Steven Emerson

Steven Emerson
Steven Emerson is considered one of the leading authorities on Islamic extremist networks, financing and operations. He serves as the Executive Director of The Investigative Project on Terrorism, a non-profit organization that serves one of the world's largest storehouses of archival data and intelligence on Islamic and Middle Eastern terrorist groups. Emerson and his staff frequently provide briefings to U.S. government and law enforcement agencies, members of Congress and congressional committees, and print and electronic media on terrorist financing and operational networks of Al Qaeda, Hamas, Hezbollah, Islamic Jihad, and the rest of the worldwide Islamic militant spectrum. Since 9-11, Emerson has been interviewed frequently on all the major television networks and in the national and international print media. The website of the Investigative Project on Terrorism, which was started in September 2007, is now considered one of the top counter-terrorism websites in the world and can be accessed at www.investigativeproject.org. Emerson launched The Investigative Project on Terrorism in 1995, following the November 1994 broadcast of his documentary film, "Jihad in America," on public television. The film exposed clandestine operations of militant Islamic terrorist groups on American soil. For the film, Emerson received numerous awards including the George Polk Award for best television documentary, one of the most prestigious awards in journalism. He also received the top prize from the Investigative Reporters and Editors Organization (IRE) for best investigative report in both print and television for the documentary. The award from IRE was the fourth he had received from that group. The documentary, which was featured on 60 Minutes, has become standard viewing for federal law enforcement and intelligence organizations. Emerson is recognized as one of the first terrorism experts to have testified and warned about the threat of Islamic militant networks operating in the United States and their connections worldwide. In a pioneering congressional testimony delivered in 1998, he specifically warned about the threat of Osama Bin Laden's network. Nearly every one of the terrorist suspects and groups first identified in his 1994 film have been indicted, convicted, or deported since 9-11. Emerson is the author or co-author of six books on terrorism and national security, including: "Jihad Incorporated: A Guide to Militant Islam in the U.S." (Prometheus, 2006) "American Jihad: The Terrorists Living Among Us" (The Free Press, 2002) "Terrorist: The Inside Story of the Highest-Ranking Iraqi Terrorist Ever to Defect to the West" (Villard Books /Random House, 1991) "The Fall of Pan Am 103: Inside the Lockerbie Investigation" (Putnam's Sons, 1990) "Secret Warriors: Inside the Covert Military Operations of the Reagan Era" (Putnam's Sons, 1988) "The American House of Saud: The Secret Petrodollar Connection" (Franklin Watts, 1985) Prior to starting the Investigative Project on Terrorism, Emerson worked as a correspondent for CNN and previously as a senior editor at US News and World Report. His first job in Washington DC in 1977 was as a staff researcher for the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. He has a BA and MA from Brown University and once ran a marathon in 2 hours, 59 minutes, a feat he was never able to repeat again.

ARTICLES BY: Steven Emerson

July 25, 2013 8:32 am

U.S. Cleric Accused of Being War Criminal in Bangladesh

In the United States, Ashrafuzzaman Khan ostensibly is a respected Muslim cleric, president of the Imams of America association and past secretary general of the Islamic...

July 22, 2013 8:29 am

Iran Condemns Filmmaker as ‘Traitor’ for Israel Visit

The Islamic Republic of Iran's vehemently anti-Semitic and anti-Israel sentiment has never been limited to international politics. Such bigoted attitudes continue to spill over into...

July 12, 2013 11:31 am

Syrian, Palestinian Roles Seen in Egypt Street Violence

Late last month, as millions of protesters converged in Cairo's Tahrir Square and other Egyptian cities demanding President Mohamad Morsi's ouster, tens were killed and...

July 12, 2013 8:20 am

Muslim Brotherhood Academic Tariq Ramadan Blames U.S. and Israel for Morsi Ouster

According to Oxford professor Tariq Ramadan, all roads lead not to Rome but to America. A long-winded piece by Ramadan, the grandson of Muslim Brotherhood founder Hassan...

July 11, 2013 8:51 am

Tunisian Islamist Calls for Morsi’s Return

"Moderate" is a term frequently attributed to Rashid al-Ghannouchi and his ruling Tunisian Ennahda Party. But Ghannouchi's perception of Islamic rule does not differ much from...

July 4, 2013 12:12 am

Senior Turkish Officials Blame Problems on Jews

Anti-Semitic sentiment flourishes throughout many parts of the Muslim world. Leaders in various countries have historically blamed Jews and Israel for internal woes to alleviate...

July 2, 2013 6:43 am

Egyptian Protesters Criticize Muslim Brotherhood Rule and Obama Administration

Egypt's Islamist government teetered on the brink Monday in the wake of stunning weekend protests against Muslim Brotherhood rule. "Theocracy failed here," Egyptian blogger Mahmoud Salem,...

June 18, 2013 2:14 am

Canadian Intelligence Sees AQ to Shift to Smaller Attacks

Al-Qaida's (AQ) international terrorist network will rebound but shift tactics - seeking more frequent smaller-sized attacks in the coming years, a newly released Canadian intelligence report...

June 18, 2013 2:09 am

Islamic Jihad’s Summer of Radicalization

Summer camp conjures up bucolic images of swimming and other outdoor fun. But thousands of Palestinian children will experience something quite different, as exhibited in...

June 14, 2013 8:43 am

Feminist Protest Exposes Tunisian Islamist Justice

Under Tunisia's "moderate" Islamist government, you can attack and vandalize the American embassy and still walk free. But if a woman bares her breasts in...

June 13, 2013 12:40 am

Obama Outreach Overview

The Obama administration has an infamous history of questionable Islamist outreach, as noted here, here and here. These outreach efforts have been engaged by the highest levels of the...

June 12, 2013 11:54 am

Egyptian Minister Reveals Hamas Aided Brotherhood Prison Break

As a direct offshoot of the Muslim Brotherhood, Hamas shares a similar ideological outlook and political affinity with its historical patron. Hamas has long been accused...

June 6, 2013 11:22 am

Gulf Countries Take Action on Hezbollah, EU Wavers

The United States and Israel have long called for the international community and the European Union (EU) to designate Hezbollah as a terrorist organization. The past...

June 4, 2013 8:10 am

Old Nasrallah Video Confirms Hezbollah Follows Iran’s Orders

With Hezbollah increasingly taking on a front-line role in defending Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad, the Middle East Media Research Institute (MEMRI) is highlighting...