The United States was founded on Enlightenment ideals that enshrine freedom of speech, religion, and thought. Yet these same freedoms, long a source of American strength, have been exploited by Islamist movements seeking to undermine Western societies from within.

For decades, jihadist organizations have openly declared their intent to destroy Western civilization—not only through violence, but through ideological subversion, deception, and institutional infiltration.

This strategy was laid out clearly in the 1991 Muslim Brotherhood memorandum, uncovered by the FBI, which described a “civilization-jihadist process” aimed at sabotaging the West from the inside. Subsequent investigations, including the Holy Land Foundation terror-financing trial, exposed networks funneling money to Hamas under the guise of charitable activity. Despite these warnings, much of the US political and academic establishment continued to treat Islamist movements as political actors rather than ideologically driven enemies.