By Todd Bensman, originally published January 21, 2019 in PJ Media A few years ago, a Texas resident who was born, raised, and educated in my state of Texas -- and whose parents, ex-wife, and four children still reside here -- reportedly became the chief propagandist for ISIS in Syria. John Thomas Georgelas, son of a prosperous U.S. Air Force doctor, ascended to his senior position because the … [Read more...] about What Happened to the Texan Who Became the Goebbels of ISIS?
Terrorism and Homeland Security
Exclusive Report: A Promised Panama Investigation of Iran-Hezbollah for ’94 Plane Bombing Likely Suppressed
On a reporting trip to Panama in December 2018, Bensman checked up on a promised investigation of Iranian-Hezbollah involvement in the 1994 bombing of Las Chiricanas Flight 901, which killed 12 Panamanian Jews. He came home with strong doubts that any such investigation was happening. As published in The Federalist January 23, 2019 See November 9, 2020 … [Read more...] about Exclusive Report: A Promised Panama Investigation of Iran-Hezbollah for ’94 Plane Bombing Likely Suppressed
Every Last One: Another Prosecution of the Garland, Texas Terror Attack Starts Next Month
Published by PJ Media On May 3, 2015, Garland Police Officer Gregory Stevens stood his ground when two heavily armed, ISIS-inspired terrorists jumped out of their car with a plan to murder everyone they could at a free-speech event: A “Draw the Prophet Mohammed” contest. It happened at the Curtis Caldwell Performing Arts Center entrance Stevens was assigned to guard as an off-duty job. … [Read more...] about Every Last One: Another Prosecution of the Garland, Texas Terror Attack Starts Next Month
The Federalist: A forgotten jihadist beheader in Oklahoma cleared for execution; There is always time to remember
The Alton Nolen case is very much worth remembering, along with all terror attacks that occur on U.S. soil, not just for the victims and their survivors but for lessons that must be learned. Todd Bensman, for The Federalist This fall, the U.S. Supreme Court essentially cemented the execution of America’s least known Islamic terrorist. Jihadist convert Alton Nolen is now set to be put to … [Read more...] about The Federalist: A forgotten jihadist beheader in Oklahoma cleared for execution; There is always time to remember
When Terrorists Learned ‘Lawfare’ Works: A Memory Triggered by The Holy Land Foundation Trial’s 10-Year Anniversary
In November, a writer for the American Thinker called to ask for my recollections about covering the trials and tribulations of what is often described as the largest terrorist fundraising operation in U.S. history. It hadn’t occurred to me, but the 10-year anniversary of the “Holy Land Foundation Five” convictions in a Dallas federal courtroom has unexpectedly arrived. The call from the … [Read more...] about When Terrorists Learned ‘Lawfare’ Works: A Memory Triggered by The Holy Land Foundation Trial’s 10-Year Anniversary
Part III: Hezbollah’s Clandestine Terror Wing in America: the Michigan Mystery
This is the third installment of a series derived from two ongoing federal court prosecutions of individuals who allegedly worked as undercover operatives for Iranian Hezbollah’s notorious “Unit 910” foreign terrorist wing. Part I and Part II delivered revelations about U.S. assassination and target surveillance activities of Bronx-based Lebanese immigrant Ali Kourani. This … [Read more...] about Part III: Hezbollah’s Clandestine Terror Wing in America: the Michigan Mystery
Part II of III Hezbollah’s ‘Unit 910’ in America: A Treasure Hunt for Fake Docs, Weapons, Explosives
As a card-carrying, read-in intelligence operative for Hezbollah’s noxious foreign terrorism wing, Ali Kourani was expected to do far more than videotape a Manhattan armory and gather names of Jewish businessmen from LinkedIn to knock off one day (as reported in Part I of this series). He was expected to keep his killing skills sharp. In Part I, I revealed part of what Kourani -- a … [Read more...] about Part II of III Hezbollah’s ‘Unit 910’ in America: A Treasure Hunt for Fake Docs, Weapons, Explosives
Part I of III Hezbollah’s ‘Unit 910’ in America: Recruitment, Targeting Jews, and a Building with a Doorman
Because revelatory cases like these come around so rarely, this series seeks to underline what was missed or under-emphasized by traditional media coverage -- and also to put what wasn’t missed into proper context from a homeland security perspective. This series of reports is based on a review and analysis of hundreds of publicly filed court records from the ongoing federal prosecution of alleged … [Read more...] about Part I of III Hezbollah’s ‘Unit 910’ in America: Recruitment, Targeting Jews, and a Building with a Doorman
Terror in Paradise: Trinidad and Tobago Is Now a Jihad Hotspot
The Ministry of Tourism for the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago hosts a website extolling the many exquisite charms of the “true Caribbean” to be found there. The islands offer rich history, culture, biodiversity, and lodging with views “to die for.” Of late, though, a diaspora of Trinidad and Tobago emigres have preferred the views in Syria and Iraq, and the company of Islamic terrorist … [Read more...] about Terror in Paradise: Trinidad and Tobago Is Now a Jihad Hotspot
Hezbollah South of the Border: A Rare U.S. Government Update with Bombs in Bolivia, Busts in Peru, Spying in Panama, Pressure in Paraguay
As a working journalist in 2007, I traveled to Nicaragua to find out why Iran had just set up shop in the country after the election of U.S nemesis President Daniel Ortega. In Managua, I found the Iranian compound in a posh neighborhood, guarded by a coterie of Nicaraguan troops. For about three days, I episodically knocked on the tall metal gates asking to interview the new Iranian … [Read more...] about Hezbollah South of the Border: A Rare U.S. Government Update with Bombs in Bolivia, Busts in Peru, Spying in Panama, Pressure in Paraguay