The story of terror groups from the Middle East is often explained as religious — but the real story is far deeper. In this episode of Global Risk Profile, we uncover how the Soviet Union and its allies helped design the playbook of modern terror groups: training, propaganda, disinformation, and the very tactics later adopted by groups like Hamas and Hezbollah. We trace how this playbook — built on three pillars: lies and deception, cruelty and disregard for human life, and endless struggle — began in communist revolutions under Lenin, Mao, and Kim Il-sung, and was exported into the Middle East through KGB and Warsaw Pact operations. We then look at Hamas today: how its leaders exploit a Cold War playbook, how many of its fighters and supporters are also victims of deception, and how Iran and other authoritarian powers keep the system alive. Finally, we close with a surprising source of hope — the example of millions in China quietly renouncing their ties to the CCP, proving that even in the darkest systems, people can reclaim their conscience. This is not a story about religion. It is a story about systems of power that hijack people’s faith, dignity, and future — and about why understanding this history matters for how we see the world today.