Op-ed by Eric Mandel urges US strategy against Islamism, citing Qatar and campuses

Centre · 1This is an opinion piece, not a news report: Eric R. Mandel argues that "America has an Islamism problem" and that Islamist ideas are embedded in parts of American society. 1 Mixed · 2Mandel says this is reinforced by a "red-green alliance" between Islamists and progressive socialists seeking to fundamentally transform America. 1 2 Centre · 1He cites a May 2025 Free Press investigation, "How Qatar Bought America", by Frannie Block and Jay Solomon, which reported that Qatar had spent almost $100 billion over two decades on US investments, weapons purchases, universities, lobbying and other activities. 1

Right · 1Mandel writes that Qatar has funded partnerships with American universities through the Qatar Foundation, that Al Jazeera has given a platform to figures linked to the Muslim Brotherhood, and that Qatar has hosted senior Muslim Brotherhood and Hamas figures. He adds that he believes patient influence-building is part of a Qatari strategy in America. 2 Centre · 1He describes political Islamism as an ideology that seeks to make Islamic religious doctrine a governing principle of the state, and traces its lineage through the Muslim Brotherhood, Hamas and the writings of Sayyid Qutb, which he says influenced al-Qaida and the Islamic State group. 1 Centre · 1On campuses, Mandel says some anti-Israel protests after 7 October involved intimidation, harassment, threats and at times physical violence against Jews, and he sees overlap between far-left anti-Zionism and Islamist politics as one manifestation of the red-green alliance. 1

Right · 1He also points to jihadist violence in France, Britain, Sweden and Germany, and to Ayaan Hirsi Ali, who was placed under police protection after the murder of Theo van Gogh in the Netherlands. 2 Right · 1Mandel proposes a four-step process: define Islamism clearly without fear of being labelled anti-Islamic; understand its threat; learn to identify its forms at home and abroad; and develop a comprehensive strategy while educating the public. 2 Right · 1His policy checklist calls for distinguishing Islam from Islamism, requiring full public disclosure of foreign funding in universities, schools, nonprofits and think tanks (from Qatar or China), teaching religions fairly, using the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance framework against antisemitism, and conditioning US cooperation with governments that support anti-American Islamist organisations. 2

Centre · 1On Qatar, he says it can remain an important security partner but Washington should demand transparency about support for Muslim Brotherhood-linked organisations and an end to hosting Hamas leaders, and he criticises the current administration for emphasising Qatar's financial value while underestimating the ideological danger. 1 Centre · 1Mandel names Michigan Democratic Senate nominee Abdul El-Sayed, saying El-Sayed has refused to affirm Israel's right to exist as a Jewish state and invokes an antisemitic trope about AIPAC; these are the author's characterisations, and the piece does not include a response from El-Sayed. 1 Centre · 1He concludes that America can protect Muslim Americans from discrimination and defend free speech while confronting Islamism, and warns that the country is "getting dangerously close to that tipping point". 1