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'''Brigitte Gabriel''' has described herself  as a U.S.-based journalist & news producer who started her career as an anchor for an evening Arabic news program, terrorism expert & the founder of the nonprofit organization ACT! For America.<ref>Brigitte Gabriel, They Must Be Stopped, (New York:St. Martin’s Press, 2008), cover jacket</ref>  She has become a best-selling author and activist sounding the alarm against Islamic supremacism and terrorism.  She is seen by many as an expert on Islamic terrorism and is founder of the nonprofit organization ACT! For America. <ref>Brigitte Gabriel, They Must Be Stopped, (New York:St. Martin’s Press, 2008), cover jacket</ref>   

'''Brigitte Gabriel''' has described herself  as a U.S.-based journalist & news producer who started her career as an anchor for an evening Arabic news program, terrorism expert & the founder of the nonprofit organization ACT! For America.<ref>Brigitte Gabriel, They Must Be Stopped, (New York:St. Martin’s Press, 2008), cover jacket</ref>  She has become a best-selling author and activist sounding the alarm against Islamic supremacism and terrorism.  She is seen by many as an expert on Islamic terrorism and is founder of the nonprofit organization ACT! For America.<ref>Brigitte Gabriel, They Must Be Stopped, (New York:St. Martin’s Press, 2008), cover jacket</ref>   

== Birth ==

== Birth ==

In an article critical of Gabriel and her message, an undisclosed source said to be familiar with her past claims she was born Hanan Qahwaji.8,24  Another critical site claims her birth name was Hanah Kahwagi Tudor. <ref>http://www.islamophobia.org/islamophobic-orgs/act-for-america.html</ref>

In an article critical of Gabriel and her message, an undisclosed source said to be familiar with her past claims she was born Hanan Qahwaji.8,24  Another critical site claims her birth name was Hanah Kahwagi Tudor.<ref>http://www.islamophobia.org/islamophobic-orgs/act-for-america.html</ref>

== Early Life ==

== Early life ==

Brigitte Gabriel was born in the [[Marjeyoun District]] of [[Lebanon]] to a Maronite Christian couple, their only child.  Gabriel lived with her  family through the Lebanese civil war.  She worked as a news anchor in Lebanon and Israel before immigrating to the United States. She recalls that during the Lebanese Civil War, Islamic militants launched an assault on a Lebanese military base near her family's house and destroyed her home.  Gabriel,  ten years old at the time, was injured by shrapnel in the attack. For the next seven years, she and her parents were forced to live underground in all that remained, an 8 x 10 ft. bomb shelter, with no sanitary systems, electricity or running water, only a small kerosene lantern and little food.  She says that to evade Muslim snipers, she had to crawl in a roadside ditch to a spring for water.  

Brigitte Gabriel was born in the [[Marjeyoun District]] of [[Lebanon]] to a Maronite Christian couple, their only child.  Gabriel lived with her  family through the Lebanese civil war.  She worked as a news anchor in Lebanon and Israel before immigrating to the United States. She recalls that during the Lebanese Civil War, Islamic militants launched an assault on a Lebanese military base near her family's house and destroyed her home.  Gabriel,  ten years old at the time, was injured by shrapnel in the attack. For the next seven years, she and her parents were forced to live underground in all that remained, an 8 x 10 ft. bomb shelter, with no sanitary systems, electricity or running water, only a small kerosene lantern and little food.  She says that to evade Muslim snipers, she had to crawl in a roadside ditch to a spring for water.  

According to Gabriel, at one point in the spring of 1978, a bomb explosion caused her and her parents to become trapped in the shelter for two days.  They were eventually rescued by three Christian militia fighters, one of whom befriended Gabriel but was later killed by a land mine.

According to Gabriel, at one point in the spring of 1978, a bomb explosion caused her and her parents to become trapped in the shelter for two days.  They were eventually rescued by three Christian militia fighters, one of whom befriended Gabriel but was later killed by a land mine.

====''Because They Hate''====

====''Because They Hate''====

In her first book, Gabriel discusses her experiences as a Maronite Christian living in Lebanon during the Lebanese Civil War in the 1970s.<ref>Gabriel. Because They Hate,2006, pp=4–6</ref> She describes the story of her family and childhood hiding in a bomb shelter. She details her strong convictions that her country's inherent multicultural blind acceptance of all faiths and cultures including the then dominant Lebanese Christian phalangists, led to Lebanon's ruin by the continuous attacks from indigenous Muslims, other Christian groups and migrant Palestinians.

In her first book, Gabriel discusses her experiences as a Maronite Christian living in Lebanon during the Lebanese Civil War in the 1970s.<ref>Gabriel. Because They Hate,2006, pp=4–6</ref> She describes the story of her family and childhood hiding in a bomb shelter. She details her strong convictions that her country's inherent multicultural blind acceptance of all faiths and cultures including the then dominant Lebanese Christian phalangists, led to Lebanon's ruin by the continuous attacks from indigenous Muslims, other Christian groups and migrant Palestinians.

Gabriel comments that "anyone who voices his or her opinion contrary to "political correctness" is immediately tagged a "racist" or "bigot" and that this has resulted in a "social paranoia which discourages free thought and expression."<ref >Gabriel, Because They Hate, 2006, p.216</ref> Moreover, she states that societies and cultures must be held accountable for their actions and that "by not judging others... we have helped create the monsters we are dealing with today."<ref >Gabriel, Because They Hate, p 186</ref> The book made ''The New York Times'' hardcover best seller list.<ref>http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/17/books/16blog-polibooks.html?_r=1&oref=slogin|title=Hardcover Best Seller List|accessdate=2008-03-09|date=17 November 2006</ref>  The introduction of the 2008 edition of ''Because They Hate'' stated that the book was put on the reading list at the FBI Academy and that it was assigned as mandatory reading for United States Navy SEALs heading to the Middle East.<ref>Gabriel, Because They Hate, 2006, p.xx of the 2008 edition.</ref>

Gabriel comments that "anyone who voices his or her opinion contrary to "political correctness" is immediately tagged a "racist" or "bigot" and that this has resulted in a "social paranoia which discourages free thought and expression."<ref>Gabriel, Because They Hate, 2006, p.216</ref> Moreover, she states that societies and cultures must be held accountable for their actions and that "by not judging others... we have helped create the monsters we are dealing with today."<ref>Gabriel, Because They Hate, p 186</ref> The book made ''The New York Times'' hardcover best seller list.<ref>http://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/17/books/16blog-polibooks.html?_r=1&oref=slogin|title=Hardcover Best Seller List|accessdate=2008-03-09|date=17 November 2006</ref>  The introduction of the 2008 edition of ''Because They Hate'' stated that the book was put on the reading list at the FBI Academy and that it was assigned as mandatory reading for United States Navy SEALs heading to the Middle East.<ref>Gabriel, Because They Hate, 2006, p.xx of the 2008 edition.</ref>

====''They Must Be Stopped''====

====''They Must Be Stopped''====

== Views on Islam ==

== Views on Islam ==

Gabriel sees the problems of terrorism and Islamic militarism as inherent in the religion itself.  She says, “the main driving force behind all Islamic terrorism is the Koran.  What drives these passionate soldiers of Allah is Islam itself and the promises made to them by the Prophert Mohammed.”<ref>Brigitte Gabriel, They Must Be Stopped” (NY: St. Martin’s Press, 2008), p. 60.</ref>  In speaking of the historic conquests of Islam she writes, “These armies were dutifully following what Mohammed had established as a normal modus operandi: ‘So, fight them till all opposition ends and the only religion is Islam” (Koran 8:39).”<ref>Gabriel, “They Must Be Stopped,” 2008, p. 120.</ref> She asserts that the goal of Islam is the establishment of a worldwide caliphate under Islamic rule.  She notes that one of the most influential Islamic thinkers, Abdulla Azzam, said that for him, life “revolved around a single goal, namely the establishment of Allah’s rule on earth”, which means the restoration of the caliphate.<ref>Gabriel, They Must Be Stopped, 2006, p. 127, quoting Daniel Pipes, “What Do the Terrorists Want?  [A Caliphate}, New York Sun, July 26, 2005.</ref>  Gabriel’s writing can be sharp.  She writes, “Radical Islam abhors sin.  In particular it abhors the sin of Mulims’ failure to slaughter and subjugate large numbers of infidels.”<ref>Gabriel, “They Must Be Stopped”, p. 69.</ref>

Gabriel sees the problems of terrorism and Islamic militarism as inherent in the religion itself.  She says, “the main driving force behind all Islamic terrorism is the Koran.  What drives these passionate soldiers of Allah is Islam itself and the promises made to them by the Prophert Mohammed.”<ref>Brigitte Gabriel, They Must Be Stopped” (NY: St. Martin’s Press, 2008), p. 60.</ref>  In speaking of the historic conquests of Islam she writes, “These armies were dutifully following what Mohammed had established as a normal modus operandi: ‘So, fight them till all opposition ends and the only religion is Islam” (Koran 8:39).”<ref>Gabriel, “They Must Be Stopped,” 2008, p. 120.</ref> She asserts that the goal of Islam is the establishment of a worldwide caliphate under Islamic rule.  She notes that one of the most influential Islamic thinkers, Abdulla Azzam, said that for him, life “revolved around a single goal, namely the establishment of Allah’s rule on earth”, which means the restoration of the caliphate.<ref>Gabriel, They Must Be Stopped, 2006, p. 127, quoting Daniel Pipes, “What Do the Terrorists Want?  [A Caliphate], New York Sun, July 26, 2005.</ref>  Gabriel’s writing can be sharp.  She writes, “Radical Islam abhors sin.  In particular it abhors the sin of Mulims’ failure to slaughter and subjugate large numbers of infidels.”<ref>Gabriel, “They Must Be Stopped”, p. 69.</ref>

As an activist against Islamic supremacism, she founded and serves as president of the American Congress For Truth (founded 2002) and ACT! for America, a citizen action network that promotes "national security and the defense of American democratic values against the values of radical Islam.   

As an activist against Islamic supremacism, she founded and serves as president of the American Congress For Truth (founded 2002) and ACT! for America, a citizen action network that promotes "national security and the defense of American democratic values against the values of radical Islam.   

===Views on the Arab–Israeli conflict===

===Views on the Arab–Israeli conflict===

Gabriel views the Arab–Israeli conflict as being "intractable because the Arab world refuses to accept the right of a Jewish state to exist. She cites examples such as the Iranian Revolution of 1979 and the rise of Hamas as bringing to the forefront radical Islamic ideologies that are rooted in "religious hatred, humiliation, and resentment" of Israel and the West.<ref >Gabriel, Because They Hate, 2006, p. 173-174.</ref>

Gabriel views the Arab–Israeli conflict as being "intractable because the Arab world refuses to accept the right of a Jewish state to exist. She cites examples such as the Iranian Revolution of 1979 and the rise of Hamas as bringing to the forefront radical Islamic ideologies that are rooted in "religious hatred, humiliation, and resentment" of Israel and the West.<ref>Gabriel, Because They Hate, 2006, p. 173-174.</ref>

Gabriel believes this can be seen in the Israeli–Palestinian conflict where, in her view, Palestinian nationalism has largely been replaced by "holy obligation" motivating adherents to commit "terrorist murder."<ref >Gabriel, Because They Hate, 2006, p. 181.</ref> She states that the legitimization of Palestinian suicide attacks within Israel has now evolved to where, "Islamists believe that they may commit mass murder anywhere in the world to advance their holy cause." As a result, she believes the world now suffers "from a plague of Islamic terrorism... authored and perfected by the Palestinians."<ref >Gabriel, Because They Hate, 2006, p. 182.</ref>

Gabriel believes this can be seen in the Israeli–Palestinian conflict where, in her view, Palestinian nationalism has largely been replaced by "holy obligation" motivating adherents to commit "terrorist murder."<ref>Gabriel, Because They Hate, 2006, p. 181.</ref> She states that the legitimization of Palestinian suicide attacks within Israel has now evolved to where, "Islamists believe that they may commit mass murder anywhere in the world to advance their holy cause." As a result, she believes the world now suffers "from a plague of Islamic terrorism... authored and perfected by the Palestinians."<ref>Gabriel, Because They Hate, 2006, p. 182.</ref>

With regard to the proposed two-state solution, Gabriel states: "Forcing Israel to accept a two-state solution is not going to work unless the Palestinians first are forced to clean up their act and eliminate hatred from their schoolbooks, teach tolerance to their people, and preach acceptance of Israel and the Jews as a neighbor."<ref name="An inside ally">{{cite web|url=http://www.jpost.com/Magazine/Features/Article.aspx?id=146686</ref>

With regard to the proposed two-state solution, Gabriel states: "Forcing Israel to accept a two-state solution is not going to work unless the Palestinians first are forced to clean up their act and eliminate hatred from their schoolbooks, teach tolerance to their people, and preach acceptance of Israel and the Jews as a neighbor."<ref name="An inside ally">{{cite web|url=http://www.jpost.com/Magazine/Features/Article.aspx?id=146686}}</ref>

According to Gabriel, since Islamic  supremacism views the destruction of Israel alongside the United States as "a parallel strategic objective", she therefore sees the survival of Israel as being of paramount importance as a vanguard of Western culture and as "the only Western-style nation in the Middle East, one that Arabs despise, feel threatened by, and vow to destroy."<ref>Gabriel, Because They Hate, 2006,  p. 169,184</ref>

According to Gabriel, since Islamic  supremacism views the destruction of Israel alongside the United States as "a parallel strategic objective", she therefore sees the survival of Israel as being of paramount importance as a vanguard of Western culture and as "the only Western-style nation in the Middle East, one that Arabs despise, feel threatened by, and vow to destroy."<ref>Gabriel, Because They Hate, 2006,  p. 169,184</ref>

==Bibliography==

==Bibliography==

Brigitte Gabriel, Because They Hate: A Survivor of Islamic Terror Warns America (New York, St. Martin's Press, 2006.

Brigitte Gabriel, Because They Hate: A Survivor of Islamic Terror Warns America (New York, St. Martin's Press, 2006).

Brigitte Gabriel, They Must Be Stopped: Why We Must Defeat Radical Islam and How We Can Do It (New York:St. Martin's,2008.

Brigitte Gabriel, They Must Be Stopped: Why We Must Defeat Radical Islam and How We Can Do It (New York:St. Martin's,2008.