America's Truth Forum is a non-partisan, educational 501(c)(3) organization whose mission is to inform and educate the American people on controversial topics of national security using first-source, fact-based information. Our primary objective is to disseminate critical information that is not readily available, via conventional channels, to concerned citizens.

In support of our mission, America's Truth Forum offers groups -- civic, private, governmental and organizational -- the expertise of our speakers, experts and organizers through our ATF Speakers' Bureau. Click on a name to see a bio and to find out how to contact and secure one of our speakers for your event.

The threat is real and the more the American public understands the facts, the more they are compelled to engage the issue.

Speakers:

Dr. Harvey Kushner has advised elected officials, military personnel, and foreign governments as well as trained numerous governmental agencies, including the FBI, DHS, FAA, INS and U.S. Customs. He also worked for to the U.S. Probation Department as an analyst for criminal investigations, intelligence, and terrorism. Many publications throughout the world, including the New York Times, have referred to him as the “go-to-guy” for plain talk about terrorism. From Oprah to O’Reilly to Larry King, Kushner is seen regularly on the major networks and is quoted extensively by the print media.  A widely published and best-selling author, Kushner’s latest work, Holy War on the Home Front was named as selection of the month by the Conservative Book Club. His award-winning Encyclopedia of Terrorism is the best selling reference work on the subject. Kushner’s career as a college professor spans more than four decades. He currently chairs a large criminal justice department at a major Northeast university.

Dr. Bruce Tefft –  a founding member of the CIA’s Counter Terrorism Center in 1985 - accumulated over 30 years experience in foreign affairs, intelligence, security operations and counter-terrorism. Dr. Tefft has trained over seventeen thousand law enforcement officers and first responders and has served as NYPD’s counter-terrorism and intelligence advisor since 9/11.

Jeffrey M. Epstein - serves as President and founder of America’s Truth Forum. He accumulated over thirty-five years experience in mortgage banking, marketing and business management.  Mr. Epstein was promoted to Senior Vice President of the nation’s largest portfolio-lending institution following his initiation of an FBI/OTS fraud investigation that led to the conviction and incarceration of several real estate professionals for their roles in committing mortgage fraud. His non-profit organization took the lead in producing three critically acclaimed symposiums on the threat of Islamist terrorism in Washington,, Las Vegas and Dallas. Mr. Epstein has been featured on Fox & Friends, CBN, Fox News and otherlocal and national television and radio talk shows. Additionally, he has authored numerous politically-charged articles for publication.

 

By TAMMY FRAZIER
Staff Writer

Southern Arkansas University Tech’s Distinguished Speakers Series began Monday night with three internationally-known speakers who addressed the large crowd at the Charles O. Ross Center about the threat of worldwide Islamic terrorism.

Local members of law enforcement and first responder agencies were joined by members from as far away as Dumas, Searcy and McGehee in attending the event. Administrators of local school districts along with students and faculty of SAU Tech and SAU in Magnolia were also in attendance, bringing a near-capacity crowd to hear the speakers. 

Jeffrey Epstein, Dr. Harvey Kushner, Ph.D., and Dr. Bruce Tefft discussed the origin and drive of Islamic terrorism and, at one point, used graphic photographs to depict the ruthless nature of terrorists who prey on the old and the young – teenagers and even babies.

Tefft explained that, in the eyes of Islamic extremists, those who are not Muslim are “on the Devil’s side” and are to be exterminated.

“In the Koran,” Tefft explained, “there is some discussion of peace and love and a part of it does talk about sparing innocent women and children. But, in their eyes, you’re innocent only if you are Muslim.”

Tefft, who served 21 years in the Central Intelligence Agency and was a founding member of the CIA’s Counter Terrorism Center in 1985, has spent many years studying Islam and the Koran – a “holy” book used by Islamists for spiritual guidance.

He told the audience that the most effective way to help prevent terrorist attacks is to become informed and aware.

“Awareness, analysis and prevention,” Tefft stressed. “Become proactive instead of reactive. Up to 9/11, this country simply reacted. We want to prevent the act by becoming proactive.”
Citizen participation is needed, he said, noting that 80 percent of terrorist attacks and attempts at attacks are reported by private citizens. Members of the community need to be informed and observant and taught how to report suspicious activity, Tefft said.

Tefft made available access to information he has about terrorist groups, and invited law enforcement and first responders to contact him if they intend to establish plans of action.
Kushner is an internationally recognized authority on terrorism and has advised and trained numerous local, state and federal agencies including the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Department of Homeland Security and U.S. Customs.

He said the government tries to keep tabs on people from the Middle East, or those with Middle Eastern ties, who amass large sums of money and try to leave the country with it. Most times, Kushner said, the money is to be used to fund terrorist groups. 

Kushner said Islamic terrorists have infiltrated this country on all levels, even the military and the White House, and that infiltration began 20 years or more before 9/11.

He said Islamic activists who had been interrogated prior to 9/11 left clues as to what they were planning to do. Information obtained from those who were involved in failed terrorist attempts, in successful attacks in other countries and from intercepted e-mails all pointed to major plans of attack on the United States.

“We went back after the fact and were able to connect the dots,” Kushner said. “What we are trying to do now is connect the dots before an attack. But we must learn to listen to what they tell us. They drop a lot of clues.”

He did admit, however, that the government has so far had a less-than-stellar conviction rate when trying to prosecute those who are involved in terrorist activities.

Kushner revealed that Islamic terrorist target prison inmates who are easily swayed by anti-American rhetoric. He said Islamic activists are especially drawn to former prisoners who have violent pasts. 

Terrorists are not easily discouraged, Kushner said. If one plan fails, he said their motto is: “Attack, attack and attack some more.” 

“They’re not at war,” he said, “they’re at work.”

Epstein, founder and president of America’s Truth Forum, warned of infiltration by activists who have targeted universities in the United States and Canada. He said that getting into colleges and converting many to the Islamic ideology is part of extremists’ “20 Point Plan.”

“Their plan is to replace the United States republic with an Islamic state and to destroy Western civilization from within,” Epstein said.

Epstein showed slides on Islamic Jihad training in North America. Surprisingly, one of the main methods that extremists are using for para-military training is the sport of paintball. He said that, because it is considered a sport here, activists use it as a form of firearms training without raising suspicions. Epstein showed slides of invitations from activists to college students for them to attend rallies and join them in paintball activities. 

He said that, in one year, 50,000 paintballs were shipped to Pakistan from Islamic activists in the United States to be used in para-military training there.

Epstein warned of the eagerness of universities within the United State to accept students from Middle Eastern countries, such as Saudi Arabia and Iran, simply because of the economic advantage to the school.

“We’re not going to be politically correct here tonight,” he said, “because we are facing a major threat.”

All three speakers emphasized that everyone – from the local citizen to law enforcement and first responder members all the way up to government officials – should be aware and responsive to a changing world climate.

“Osama bin Laden spoke about a 100-year war,” Kushner reminded the crowd. “We have to remember, these people are in this thing for the long haul.”