Todd Bensman

From Journalism to Counterterrorism Intelligence - and Back.

Terrorism Coverage

The Hero Texas Cop Who Killed Two ISIS Terrorists Mid-Attack

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JUNE 16, 2016 BY TODD BENSMAN I enjoyed the honor of nominating Garland Police Department Officer Gregory Stevens for the Texas Department of Public Safety’s “Director’s Award,” the agency’s highest for non-DPS personnel, for his heroic actions of May 3, 2015 and then the satisfaction of witnessing his receipt of it to a crowded, standing ovation. It happened at DPS headquarters this … [Read more...] about The Hero Texas Cop Who Killed Two ISIS Terrorists Mid-Attack

Iran Reaches Out to Mexico

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April 9, 2009 The Global Post After strengthening ties with other Latin American countries, Iran pushes for closer ties with Mexico. SAN ANTONIO, Tex. — While U.S. leaders remain fixated on Mexico’s drug war, Iran has quietly sought to establish closer ties to Mexico, with almost no notice. Over the last year, Iran has been pushing for an expansion of trade and diplomatic ties … [Read more...] about Iran Reaches Out to Mexico

Iran’s Push into Nicaragua

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Bensman at Rama Indian village, Mosquito Coast For Hearst Newspapers MONKEY POINT, NICARAGUA -- The second military helicopter in as many days hovered over the jungle and then landed to a most unwelcome reception from several dozen angry Rama Indian and Creole villagers. Rupert Allen Clear Duncan, a leader of some 400 Creole who live along the shoreline,confronted the foreigners, who … [Read more...] about Iran’s Push into Nicaragua

The Quiet American

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Ever since fellow agents accused Gamal Abdel Hafiz of refusing to wear a wire to record other Muslims, one of the nation's best counter-terrorism agents lived a nightmare in the glare of the national media. Trouble was; the claims were never true, a small fact that was left out - until now. Gamal Abdel-Hafiz was once one of the most valuable counter-terrorism assets the FBI had. He turned up … [Read more...] about The Quiet American

Feds uncover Palestinian family’s plot to kill officer and agent

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The ruthless mprisoned leader of a Palestinian crime family tried not once but twice to contract the assassinations of the officers who put one of the nation's most prolific retail theft rings out of business. It was an operation with terrorist ties involving a family that hated America FORT WORTH, Texas – At home and off duty, Fort Worth Police Detective Scott Campbell never lets two … [Read more...] about Feds uncover Palestinian family’s plot to kill officer and agent

Feds cite rare justification: local Syrian man should be deported for ties to Muslim Brotherhood

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The U.S. government's tactic in Dallas set a precedent because federal authorities have never formally designated the Muslim Brotherhood as a terrorist organization. And so, while membership and support is not illegal, the government's willingness to cite the Muslim Brotherhood could be politically meaningful more than a decade later. In a rare public assertion, the U.S. government is … [Read more...] about Feds cite rare justification: local Syrian man should be deported for ties to Muslim Brotherhood

British Islamic extremism propaganda sites linked to Texas brothers going through terror trial

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A 2005 reporting trip to Birmingham, England (long before the township was noted for Islamic extremism) showed that a radical Islamist web magazine published there was hosted by a North Texas Internet company owned by three Palestinian brothers on trial in Dallas. A story at odds with defense claims that the brothers were never sympathetic to Islamic extremism BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - A radical … [Read more...] about British Islamic extremism propaganda sites linked to Texas brothers going through terror trial

Wives of Holy Land Foundation terrorists to be deported

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In the absence of media coverage and in the quiet of virtually empty Dallas immigration courtrooms, a government effort was underway to remove more Holy Land Foundation supporters from the country After years of counter-terror investigations, indictments and, this year, winning convictions at trial, the U.S. government in North Texas is not finished with the Elashi family. The government … [Read more...] about Wives of Holy Land Foundation terrorists to be deported

Texas Muslims host Ayatollah Khomeini tribute attended by “mainstream” Muslim leaders

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In 2004, a North Texas Muslim organization staged a fateful "tribute" conference honoring the life and works of the "Great Islamic Visionary" Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini. One of the scheduled speakers, Mohamad Elibiari, became a prominent national security adviser who occupied the spotlight as a Muslim civil rights "spokesman" until journalist Patrick Poole saw this story and began reporting on … [Read more...] about Texas Muslims host Ayatollah Khomeini tribute attended by “mainstream” Muslim leaders