How does the Muslim Brotherhood operate in the United States, what are its long-term objectives, and how much do Americans really understand about its ideology and influence?

In this episode of The Watch Floor, I sit down with John Rossomando, President of Viking Research Associates, longtime counterterrorism researcher, and author of The Arab Spring Ruse: How the Muslim Brotherhood Duped Washington in Libya and Syria, for an in-depth discussion about the Muslim Brotherhood's ideology, organizational strategies, and activities in America.

John spent eight years as a Senior Counterterrorism Analyst with the Investigative Project on Terrorism (IPT) and later served as a Senior Analyst for Defense Policy at the Center for Security Policy. His research has examined Islamist movements, extremist networks, political influence, and the intersection of ideological organizations and U.S. national security policy.

His book, The Arab Spring Ruse, examines the Muslim Brotherhood's role during the Arab Spring and argues that American policymakers misunderstood the movement's objectives and influence in Libya and Syria.

In this conversation, we examine the Muslim Brotherhood's ideological foundations, its organizational methods, and its efforts to establish influence within American institutions and political movements. John draws on years of research to explain how Brotherhood-linked networks operate, the importance of examining original Arabic-language documents, and why public messaging does not always reflect the movement's underlying objectives.

We also discuss the Brotherhood's relationships with leftist and activist movements, the challenges authorities face in recognizing alleged Brotherhood-linked organizations, and the broader implications for American national security. Understanding the movement requires looking beyond individual organizations to examine its history, ideology, and long-term institutional strategies.

FIND JOHN'S BOOK

The Arab Spring Ruse: How the Muslim Brotherhood Duped Washington in Libya and Syria

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B09KJVVZ88

CONNECT WITH JOHN ROSSOMANDO

X: https://x.com/John_Rossomando

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-rossomando-b62357/

JOHN'S RESEARCH & PUBLICATIONS

Investigative Project on Terrorism:
https://www.investigativeproject.org/author/John+Rossomando

Center for Security Policy:
https://centerforsecuritypolicy.org/author/john-rossomando/

ABOUT THE WATCH FLOOR

Hosted by former CIA Targeting Officer Sarah Adams, The Watch Floor brings firsthand intelligence experience and expert analysis to counterterrorism, national security, extremist organizations, and geopolitical developments that deserve greater public attention.

The Taliban may control Kabul, but the fight for Afghanistan is far from over.

In this episode of The Watch Floor, I sit down with Ali Maisam Nazary, co-founder and Head of Foreign Relations for the National Resistance Front of Afghanistan (NRF), the resistance movement led by Ahmad Massoud, son of the legendary Afghan commander Ahmad Shah Massoud.

We discuss how the National Resistance Front was established in Panjshir following the Taliban's return to power in 2021, the movement's continued resistance, and its efforts to build political legitimacy and international support.

Our conversation goes well beyond the battlefield. We examine Afghanistan's growing importance as a sanctuary for terrorist organizations, including al-Qaeda, the dangers of relying on Taliban-provided intelligence, and why engaging with the Taliban presents serious challenges for the United States and its allies.

Ali also discusses the relationships between terrorist organizations operating inside Afghanistan, the increasing sophistication of these networks, and the implications for international security. We address al-Qaeda's June 2024 call for supporters to travel to Afghanistan and prepare attacks against Western targets, as well as the importance of recognizing the threats developing under Taliban rule.

Throughout the conversation, we return to a central question: What will it take for Afghanistan to have a future beyond the Taliban?

This episode is part of Resistance Week, a special series highlighting Afghan voices, resistance movements, and the people working to secure a different future for their country.

Connect with Ali Nazary and follow the National Resistance Front:

Ali Nazary on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/alimaisamnazary/

National Resistance Front on X:
https://x.com/NRFafg