunderstanding or a reckless indifference to America’s founding. Rights do not come from government. They never did. They come from the Creator, as the Declaration of Independence proclaims without qualification. Jefferson didn’t hedge. Rights are unalienable — built into every human being.

This foundation stands worlds apart from Iran. Its leaders invoke God but grant rights only through clerical interpretation. Freedom of speech, property, religion, and even life itself depend on obedience to the ruling clerics. Step outside their dictates, and those so-called rights vanish.

This is not a trivial difference. It is the essence of liberty versus tyranny. In America, rights belong to the individual. The government’s role is to secure them, not define them. In Iran, rights serve the state. They empower rulers, not the people.

From Muhammad to Marx

The same confusion applies to Marxist regimes. The Soviet Union’s constitutions promised citizens rights — work, health care, education, freedom of speech — but always with fine print. If you spoke out against the party, those rights evaporated. If you practiced religion openly, you were charged with treason. Property and voting were allowed as long as they were filtered and controlled by the state — and could be revoked at any moment. Rights were conditional, granted through obedience.

Kaine seems to be advocating a similar approach — whether consciously or not. By claiming that natural rights are somehow comparable to sharia law, he ignores the critical distinction between inherent rights and conditional privileges. He dismisses the very principle that made America a beacon of freedom.

Jefferson and the founders understood this clearly. “We are endowed by our Creator with certain unalienable rights,” they wrote. No government, no cleric, no king can revoke them. They exist by virtue of humanity itself. The government exists to protect them, not ration them.

This is not a theological quibble. It is the entire basis of our government. Confuse the source of rights, and tyranny hides behind piety or ideology. The people are disempowered. Clerics, bureaucrats, or politicians become arbiters of what rights citizens may enjoy.

John Greim / Contributor | Getty Images

Gifts from God, not the state

Kaine’s statement reflects either a profound ignorance of this principle or an ideological bias that favors state power over individual liberty. Either way, Americans must recognize the danger. Understanding the origin of rights is not academic — it is the difference between freedom and submission, between the American experiment and theocratic or totalitarian rule.

Rights are not gifts from the state. They are gifts from God, secured by reason, protected by law, and defended by the people. Every American must understand this. Because when rights come from government instead of the Creator, freedom disappears.

This article originally appeared on TheBlaze.com.

POLL: Is America’s next generation trading freedom for equity?

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A recent poll conducted by Justin Haskins, a long-time friend of the show, has uncovered alarming trends among young Americans aged 18-39, revealing a generation grappling with deep frustrations over economic hardships, housing affordability, and a perceived rigged system that favors the wealthy, corporations, and older generations. While nearly half of these likely voters approve of President Trump, seeing him as an anti-establishment figure, over 70% support nationalizing major industries, such as healthcare, energy, and big tech, to promote "equity." Shockingly, 53% want a democratic socialist to win the 2028 presidential election, including a third of Trump voters and conservatives in this age group. Many cite skyrocketing housing costs, unfair taxation on the middle class, and a sense of being "stuck" or in crisis as driving forces, with 62% believing the economy is tilted against them and 55% backing laws to confiscate "excess wealth" like second homes or luxury items to help first-time buyers.

This blend of Trump support and socialist leanings suggests a volatile mix: admiration for disruptors who challenge the status quo, coupled with a desire for radical redistribution to address personal struggles. Yet, it raises profound questions about the roots of this discontent—Is it a failure of education on history's lessons about socialism's failures? Media indoctrination? Or genuine systemic barriers? And what does it portend for the nation’s trajectory—greater division, a shift toward authoritarian policies, or an opportunity for renewal through timeless values like hard work and individual responsibility?

Glenn wants to know what YOU think: Where do Gen Z's socialist sympathies come from? What does it mean for the future of America? Make your voice heard in the poll below:

Do you believe the Gen Z support for socialism comes from perceived economic frustrations like unaffordable housing and a rigged system favoring the wealthy and corporations?

Do you believe the Gen Z support for socialism, including many Trump supporters, is due to a lack of education about the historical failures of socialist systems?

Do you think that these poll results indicate a growing generational divide that could lead to more political instability and authoritarian tendencies in America's future?

Do you think that this poll implies that America's long-term stability relies on older generations teaching Gen Z and younger to prioritize self-reliance, free-market ideals, and personal accountability?

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